How to Bind a Book

If you can bind a book, you can create a compilation of your poems and give them to a few special friends. Binding a book without staples is a neat little craft that produces decent results without requiring too many specialized tools.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Heavy needle
• Waxed thread
• Awl punch
• Spring clips

1. Measure and cut the cover stock. The cover stock must be the same size as the pages of your book. Choose one of the pieces as a front cover.

2. Measure 1/2-inch in from what will be the left-hand edge of the front cover. Bend the cover stock here to crease the stock so that the front cover will open easily.

3. Measure down 1/2-inch from the top and bottom of the piece of cover stock that you will be using as a front cover. Mark this on the cover stock and then measure the distance between these two marks. Divide this space into equal thirds and mark. You will be punching holes through these marks and driving waxed thread through the covers and the pages to make your book.

4. Stack the pages of your book on top of the back cover. Now, place the front cover on top of the stack. Tap the edges and get everything lined up nicely.

5. Use spring clips to hold everything in place. Before punching holes through the covers, make sure that the parts of your book don't slip out of place.

6. Ram the awl punch through the front cover, the sheets of paper and the back cover of your book.

7. Thread the needle and sew up your book. Start from the center holes and work toward the top and bottom edge of the book.

Tips & Warnings

• This method of binding a book is best used with smaller books with fewer pages. For longer works, you may be better served by a professional bindery service.

• Make sure you have a lot of waxed thread. You'll need a length of thread at least three times the height of your book so that you can make a decent binding.

• Be careful using the awl punch. It is really easy to punch clear through the book and into the surface you are working on.