Stab Bound Books

Last week, I was asked to do a book binding demonstration at the market I attend every Thursday. I wasn’t really sure what to do, but I decided that I would choose something simple and straight-forward, in the hopes that people would see how easy it can be to bind their own books (and how little equipment you actually need) and hopefully try it out themselves. I also took along a few other examples of books I had made to show people what else was possible, including those from my Creative Book Binding and Handbound Scrap Paper Fabric Covered Journal posts.

I did get some interest from people who wanted to know what I was making, but unfortunately most still seemed intimated by what I was doing, even though I tried to assure them how simple it was!

I thought I would share what I was doing in case I can persuade anyone else to give it a go!

I was using 8x11.5cm paper blocks and 300gsm weight card that I had painted myself with acrylics, as well as a variety of threads that I had available to bind with. I decided to make the holes with a screw punch, because some of the threads I wanted to use were quite thick and I didn’t want to have to struggle with making large holes with an awl. I use two holes for landscape books and 4 holes for portrait books.

I’ll hopefully add some of these to my Etsy shop, when I can get around to photographing them properly.

Also, I have volunteered to do some more demonstrations over the following months, including one based on what I did in my Making Art with Angelina Fibres and Plastic Food Wrappers post and, hopefully, some embellishing. If you follow the market on Instagram you’ll see the photos/videos from this demonstration and hopefully any others I do!