When you're into bookbinding and other book arts, you know that book cloth is not only expensive, but you're often limited to some pretty bland choices. By making your own book cloth, the possibilities are endless, but it's important to do it right. If you use just regular fabric without doing anything to it, the glue will seep through, creating dull, opaque splotches that are not pretty at all. There is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to solve any book cloth woes.
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Difficulty:
Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
Woven cotton fabric (no knits), about 1 yard
Iron-on adhesive, about 1 yard
Tissue paper, or other lightweight paper like rice paper, about 1 yard
Cut the fabric, adhesive and tissue paper all the same size, larger than what you will need to bind your book.
2
Adhere the adhesive to the fabric according to package directions. Generally, this means placing the sticky side down on the fabric with the paper backing facing up and ironing the adhesive onto the fabric. Make sure to put the adhesive on the wrong side of the fabric. Do not use the steam setting. If you find the nylon/silk setting isn't hot enough, go up to polyester, but no further.
3
Peel off the backing from the adhesive, and place the tissue paper on top, taking care to keep the tissue paper as straight and wrinkle-free as possible.
4
Iron directly on the tissue paper. Be careful to avoid bubbles or folding. Now you are ready with customized book cloth to cover a book.
Tips & Warnings
Go to the upholstery section of the fabric store, and try some fabrics like suede or pleather.
Try embroidering the cloth before turning it into book cloth.
Don't use super thin fabrics or synthetic fabrics that can't be ironed.
