a

a
a
a
spine

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE BOOK

covers

measuring
strip

PREPARING THE TEXT BLOCK:

2.

1.

width

4.

3.

3/4

Headband

3/4

spine

spine

covers

covers

measuring
strip

3/4

ng
A signature is sewn to binding
Guided by marks
measuri on a stiff
strip
spine tape. Additional signatures are
paper, an awl is used to punch
added
and sewn in turn. An end
holes in each signature.
covers
width
sheet of strong paper is sewn or
tipped on using glue. Marbled
ormeasuring
other decorative paper may
strip
be laminated
to the end sheet.
width

Sheets of paper are folded with a bone folder

and interleaved to make
a signature.
3/4

1/4between
cover and spine

3/4

covers

measuring
strip

1/4between
cover and spine

width

and

Headb

6.

spine

7.

3/4

spine

width

3/4

The text block is compressed with a clamp.

Open weave cloth, called super, is laid on
the spine and a coat of neutral pH adhesive
is brushed through the super to form a flexible yet strong bond when dry. A decorative
headband may be glued to the ends of the
text block.

Headband

PREPARING THE COVER:

5.

n
twee1/4between
1/4be d spcover
e spine
inand
cover an

3/4

3/4

3/4

1/4between
cover and spine

8.

3/4

3/4

covers

1/4between
cover and spine

3/4

3/4

spine

Headband

3/4

covers

asuring
strip

width

adband

covers

measuring
strip

1/4between
cover and spine

Covers are cut from

heavy duty (.060".100") binder's board.
The spine piece is cut
from acid-free stock
Headband
.010"-.012" thick.

3/4

1/4between
cover and spin
e

3/4

3/4

3/4

1/4between
cover and spine

Covers and the spine piece are laid

on book cloth and the cloth is cut
3/4" larger on all sides. Neutral pH
adhesive is spread on the inside surface of the book cloth and the three
pieces are positioned, pressed to
remove air and allowed to dry.

FINAL ASSEMBLY PROCESS:

10.

9.

measuring
strip

tween
1/4be d spine
n
cover a width

width

3/4

Width dimensions for the

cover and spine strip are
captured from the text
block by wrapping a strip
of paper around the spine
and marking the spine
width and cover size.

Headband

3/4

1/4between
cover and spine

The overhanging book cloth is

3/4 and spine
turned over the covers
and glued down with neutral pH
adhesive. Corners are mitred using
a bedsheet tuck.

Headband

3/4

3/41/4between

11.

3/4

cover and spine

1/4between
cover and spine

3/4

3/4

1/4between
cover and spine

1/4between
cover and spi
ne

3/4

Neutral pH adhesive is
applied to the super and
binding tape to bond these to
the end sheet.

3/4

The text block is placed on the

inside of the cover blank. The end
sheet is glued to the cover. Finally,
the book is pressed or clamped
between boards and let dry.

3/4

Finished book
spine

spine

spine

covers

measuring
strip

covers

covers

measuring
strip

measuring
strip

width

width

1/4between
cover and spine

1/4between
cover and spine