Book Binding

A few years ago my friend Jim showed me how to bind a sketchbook and I have been creating my own journals and sketchbooks ever since. This method of binding with an open spine is beautiful and allows the pages to open completely flat - great for sketching! I also love being able to choose the combination of papers to use in the sketchbooks, including combinations of tracing paper, brown paper and cartridge paper for different purposes. I hope to upload a tutorial soon on how to do this yourself for anyone interested in giving it a go.

The covers of the sketchbooks are made using the card from the back of a pad of paper and covering it with paper (like the ones above) or fabric (like the ones below). On the fabric covers below I lasercut (at KWMC: The Factory) some plant designs from heat adhesive moleskin fabric. I ironed these onto the fabric before gluing to the sketchbook covers.

Looking at the progression of books I have made over the past years it is satisfying to see a clear improvement in my binding technique.