Sewn Book Instructions

  1. Gather paper that is printed on one side – scraps from a library or near a photocopy copier or printer is a great place to find scraps of paper that no one else wants.  Try to find some heavier paper for the cover stock – possibly an old magazine or an outdated poster on the wall.
  2. Cut the paper in half (about 10 pieces of paper, to make 20 pages)
  3. Cut the cover stock you have chosen slightly larger than the paper about 1/4” up and down, and 3/16” in width
  4. Take the paper and center it up and down in the  cover and tap it so it all lines up along the ‘spine’
  5. Clip it together along the three ‘non spine’ sides with paper clips or whatever else you have that might work (bull clips also work well)
  6. Unthread your sewing machine, using the handwheel to punch the holes along your spine.  The longer the stitch length the better.  It’s a bit hard to turn the wheel, but it should work.  If you happen to have an industrial machine – it should sew right through it.
  7. Now line up the holes from the machine.  Thread your machine, and sew through your holes – use whatever colours you want – I prefer to use different colours in the top and the bobbin
  8. Tie the threads on each end, and dab them with a little glue on the knots
  9. And woo-hoo, you have a lovely book to write stuff in, or even draw something cute in.