How to Bind a Round Book Creatively
The Asians did the first bookbinding with books made from palm leaves or strips of bark. They placed the pages between two pieces of wood. They drilled the wood and lashed it together with a cord or leather throng. Advancements over time changed the book binding method to sewing and/or gluing the spines, then covering the outside of the book with a hard-pressed cardboard. A method to bind the pages in a round book is to drill several holes and use a wooden skewer to hold the lacing in place.
Things You'll Need
- Round book
- Small spring clamps
- Ruler
- Soap
- Soft cloth
- Butcher's paper
- Drill press
- 1/16-inch drill bit
- Two wooden skewers
- Catgut
- Scissors
- Two needles
Instructions
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1
Line up the edges of the round pages. Secure the pages together tightly with spring clamps.
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2
Determine the desired line for the binding placement. Draw a very light graphite line on the front of the book in the area. Measure 1/4-inch from each side of the line and place small dots every 1/2-inch directly across from one another.
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3
Clean the surface of the drill press thoroughly with soap and water. Dry with a lint-free towel. Place a piece of butcher's paper over the surface of the drill press.
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4
Insert the 1/16-inch drill bit in the drill press. Line up the drill bit with the first marked dot on the book front. Drill through the book. Repeat the process with each mark.
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5
Cut a piece of catgut 36 inches long. Thread a needle on both ends of the catgut.
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6
Place a wooden skewer on top of the lightly drawn line on the front of the book. Place a second wooded skewer directly behind the book in the same location. Clamp the two skewers in place with a clean spring clamp.
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7
Thread the catgut through the holes on the book like stringing a pair of shoes. Begin with the bottom two holes on the back of the book. Put one needle through the hole to the right of the wooden skewers and one to the left. Flip the book to the front. Pull the catgut tight. Pull the catgut evenly so half of it is on each side of the skewers.
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8
Cross the catgut. Place the right needle through the next hole to the left. Place the left needle through the next hole to the right. Flip the book over and pull tight. Repeat the process until you use all holes. Tie the two ends of the catgut with a double knot. Cut off the excess.
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