Learn how to make handmade sketchbooks following these steps! Who needs to spend money on expensive books when you can make them in the classroom or at home?
First and foremost, here are the materials that you need:
MATERIALS
20 sheets of paper with different characteristics like texture and weight
Waxed string
Curved needle
Awl
Bone folder
Marked mini ruler with 1" and 0.5" alternating marks
Lotsss of binder clips
Two thick cardboard pieces half the size of your experimental paper (to act as covers)
Strong liquid glue
Large brush
Mini envelopes & clips (optional for storing scraps and keeping them in your sketchbook)
Steps:
Step 1: Organizing the Paper
From your 20 sheets of paper, choose which to put into groups of 5. At the end, you should have 4 groups of 5 that will serve as "signatures." Then, fold all signatures in half using the bone folder to accentuate the marks.
Step 2: Adding Holes
With each of your signatures, place the ruler on the inner spine and use the marks as a guide to poke holes all the way through with the awl.
Step 3: First Thread
The length of string needed is the number of signatures you have times the length of your signature's spine (as shown in first pic). Once you have the right length, create a small knot on one end with an inch of string hanging. Then, choose any signature and place its inner papers facing the table. Using a round needle, hook the string from the outside then in until your knot stops the thread from completely going through the spine. Your knot should end up on the outside of the spine.
Step 4: Stitching
From where you left off in the previous step, stitch along all of the holes you poked until you reach the top of the spine.
Step 5: Adding Another Signature
Once you've stitched the whole spine, add another signature and keep both in place with binder clips. Take the string from where you left off, and hook the string from the outside then in to the adjacent hole on the new signature. Then, stitch ONLY the first line in the new signature before moving on to step 6.
Step 6: Connecting Signatures
After step 5, your string should come out between the outer spines of the signatures. Following the pictures above, take your needle and loop the new thread (shown as green) into the stitch from your previous signature (shown as orange) to form an X shape. Then, pass the needle through the next hole on your new signature as per the third picture.
Step 7: Repeat
Continue stitching and looping until you've done all holes on the new signature. When adding a new signature, simply repeat steps 5 & 6.
Step 8: Finishing the Stitches
When you've done your last stitch on the last signature, take the needle and hook it through the adjacent hole of the VERY FIRST signature that you did. Two strings should now share that hole. You'll have two loose threads by the end, but don't cut them. Tie them together instead. Congratulations, you're done stitching! WHEW!
Step 9: Gluing Covers
Using a large brush, spread an even coat of glue onto the cardboard that'll be the cover. Then, place the sticky side onto the back of your decorative paper, and press the glue into the paper by using a bone folder. If paper is large, use an X-Acto knife to split it. Then, use it to trim the edges. Repeat these steps to make the back cover.
*Tip: Put weight on the cardboards for a few minutes as they dry so they don't warp.
Step 10: Finishing and Drying
Glue the loose threads onto the side of one of your outer signatures, then place that side of the signature onto one of the sticky cardboards. Use a bone folder to press them together. Repeat this step for the other cover. Afterwards, clip all sides of the sketchbook and let it dry. You now have your very own handmade sketchbook! :)
What This Project Teaches
This project is perfect for giving structure to students and demonstrating the importance of following directions. If a student doesn't play close attention or fools around, they won't be able to do it properly. Therefore, it is vital for the teacher to monitor everyone's progress and assist students if they run into any issues. This is also a great way to distinguish who has a hard time following instructions and needs extra help or clarification. Due to the complicated steps, I suggest giving this project to 6th graders and up. Even I, at 21 years old, struggled haha.
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