magehandmade

[magehandmade]

As a chronic crafter and journal hoarder, it was only a matter of time before I got bitten by the bookbinding bug. Honestly, I’m surprised that it took me this long to hear the siren’s call. As with all crafts I feel a sudden, undeniable urge to pursue (despite my better judgement and sad weight of my pocket book), I wanted to immediately dump hundreds of dollars into stocking up on all the supplies I needed to craft my own journals. I resisted the urge and instead searched online for suitable beginner bookbinding kits to scratch my crafting itch.

Etsy is a dangerous place for a chronic crafter. I wanted one of everything in every color and in regards to bookbinding, I wanted every obscure tool and material I saw which I would only end up using once and then toss into the ever growing eclectic mound that is my craft corner. Thankfully, the Cleverhands Etsy shop came to my rescue and provided a bookbinding kit that was perfect for a dabbling bookbinder. For $36 (I bought the “large” size) I acquired a kit that included everything I needed to craft my first journal.

The kit comes in a simple cardboard box and includes:

French Link Stitch bookbinding instructions

Bone folder

Awl

Bookbinding needle

2 binder clips

1″ foam brush

1.5 oz. PVA bookbinding glue

3 yds waxed linen bookbinding thread

3 leather strips

2 bookboards cut to size

2 decorative endpapers

2 pc. book cloth

Paper punching guide

25% rag Strathmore fine writing signature paper

All materials and tools are organized and labeled inside the box, and the instruction book is simple and easy to follow for a first time bookbinder.

My first journal took only a few hours to complete and I was satisfied with how well it turned out. My stitching was a bit loose (the instructions warn about making the stitches too tight because it may make it difficult for the book to lie flat) causing my journal to wobble a bit, but it still holds together quite well.

My second attempt was much more successful. I made the stitches tighter but allowed enough give for the journal to lie flat. I printed up my own lined paper for it (a labor/ink intensive project that is only worth repeating occasionally), and used fabric from Fireside Textiles for the cover. The goal was to make a witchy-themed spellbook/recipe journal and their fabric print was perfect for that.

The best part of starting with a kit is that all the tools I have left over I can use for other projects. All I really need is more glue, thread, and bookboard, all of which are readily available from Hollander’s, a bookbinding supply shop. There are hundreds of bookbinding tutorials online for a multitude of styles and materials, but for now my crafting addiction is sated.

Bookbinding With Cleverhands As a chronic crafter and journal hoarder, it was only a matter of time before I got bitten by the bookbinding bug.