Getting started

Before you begin bookmaking, it is important to gather all of the tools you will be using, and have a good understanding of their purpose. Below is an overview of the basic tools you will need, as well as a description of how they are used.



1. Paper
Copy paper works great for the pages of your book, and some book structures require something a little thicker like cardstock. You can get creative by using textured or colored paper too.

2. Bookboard/chipboard
This hard cardboard can be found at most art supply stores like Blick, Utrecht, and Papersource, and it is used as the cover in most book structures. It comes in different thicknesses and sizes.

3. Self-healing cutting mat

4. Scissors

5. Utility knife or exacto knife

6. Bone folders
This is a flat plastic or bone tool used to impress lines or creases into paper, or to create smooth, sharp folds.

7. Awl
A pointed tool for marking surfaces or punching small holes.

8. Brushes
Old brushes or cheap ones from the hardware store work best since they will be used for gluing.

9. Glue
Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive is the best because it is archival. This white glue dries clear and fast. Any other PVA glue will work also.

10. Binder’s needle & thread
Heavy-duty binder’s needles are for sewing book signatures because they have a blunted point and a smooth eye to prevent thread snag. Linen thread is easiest to use for book binding since it is lightly waxed, but all types of thread, yarn, and string would work too.

11. Book cloth
This paperbacked fabric is acid free and usually comes in rolled sheets and a variety of colors. It is very durable and acid free. Used for covering books.

12. Rulers
Any ruler will work but sometimes it’s nice to have a clear one to see through, and a longer T-square to get right angles.

Beginner - Leporello Binding

The leporello style of binding is a special fold where the pages are joined to form an accordion. This is a perfect structure for beginners because it is easy to add or subtract pages, and there is very little gluing.



Begin by folding pieces of card stock in half to form your pages. Two panels are joined together by gluing a third panel to the back of them.



Glue the panels together by putting glue on the outside edges only. Once you have your desired number of panels, you can attach you book boards to the flaps on the end.





Once your structure is glued together, you can add images to the panels and decorate your cover.

Intermediate – “Flag Book”

Originally developed by Hedi Kyle, the foundation of the Flag Book structure is an accordion folded spine. Rows of flags attached to opposing sides of each of the spine’s “mountain” folds allow the artist to fragment and layer a number of images. When read page by page, the viewer sees disjointed fragments of image and text. When the spine is pulled fully open, these fragments assemble a panoramic spread. This transformation is accompanied by a delightful flapping sound. The spine and covers provide opportunities for additional imagery.





Begin by folding your spine paper into an accordion fold. The bone folder works best for this. The length of the accordion depends on how many flags you want to put in, and the height of it depends on the width of the flags. Each of my folds is about 1/2 inch.



If you run out of paper, just fold another spine and attach it to the one you already have.



Using your paintbrush and glue, glue down the two outside flaps to your book covers.





You can then glue in your flags to alternating mountain folds. If you have more than one row, it can go the opposite way.





You can do drawings on you flags before or after you put them in the book, and you can add embellishments to the outside cover also.