Bookbinding is a Fun Creative Activity
Bookbinding is binding pages together to make a book. Making a book utilizes one’s design and artistic impulses. A book can be an objet d’art or the expressive structure that holds creative material together.
I am going to share with you some ideas for making a book and the tools you will encounter when bookbinding. I recommend taking a class at the San Francisco Center For The Book for an introduction course on bookbinding. In fact, all photos in this blog were taken during a bookbinding class at the San Francisco Center For The Book.
I read plenty of books. I drew and painted on plenty of pages of paper. But I never thought of a book as an entity in itself. Bookbinding is a good skill to have as it allows me to make a book that ranges from elegant to practical.
I am going to share with you some ideas for making a book and the tools you will encounter when bookbinding. I recommend taking a class at the San Francisco Center For The Book for an introduction course on bookbinding. In fact, all photos in this blog were taken during a bookbinding class at the San Francisco Center For The Book.
I read plenty of books. I drew and painted on plenty of pages of paper. But I never thought of a book as an entity in itself. Bookbinding is a good skill to have as it allows me to make a book that ranges from elegant to practical.
The Book as an Objet d’art
Books can be an objet d’art, an art object. I say “judge a book by its cover” especially when the cover is gold leaf, emboss, or suminagashi. The “medium is the massage” when the pages inside a book are textured, mulberry, or accordion. Is it an “art or a craft” when the stitching of a book has thread that is colorful and crafted as a decorative design pattern? A book can exist as an artistic creation and expression of one's self. The subject of paper requires its own blog and here is an example of Suminagashi marbled paper.
The Book as an Artistic Medium
I have made numerous books since learning bookbinding. I have made books where the covers were made with sandpaper, bubble wrap, and an envelope. My favorite book was making a sketch pad for my nephew. The cover was cardboard to be durable. The pages were from recycled school papers. I felt so satisfied being able to make an artistic gift that had creative know-how and design thinking acumen.
Bookbinding Tools - Cut, Fold, Stitch
The tools for bookbinding range from simple to specialized. For example, you can use the biggest needle you have at home or buy a specific needle for bookbinding. Here is a list of bookbinding tools,
Needle - to stitch the thread to hold the book’s pages and cover together
Wax thread - the string that holds the book’s pages and cover together
Awl - a pointed instrument used to make holes for the stitching of the book
Pencil - to make the reference points for the holes the stitching will go into
Bone folder - a tool to fold and crease paper
Ruler - I prefer a metal ruler because I can use it for a guide when cutting with a utility knife
Scissors - I usually just cut the tread with scissors
Utility knife - I usually use a utility knife to cut the book cover to the size of the paper
Cutting board - good for stabilizing paper to cut and protecting table surfaces
Bulldog clips or binder clips - to hold pages together
Painters tape - handy for making reference guides or securing things when you don't have a third hand around
Needle - to stitch the thread to hold the book’s pages and cover together
Wax thread - the string that holds the book’s pages and cover together
Awl - a pointed instrument used to make holes for the stitching of the book
Pencil - to make the reference points for the holes the stitching will go into
Bone folder - a tool to fold and crease paper
Ruler - I prefer a metal ruler because I can use it for a guide when cutting with a utility knife
Scissors - I usually just cut the tread with scissors
Utility knife - I usually use a utility knife to cut the book cover to the size of the paper
Cutting board - good for stabilizing paper to cut and protecting table surfaces
Bulldog clips or binder clips - to hold pages together
Painters tape - handy for making reference guides or securing things when you don't have a third hand around
More Art, Please
Making a book is a springboard for other creative endeavors. I now have the means to put together a collection of my artistic joys of printmaking, calligraphy, or collage. Check out other classes at the San Francisco Center For The Book for all things books.
Making a book is a springboard for other creative endeavors. I now have the means to put together a collection of my artistic joys of printmaking, calligraphy, or collage. Check out other classes at the San Francisco Center For The Book for all things books.