How to Bind With Leather
Handmade books of poetry, drawings, paintings and other writing and artwork make touching, personal gifts and keepsakes. If you're looking to bind a homemade book in an interesting, attractive way, think beyond the traditional staples, ribbon and yarn. Use thin, leather laces to bind your homemade book and give it a unique, rustic appearance.
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Things You'll Need
- Leather lacing
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun (optional)
- Glue sticks (optional)
Instructions
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1
Examine your homemade book to be sure that the left margin is no less than 1 inch away from the paper's edge. For binding with lengths of leather, as well as ribbon and yarn, the pages must be unfolded and in single sheets.
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2
Use a pencil and ruler to mark small dots 1/2 inch from the top, bottom and left edge of the top page. Use the small dot located 1/2 inch from the left edge as a guide to draw a line from the top to the bottom of the page. This line will act as a guide for your holes.
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3
Use a hole punch to make holes along the vertical line. Space them approximately 1/4 inch apart from the top to the bottom of the page.
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4
Measure and cut a length of thin, leather lacing that it is approximately twice the vertical length of your homemade book.
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5
Bind your book by weaving the length of leather lacing in and out of the holes from the top to the bottom of the page. Keep extra length at both the top and bottom holes for securing the leather lacing.
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6
Loop the extra length at the top and bottom back through their holes. Tie the leather lacing off at either end with a knot or bow.
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7
Use hot glue to secure the knots or bows in the leather binding, if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Add more interest to your homemade book by braiding three lengths of leather lacing and using the braid to bind it. You can also add decorations to the leather lacing at the top and bottom of your homemade book, such as colorful beads and feathers.
Use shorter lengths of leather lacing to bind each hole separately.
Exercise caution when using a hot glue gun.
