AADL Creative Shorts | Bookbinding

When

Friday September 11, 2020: 7:00pm to 7:30pm Add to Calendar / Add to Google Calendar

Where

AADL.TV

Description

Do you think bookbinding is a hobby you’d like to try? In this Creative Shorts episode, Emily gives you an overview of what tools and materials beginning bookbinders need, displays some of the types of books that can be made by hand, and shows you her latest project: rebinding a planner.

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TOOLS

(Recommended retailers are listed at the bottom.)

Cutting surface (almost any soft surface you don’t mind cutting can work to start, but if you bind a lot of books you’ll eventually want a self-healing cutting mat) • utility knife or X-acto type knife (I prefer a utility knife with snap-off blades) • a ruler with a metal edge • spring dividers and t-square • bone folder (possibly the most useful bookbinder’s tool! Teflon folders are available if you’d rather not use bone, but are about 3x as expensive.) • needles (large embroidery needles or medium-sized darning needles work. Stay away from small sewing needles. Curved needles are great for certain types of projects.)

MATERIALS

Glue (craft glue is OK for first projects, but you’ll want to use PVA bookbinder’s glue or wheat or rice paste for long-lasting books) • thread (waxed linen thread is the standard. Some people use embroidery floss, but I don’t prefer it. You can use a lump of beeswax to wax your own.) • decorative paper (most of what you’re looking for is available at specialty paper shops. I do not recommend wrapping paper unless it is thick with a matte finish.) • book cloth, leather, and faux leather (Available at specialty retailers, although I will include a couple of links below on how to make your own book cloth. True bookbinding leather is VERY expensive. Faux leather can give a nice feel but is much less durable.) • text paper (any paper you have around the house is great to start. For long-lasting books you will want to check out specialty paper companies.)

RESOURCES

YOUTUBE

I have learned the most from these two channels:

Sea Lemon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGbxOeCBuGSsKvt4g9lEv3A

Jennifer from Sea Lemon is the master of accessible and fun bookbinding videos. She makes bookbinding really approachable and has lots of easy starter projects.

Sage Reynolds

https://www.youtube.com/user/Ceropegia

Sage is a true craftsman. His videos are not flashy, but if you want to see how traditional bookbinding projects are done with contemporary tools, his videos are great.

DVDS

The Bookbinding Guy Video Workshop

https://aadl.org/catalog/record/10365573

This DVD walks you through the process of binding a very traditional book with clear instructions. They present this as a one-day project, but if I were doing it, I’d split into at least two days.

BOOKS

There are LOTS of books on bookbinding that range from the traditional to the unorthodox. Here are just a few that we have at AADL. Don’t be afraid to take a look and see what kinds of projects pique your interest.