#selfmade bookcloth

[zhalfirin-binds]

Selfmade bookcloth

I tried my hand at backing fabric with paper to make my own bookcloth for the first time. It went surprisingly well although my fabrics are all synthetic fibers. I had mixed results though. I started out backing all with paste and paper, but I guess there had been some spots too dry already when I got the paper on the fabric and there were some spots where both did not stick together. There are three smaller sheets of the copper fabric, two are backed with a iron on paper, one with paste and a thin paper I usually use for wrapping books up and such. The pale green fabric too had large spots not adhered to the fabric, so I pulled the paper off and used the iron on method there too. The teal fabric was the thickest one and it worked perfectly although it gave me the most worries when I started. The cloth didn’t want to lie flat and first the water just dripped off. I gave it a moment (and more water) and it lay smooth enough though and there were no air bubbles at all. All in all I’m quite satisfied. Especially since there was none the dreaded bleed through! Not even with the thin fabrics.

[zhalfirin-binds]

Selfmade bookcloth

Another badge. This time the pretty blue fabric worked out just fine. The greens are both cotton and give me trouble at all. The other stripey fabric is yet another synthetic fiber and it curled up like hell when I pried it loose from the table. I think it’s still workable, but the tension there is certainly something to consider.

[zhalfirin-binds]

WIP Interview mit einem Vampir (Interview with a vampire)

Part I colour matching and picking materials

I admit, I’m rebinding this book partially because I really don’t like the cover of the paperback and partially because I really want to use that printed cork fabric. Finding a good colour to stand out but not too harshly was a bit of a stretch when I checked the commercial bookcloth I had. Luckily I went on bookcloth spree a few weeks back and have a few options more now. I might go back and check for a totally different colour tomorrow though. Picking endpapers that would not clash with the colours and print of the cork was difficutl too (because I tend to be very indecisive) but eventually I decided for a colour gradient. I don’t like how paperback just start with the book no warming up at all. So I added a few more to ease into the book and get a nicer transition between endpaper and (aged) text paper. Initially I had third paper there, but it did nothing for the fading so I decided against it.