- 1). Determine the thickness of the book and count out the necessary sheets of paper for the inside of the book. Stack the paper neatly, matching all edges and corners. Measure the paper, if necessary.
- 2). Cut cardstock to the size of the paper. The cardstock forms the covers of the book; therefore, you can choose a colored or decorative cardstock to customize each book you make. Place the cardstock sheets at the top and bottom of the paper stack, with the right sides (pattern or finished sides) facing outward.
- 3). Measure 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the back edge of the book; use the ruler to make a mark at the top and bottom. Line the ruler up with the two marks and draw a straight line with the pencil. This line will be hidden by the binding ribbon.
- 4). Make a mark 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the top and bottom edges of the book, matching the distance from the spine as the line in the previous step. Cross the line drawn for the spine to produce a small plus-sign at the top and bottom. These will be the marks for the first and last holes for sewing. Make three to five, or more, plus-sign marks at equal distances along the spine line, using the ruler to make sure the marks are evenly spaced.
- 5). Place paper clips on three sides of the book to hold all pages in place. Lay the book on the cutting mat.
- 6). Start at the middle plus-sign and push the awl through the stack of cardstock and paper. Push the awl through the remaining plus-sign marks moving outward from the middle hole. These are the holes for stitching the binding together.
- 7). Cut a piece of ribbon at least three times longer than the length of your book's spine. Thread the needle with the ribbon, but do not knot the end.
- 8). Push the needle through the back of the second hole, from the edge, and pull the ribbon through the front of the middle hole until the remainder, at the back, is about two inches. Loop the ribbon over the spine and push through the back of the same hole. Pull the ribbon snug around the spine.
- 9). Push the needle through the front of the next hole, pulling the ribbon at the back of the book until it lies flat or neatly across the front between the two holes. Loop the ribbon over the spine and push through that hole again. Repeat this process until you reach the last hole; the ribbon will seem uneven, but you will thread the ribbon through the empty spaces next.
- 10
Wrap the ribbon around the end of the book, at the top or bottom, depending on the end you are at. Push the needle through that last hole again. Push the needle through the next hole, again, pulling the ribbon snug so it lays flat across the pencil line drawn earlier. - 11
Push the needle up through the next hole, then down through the third hole, pulling the ribbon snug each time. This time you are only stitching up and down through the holes along the spine, not wrapping the ribbon around the spine as you did earlier. When you reach the last hole, wrap the ribbon around the edge of the book and pull the needle through that last hole again. - 12
Tie the two lose ends of ribbon together in a double-knot or square-knot. Keep the knot close to the hole. If desired, put a dab of glue over the knot to secure it.
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