Bookbinding for Beginners - 18

by Florence O. Bean - Assistant in Manual Arts - Boston Public Schools

Sketch Book

The problem is to make two separate hinged covers between which loose leaves may be bound, the whole to be fastened together with macramé or other cord. This may be designed for one of many uses, suggestions for several of which follow (see Plate XXII).
In making dimensioned sketches, for the various parts (see Plate XXIII) determine first the size of the pages and plan the covers to extend beyond them about one-eighth of an inch. Make the sketches of the pages and the news board foundations. Layout and cut the latter, of full size, and then from either a long or short side of each, in accordance with plan, cut a strip to form a hinge. The width of these strips may be from three-quarters of an inch to one inch. Vellum should be planned to cover completely one side of both pieces of each cover, to fold around the small piece and to lap over onto the large piece about one-half inch. It should also fold over the other three edges about one-half inch. (See Plate XXIV.)

The lining paper should cover to within about one-eighth of an inch of the edges of the large pieces and should not extend onto the hinge. Constant bending soon breaks paper, but with ordinary use does not affect the tough vellum. Make dimensioned sketches of these pieces (see Plate XXIII) and layout and cut all remaining parts.


Properly place main part of news board on vellum, drawing around it. Lay small part one-eighth of an inch from main part and draw around it. Remove the pieces of news board and apply paste to vellum inside the pencil line, being careful to cover the surface smoothly and evenly; lay both back pieces in place, turn the vellum over and rub down. Cut from the projecting vellum on the hinged side a small piece even with the edges of the hinges as far as the outside corners (see Plate XXIV), and clip off the outside corners as before described. Apply paste to projecting vellum, fold over first the hinged side and its opposite, then the other two sides, and rub down. Paste the lining paper in and dry the covers separately under weight. Remember to place newspaper or blotting paper between each pair, otherwise ~the moisture from one will cause wrinkles in the other. For the leaves, use drawing paper which may be cut singly or in folio (with single fold).

The latter method is preferable, as folded sheets are easier to place at the back, look better, and are more secure. Two holes in each cover are sufficient for the cord, but a little care should be taken to determine the best position for them. The distance of each from the end of the hinge strip should be from one-fifth to one sixth of its length and of course, they should be placed midway between the long edges. After punching the holes, see that the leaves are properly marked so that the holes in them will exactly fit the holes in the cover.

To do this, place one sheet on the cover, leaving correct margins, and through the center of each hole mark the paper which should then be punched. Treat the other sheets in the same manner. Eyelets should be inserted in the covers only, and for that purpose a good eyelet punch is necessary. Directions for its use and sample eyelets accompany punches when sent from the dealer. Complete by tying all together with a piece of cord. Make a small flat bow on the front cover.

Bookbinding for Beginners - 17

by Florence O. Bean - Assistant in Manual Arts - Boston Public Schools

Needle Book

A NEEDLE-BOOK

This consists of covers with leaves of flannel. Decide upon the size of leaves, which should not be too large and in good proportion. One piece of flannel should form two leaves, as in booklets described in Problem 1.

Plan the covers to be one-eighth of an inch larger in each direction than the leaves. These should be constructed like the calendar mount already described in A, but the space between should be greater, perhaps three-eighths of an inch. Make dimensioned sketches of all parts. The parts should then be laid out, cut, and pasted. Finish the edges of the leaves by pinking (cutting in small points). Four leaves are sufficient. Sew them to the cover as described in Problem 1.A COVERED MEMORANDUM PAD Secure a small pad. Plan covers, as described in B, which shall project about one-eighth of an inch in each direction beyond the pad. Plan to have the space between them about 3/8 of an inch more than the thickness of the pad. When the covers are finished, paste the pad firmly to the inside of one cover. If desired, loops of vellum to hold the pencil may be pasted on the side of the pad, as describe in Problem 1.

Bookbinding for Beginners - 16

by Florence O. Bean - Assistant in Manual Arts - Boston Public Schools

Another Calendar Stand

ANOTHER CALENDAR MOUNT
Plan the back standard to be smaller than the front instead of the same size. Plate XX suggests a suitable trapezoidal shape. In this case the vellum must be of the same length as before, but cut to fit the different widths of the news board
(compare Plate XXI).

Plan a narrow strip of vellum to line the hinge, as in A. Paste this piece and the outside covering as before. Cut the lining paper of the correct shapes and apply to the back.

Bookbinding for Beginners - 15

by Florence O. Bean - Assistant in Manual Arts - Boston Public Schools

Calendar Stand

A CALENDAR STAND
First make or secure a calendar, which should be of small size. If desired, a picture may be used with the calendar, but it should harmonize with it in size and color. In such a case plan to have the space between the two much smaller than the margins, so that the eye will take them in as a group, and not as two separate objects. Decide on the margins as described in Problem II, and thus arrive at the proper size for one of the foundation pieces of news board. (See Plate XVIII.)



Make a dimensioned sketch of this piece, and plan to have two made of news board. For the outside covering plan a strip of vellum which shall be long enough to cover both pieces of news board when placed about one-eighth of an inch apart, and to make half-inch laps on each side and end. Plan a strip of vellum about an inch wide and as long as the width of the foundation pieces to form the back of the hinge; and two pieces of lining paper, each one-eighth of an inch smaller in both directions than the foundation pieces. Make dimensioned sketches of these pieces (see Plate XIX), layout and cut all parts.



In the center of the narrow strip of vellum mark off a space one-eighth of an inch wide, extending lengthwise of the strip. Apply paste and lay the two pieces of news board on the vellum and with edges against the lines drawn. Press hard on the news board, turn it over, and rub down the vellum. A hinge is thus formed for the two pieces of news board.

Lay these pieces on the large piece of vellum and draw around the whole. Apply paste to the vellum inside the pencil lines. Lay the double foundation on the pasted surface with the narrow strip of vellum on top. Rub down the outside surface very hard, leaving no wrinkles or rough places; clip the corners as described in Problem II, paste the laps, fold them over, rub them down, and line the mount with the pieces of marbled paper. Connect the front and back halves of the mount by a single or double strap of vellum pasted to the inside of each. Finish by pasting on the calendar and picture.

Saddle Stitch by Machine - Video

Saddle stitch is the simplest way to bind a book. If you have a long arm stapler then you can do it by hand easily. Here is a video which shows how a machine makes saddle stitch. Machines are making many things easier for us and they also do the tasks quickly.

Watch the video and enjoy..

8 Important Bookbinding Instructions-Part 2

In the first part we saw the importance of patience, planning and list of materials. Here are the remaining 5 bookbinding instructions.

1) Fix Place of Work: You should have a place alloted for doing all the bookbinding work. Do not wander everytime looking for a space to do your work. If possible keep all the equipment, material and everything related to bookbinding at one place.

2) If you feel frustrated at any point then just leave the work. You will spoil it if you continue at such time. All the hard work will be wasted for a simple mistake.

3) Stitching : If your bookbinding involves stitching then you will need more patience at this compared to other processes. Practice proper stitching on rough papers or a piece of cloth to give that confidence.

4) Keep the Spine correct : You may be knowing the importance of healthy spine in humans. If something goes wrong then you know how difficult life can become. Similarly for a healthy book the spine should be correct. If the spine is not proper then the book may face serious problems.

5) Start small : Last but not the least, take small steps while bookbinding. Do a part of the work at any given time and after a period of time you will reach the end successfully.

I hope you benefit from these instructions and apply them to get better at bookbinding. Don't forget to leave a comment. Share your own instructions or any tips for getting better at bookbinding.

If you want to get the best bookbinding instructions Just "Click Here". You will definitely learn everything you need to know about bookbinding.

8 Important Bookbinding Instructions-Part 1

Bookbinding can become hectic and difficult if you are not organized and try to do it all at once. Learning to get organized and planning correctly will help to achieve success in any field. For bookbinding also you need to keep somethings in mind. Here are 3 of the 8 bookbinding instructions

1) Patience: Patience is the first thing to keep in mind. It is really very important. Sometimes things go wrong which will cost additional time. Always keep your mind at the work you are doing and do not let it wander somewhere. So you should always keep cool and do not worry if something went wrong.

"Always learn from your mistakes"

2) Simple plan: The next thing is to keep a simple plan of how you will complete the work. Doing all the things at one go will make it burdensome and you may not come back to this work the next time. You can try a plan like this. First list all the processes that you have to perform to get the end result. Now write the time each task will take beside it. Everybody has different speeds. See that you time the process according to your speed. Now just divide that work at different
times of the day or week. Having everything written down on a piece of paper will ensure smooth work.

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail"

3) Material: Take a paper and list all the materials required for your bookbinding project. Always keep more quantity of the materials than you require. This way you won't need to go and buy the material when all of a sudden you realize that you don't have something. Keep the materials at one place ( like in a box, cupboard etc. ) so that you will have everything in a single glance.

In the second part we will see the remaining instructions. If you have anything to say then do share your comments.

Perfect Bookbinding Video - Part 2

Here is the second part of perfect bookbinding video

Perfect Bookbinding Video - Part 1

Watch the first part of a video which has perfect bookbinding instructions

Bookbinding for Beginners

Bookbinding for Beginners is a book written by Florence O. Bean - Assistant in Manual Arts - Boston Public Schools and published by School Arts Publishing Company 1914.

Index

• Bookbinding Introduction
• Foreword
• Materials Introduction
• Sketch Book
• Equipment
• Making a Booklet
• Making a Booklet Part 2
• Making a Envelope Holder for a Model
• Mounting a Calendar or Picture
• Mounting a Calendar or Picture Part 2
• Mounting a Calendar or Picture Part 3
• Mount for a Memorandum Pad
• Needle Case
• Checker Board

How to bind a Hardcover Book?

Binding a hardcover book is not as hard as you may be thinking. Once you know the process you can do it easily. But before you get a perfect hardcover book you'll need to practice. You know the old saying " Practice makes a man perfect". Same is the case here. If you are doing this the first time use some rough materials. After you have some confidence you can go for the original books. Here is a simple tutorial on how to bind a hardcover book.

First of all see that you have all the materials ready. Here is a list

• signatures
  
• hard cover
  
• sharp object for making small holes
  
• heavy thread
  
• PVA glue
  
• blade
  
• ruler
  
• thick paper for wrapping around the cover
  

The procedure for creating a hardcover book is as follows

1. Take the topmost paper and fold it to half. The spine is present at the fold. Keep all the papers below it in correct order. Now make four holes on the spine. See that all the papers have the holes at the same points.
   
2. Fold all the pages and make a signature by grouping four to six pages.
   
3. Now comes the difficult part - stitching. For the first signature take the needle into the first hole, out of the second hole, then into the third hole and then out of the fourth hole. This is for first signature.
   
4. Take the second stack and attach to the first one. Take the needle through the first hole of second stack, then into second hole. From here go to the second hole of first signature, then through third hole of first stack. Now go to the third hole of second signature then through the fourth. This will attach the two signatures. Continue in this way for other stacks. In order to practice take four signatures and stitch to get the correct idea.
5. After stitching all the signatures apply the PVA glue thoroughly over the entire spine. Clamp this strongly and let it dry completely.
   
6. Meanwhile take the hard cover and cut two pieces the size of the paper. Cut one more for fitting on the spine. lace these three pieces of cover on a large thick paper ( for wrapping around the cover ) Apply glue and stick the cover pieces on the thick paper.The cover is now ready.
7. Now apply glue on the spine of the cover and the book. Attach them together and hold them tightly using a clamp. Let them dry.
   
8. The next day you will have your own hardcover book.
   

The above steps will help you to bind a hardcover book in one day. Initially it may take some time because you are just learning. After you become perfect you will be creating your own harcover books quickly and effeciently.

3 Simple Bookbinding Techniques

If you are just starting out then it will be better to start simple. Going with simple methods will boost your self confidence. Then you'll be able to go for other techniques. Here are 3 methods you should start with

1) Staple Binding: This is the simplest method for binding a book. You can use this for notebooks and rough books. Take stack of papers and fold them so that the two corners meet. Use a thick paper or card papers for the cover. Cover the folded papers with this. If the book is small you can use a small stapler for center stapling. For long books a long arm stapler or saddle stapler can be used. Make two or three staples in the centre and your book will be ready.

2) Saddle stitching: Saddle stitching a book is easy and the book will be strongly bound. Keep a stack of papers and cover together just like in the above case. To hold the papers together use a strong paperclip near the center. Keep these on something such that you can make holes in the center. Now make holes with a sharp object on the spine. You can make 2 holes nearer to the
edges of spine and stitch with a strong thread. You can also make three or four holes and stitch accordingly. This will hold the book together.

3) Perfect binding: In this method you hold a stack of signatures and clamp them together. Apply a strong glue on the spine and allow it to dry. Then apply the glue again and attach the cover firmly. Hold this position with a clamper till it dries completely. 

There you go. The simplest methods for bookbinding to get you started.

Various Types of Bookbinding

You can bind books in different ways. Some of them take less time while others may take more time. Here is a list of some bookbindings 

• Hardcover Binding
  
• Tape Binding 
  
• Perfect Binding 
  
• Sewn Binding
  
• Wire Stitching
  
• Plastic Comb Binding
  
• Wire-O Binding
  
• Velobinding
  
• Spiral Binding

These are the major types of bookbinding that you can observe. There may be other types which I have not listed. You can include them in the comments.

What is bookbinding?

Books are the greatest source of knowledge for us. Long time ago people used to write on rocks,clay tablets, animal skin, leaves and other such stuff for storing their knowledge. This method was quite difficult to maintain. So people could not document each and every thing at that time. 

After some time people invented the paper. This was good news for people of knowledge because paper is very light weight and it can be used to store much more information than the previous generations could do. When some information was noted on these papers it had to be somehow bounded together. This resulted in the craft known as bookbinding.

According to wikipedia - 

"Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper or other material. "

The majority of books are bounded using machines nowadays. But there are some people who enjoy doing it by hand. They make various types of bookbindings and store as artwork. Bookbinding by hand also helps self publishing authors who find difficulty with publishing houses. 

These were some of the points about bookbinding and the main focus of this blog will be various things related to bookbinding by hand.