My Bookbinding Hobby

I was first inspired to get into bookbinding when I saw a Scrabble notebook on Pinterest. I thought it would be the perfect gift for a friend who adored that particular board game. I did a great deal of research into various types of binding methods, from stab binding to metal ring binding, to determine which would be best for my planned project. After watching a few tutorials on YouTube, I decided that I was most interested in coptic stitching -- it produced a notebook that would lay perfectly flat, it was attractive, and it was an ancient method that is not commonly found today. I had a plan. I needed the tools and materials. 

After searching Michaels, the only local craft store, for the required tools and supplies, I determined that I would need to place an online order with Curry's Art Store. I selected a heavy weight awl, an X-ACTO knife, some binding needles, a metal ruler, a cutting mat, and some black masking tape, and was thrilled my order met the minimum for the free shipping promotion. While I waited for my order to travel from Toronto to Cape Breton, I made a few trips to local stores to find an old Scrabble game, a nice weight of paper to use with it, and some cotton thread in an appropriate colour. I decided to buy twice as much paper as I needed so that I could make a prototype journal before proceeding to the Scrabble notebook that would be, I thought, the best Christmas gift ever. About a week or so later, I had everything I needed assembled in my apartment. 

I once again watched a YouTube tutorial by Sea Lemon and then set about making my first journal. There were a few missteps along the way, so I was glad that I practiced in advance to get the technique down. When I was finished, I felt confident I could stitch the Scrabble notebook. It took several hours to cut the game board, fold the paper, punch the holes, assemble the signatures, and stitch the journal. Finished, it was 6x9" with six signatures of five folios each. The pages were 70lb paper, perfect for sketching. I was proud of my work and hid the journal away for Christmas. 

Enamoured with the process and the results it produced, I continued to make notebooks in my spare time, sometimes from candy boxes, sometimes from board games. I made them for friends and family members, selecting just the right cover based on their favourite products. And as I made them, I added photos to an album on facebook. 

Soon, Christmas was nearing and I couldn't wait to give my friend the Scrabble notebook. That's when something went wrong. My friend, who had previously proclaimed a love of hand-made, unique items, made fun of my new hobby. For a half hour, she asked what I would do with all of the journals I was making and commented that it was ridiculous how much I enjoyed it. That's when I decided a hand-crafted book probably wasn't for her. And instead, on Christmas morning, my mother received the Scrabble hand-stitched journal, which she appreciated for the craftsmanship and creativity that went into it.

My friend's reaction to my bookbinding hobby hasn't slowed me down any, but it has made me picky about who receives one of my journals. While I did take a bit of a hiatus the past several months (I've been busy with a professional development program), I'm now back in action and enjoying passing the evenings by hand-stitching journals.