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From Fabric to Tome: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own Book Cloth

With the recent launch of our online course, The Beginner’s Bookbinding Blueprint we have been talking a lot about bookbinding materials. In our beginner’s course (both online and in person) we create a half bound cloth binding. This style of binding has a hardcover, with a cloth spine and decorative papers on the sides of the cover. The spine material used in this binding is ‘bookcloth’ or can be ‘buckram’. To the beginner, this may be an unfamiliar material and can be something perceived to be really hard to find.

So what is book cloth?

Buckram, muslin, canvas and linen are all used for various purposes in bookbinding. Book cloth is a specially designed fabric used in bookbinding to cover and protect the exterior of a book. It’s usually made from cotton, linen, or a blend of both, and is often starched and coated with an acrylic or vinyl material to provide durability and resistance to wear and tear. A good book cloth should not stretch easily, should be reasonably resistant to water, and have a fairly tight weave to prevent adhesives from seeping through. Obviously if you just do a Google search for ‘book cloth’ or ‘buckram’ you will find there is a vast array of options for purchasing ‘ready-made’ book cloth, but if you are interested in really unleashing your creativity, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible with a little trial and error, to make your own!

DIY bookcloth

There are actually several ways to make your own book cloth. Which one you choose will ultimately depend on how you want to use your book and the result you would like to achieve. Read on below for a few options, with the pros and cons of each method.

IRON - ON BOOKCLOTH

We’re starting with the easiest one! You only require a few basic items to complete this.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

  • Fabric (a cotton or linen fabric works best)

  • Iron-on adhesive (like Heat n’ Bond Ultrahold)

  • Tissue paper or Japanese rice paper

  • Baking paper

  • Iron.

STEP 1:

Place your fabric, face down, on your cutting mat and cover with a matching amount of iron-on adhesive (eg. Heat n’ Bond Ultrahold - available from Spotlight or similar stores) and cut the amount required.

STEP 2:

Use an iron to adhere the iron- on adhesive to the back side of your fabric (follow the instructions on your chosen product for this step).

STEP 3:

Allow your fabric and adhesive to cool and remove the protective backing from the adhesive. Place your tissue paper over the adhesive and usse your baking paper to protect the tissue from direct contact with the iron. Iron the tissue onto the adhesive. The heat from the iron will activate the adhesive, while the baking paper will stop the tissue from burning.

Finally, complete your bookcloth by trimming the edges to ensure that both the fabric and tissue lining are fused together.

PROS: Mess free, only a few steps, quick to do

CONS: Fabric won’t be water resistant, Fabric can mark, easily - (ie. not ideal for recipe books!), fabric can not be hot foiled or embossed.

PASTED BOOKCLOTH

This is almost identical to the previous method with the main difference being using a paste to adhere the fabric to the backing tissue.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

STEP 1:

Cut your fabric and tissue paper to the required size.

STEP 2:

Place your fabric face down on a hard surface such as your bench or a piece of stone if you have one. Next you are going to paste one side of the tissue.

STEP 3:

Apply a thin layer of paste to one side of your tissue. Gently lift the paper (it will want to curl so lift both edges at the same time) and place the pasted side of the tissue onto the back of your fabric.

STEP 4:

Use your hand or a rolling pin to smooth down the paper on the fabric. You need to press or roll out any air bubbles but you should try to avoid pressing the paste through the fibres of the fabric.

STEP 5:

Leave your book cloth to dry overnight. Trim the edges. It is now ready to use.

PROS: Very inexpensive, Easy to make, Not time consuming (excluding drying time)

CONS: Can be messy, Fabric won’t be water resistant, Fabric can mark, easily - (ie. not ideal for recipe books!), fabric can not be hot foiled or embossed.

COATED BOOKCLOTH

The final method we’ll explore in this post is for a ‘coated’ or ’filled’ book cloth. Again there are several methods to do this using slightly different ingredients. This is the most complex of the three but the result is the most like the book cloth that we would use in the bindery on a regular basis.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

  • Fabric (this method requires a tightly woven cotton or linen)

  • Acrylic medium (available in art supplies shops like Zart Art)

  • Starch Paste (The bindery one is from the UK - but I used this Silver Star one that is easy to find)

  • A piece of stone, glass or heavy plastic

  • Paste Brush or Mini Paint Roller

Acrylic medium, Cotton Fabric, Silver Star Starch

STEP 1:

Cut your fabric so that you have enough for your book cover - make sure you allow extra for turning the fabric over the cover boards, plus about an extra 2cm on one short edge.

STEP 2:

Make some starch paste by mixing a tablespoon of starch powder with about 4 - 5 tablespoons of water & microwave for 20 seconds. Whisk while warm to get rid of lumps.

STEP 3:

In a small dish or bowl, mix the starch paste with the acrylic medium in a ratio of 1:1. How much you mix will depend on how much fabric you want to coat/fill. For one small book approximately 50ml of each (100ml) adhesive in total is more than enough.

STEP 4:

Lay your fabric on the stone/glass/plastic. Coat the entire side (excluding the extra 2cm on the top edge- I taped my edge) with a thin but even layer of the adhesive mixture. Use brush strokes from the top to bottom, slightly overlapping each stroke to ensure no gaps.

STEP 4:

Turn the fabric over and repeat step 3 on the other side,(again excluding the top 2cm on the same top edge) ensuring no gaps.

STEP 5:

Depending on the temperature/humidity and if you are using air conditioning, the book cloth will completely dry overnight. My preferred method for drying is to leave it on the piece of stone until just tacky but not completely dry, then peel off the stone and peg the top edge that you didn’t apply glue to on a drying rack (or clothes line) so that both ‘filled’ sides are not touching anything. To finish trim off the ‘peg edge’ as this hasn’t been treated and you’re ready to use your book cloth.

The end result was a stiffened fabric with a slight but not too obvious coating. The fabric was slightly darker than the original uncoated fabric, but was definitely more resistant to marks. In addition, a huge bonus was that the fabric was able to be embossed with names or decorative elements.

PROS: Protects the fabric with a coating, somewhat water resisant, wipeable, most fabrics treated this way will tolerate hot foiling/ embossing, Gives you huge variety of colour/pattern options

CONS: More expensive than other methods mentioned, Takes a bit or trial and error, Messier than the other methods, Slightly more time consuming

Find Your Style: A Guide to Different Bookbinding Styles

If you're someone like me, who appreciates the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into creating a beautiful book, then you've come to the right place. Whether you're a book lover, an aspiring bookbinder, or simply intrigued about the various styles of book binding, I want to ignite your passion for bookbinding and maybe even convince you to give it a try!

Within the world of bookbinding, there is no shortage of styles to discover and appreciate. Each style has its own unique characteristics, offering a blend of tradition, innovation, and personal expression. If you are an aspiring bookbinder, there is likely a particular style of bookbinding that captivates you the most.

Bookbinding is a fabulous way to unleash your creativity, and crafting your own book is not only REALLY satisfying, but once you have done it a few times, it can be a a mindful exercise that is relaxing too. To help you uncover ‘the style’ that you are most drawn to, I’ve listed five different styles of bookbinding from the most basic, to those that are slightly more complex.

  1. perfect binding

    Perfect binding is a popular method of bookbinding that provides a clean and professional finish. The pages of the book are gathered together and glued along the spine, creating a sturdy and durable binding. This type of binding allows the book to lay flat when opened, making it a convenient choice for reading and referencing. It is the standard binding technique for modern paperbacks.

2. concertina binding

The concertina style of bookbinding is characterized by folding a long strip of paper back and forth in accordion-like pleats. It creates a continuous structure that can be unfolded to reveal the entire content of the book in one long strip, or folded for compact storage. This versatile style allows for unique artistic designs and innovative storytelling, making it a popular choice for artists and hobbyist bookmakers.

Want to try this yourself? Click here to get the FREE step by step guide

3. stab binding (also known as japanese binding)

A traditional bookbinding technique that originated in Japan. It involves sewing the pages together along the spine using a series of evenly spaced holes punched through each page. The result is a visually stunning and functional binding that basically consists of 4 holes with the thread wrapping each time around the spine and also at the top and bottom. This style of binding allows the book to lay flat when opened, perfect for showcasing intricate artwork or calligraphy.

4. Coptic binding

Coptic binding is a traditional bookbinding technique that originated in early Christian Egypt. It is characterized by its distinct exposed sewing on the spine, creating a visually striking pattern. The binding allows the book to open completely flat, making it ideal for sketchbooks, journals, or any book that requires easy accessibility and durability.

Image Source: Shutterstock

5. traditional section sewn binding

Traditional section sewn binding is the method of assembling a book where folded sheets of paper, known as signatures, are hand stitched together with thread. This technique ensures durability and allows the books to lay flat whn open, providing a high-quality, artisanal feel. Each signature is sew to the next, creating a strong, flexible spine that can endure years of handling - think large, vintage leather bound volumes.

This style of binding is ideal for precious works and limited editions as it lends itself to becoming a precious heirloom.

We run workshops teaching section sewn, hard cover binding to benginner’s. Click the link to join our mailing list if you want to know when our workshops are scheduled! You’ll also receive a FREE guide to making a Concertina Binding like the one pictured above(No.2)


Have you found your favourite bookbinding style? Let me know in the comments below!