Hello hello! ✨

Remember the countless times I mentioned my ADHD? Well…it has struck again, but this time it’s come for The Sprouting Bookbinder 🥲 (so sad, I know!)

To make a long story short, writing weekly for this newsletter became my main hobby, pulling me away from my bookbinding practice. SO, I’m stepping back in order to actually start binding books again.

When I started TSB, I told myself I’d give it 3 months to gather enough data on whether this was a sustainable practice for me. Well, I made it to an incredible 2 months (8 whole posts!) and gained infinite amounts of data:

• I learned that I genuinely love writing

• My morning commute felt so much more fulfilling when I spent it planning and writing my next post (even if I just worked on it for 5 minutes that day)

• Forming a habit with my ADHD was actually not impossible! (writing weekly was legitimately the first habit I’ve ever successfully kept)

• And lots more, including vast improvements on my perfectionism, creative confidence, and general content creation skills (like SEO, marketing, etc)

So for now, I’ll be focusing on bookbinding and my other hobbies while releasing the pressure and commitment of posting weekly here. I’d like to think I’ll be back when I’ve completed a bind I’m excited to share, or if inspiration strikes in a way that feels genuine rather than obligated.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here. 🩵 I hope you enjoyed the bookbinding content I shared, learned something new, or maybe were inspired to try binding yourself 😋

🌱 Thank you again for reading, and as always, happy binding!

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🩵 Thank You, Thank You!

A big thank you to the three amazing bookbinders who gave me permission to showcase their remarkable work with you today: @hyacinth_bindery, @blackcatbindery, @bluelagoonbindery

If you’re also blown away by their work, go check out their pages to let them know!

Quick Note: Typeset credits included if mentioned. I don’t vet content/creators, so check tags before reading!

🔖 Dual Howl’s Moving Castles

Binder: Hyacinth Bindery (@hyacinth_bindery)

Book: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Original Post: View on Instagram

As one of the first (and favorite!) Studio Ghibli movies I watched, these binds melt my heart with the breathtaking flower garden scene gracing the covers 💙 The rich imagery was hand-illustrated by the binder herself, which adds a whole new creative dimension to an already impressive bind. The delicate use of gold for the border and book information gives the books a whimsical yet elegant feel, which I think perfectly encapsulates the story itself.

🔖 Leather Embossed 1984

Binder: Rosy Gray, Black Cat Bindery (@blackcatbindery)

Book: 1984 by George Orwell

Original Post: View on Instagram

While I’ll admit to forgetting the majority of 1984 from reading it in school, seeing the embossed “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” immediately struck me with the powerful energy of this classic’s themes. 👁️📺 The repeating phrase feels like a subtle, relentless chant that gives you a glimpse into the story’s tone. The use of gold in the title and author brings such minimal sophistication as it integrates in line with the repeating text. The precision and craftsmanship executed by Rosy is the kind of thoughtful work that makes bookbinding an art form. 🤎 (She’s also bound other leather-embossed versions of 1984 that I’ve included!)

🔖 A Grand Budapest Hotel Box Set

Binder: Belle, Blue Lagoon Binding (@bluelagoonbindery)

Fanfiction: The Rights and Wrongs series by lovesbitca8 (on AO3)

Original Post: View on Instagram

Ok, ok, ok.....I am OBSESSED with this box set! 😍 As a HUGE fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Wes Anderson films in general, I was completely stunned by how glorious the outer box looks. Then, after seeing the theme continue inside with the book covers ... 🤤! The sheer detail and artistry of this entire set is just gorgeous. The gold HTV atop the moody scenes on the book covers feels so classy paired alongside the soft-touch laminate. What also blew my mind was the continuation of the theming within the typeset itself and the golden key bookmark charms! 🗝️ This is one of those binding projects that represents the extraordinary creativity within the bookbinding community.

📚 What inspiring binds have you seen lately?

Any cool projects that stunned or resonated with you? Share in the comments to spread the love!

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🌱 Thank you for reading, and happy binding!

💌 Know any bookbinders, book lovers, or creatives who’d love these binds? Feel free to share the love!

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A pamphlet stitch bind is very beginner-friendly and requires supplies that you probably already have around your home! I’ll focus on the simplest version of the bind: 3-hole stitch with a soft cover, but there are lots of amazing variations you can explore later too.

We’ll walk through it together in 5 steps, and by the end, you’ll have handmade your very own book! 🍂

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🔖 Step 1: Get Inspired

Before we get started on any binding or material gathering, we have to decide what our little book will be about.

Perhaps you already have some ideas, but here are a few to get the gears turning if you need some extra inspo:

• Comfort recipes you return to every autumn

• Favorite cozy movies list (maybe with space for your movie reviews)

• Your TBR book list for the rest of this year or the next

• Gratitude journal for the rest of 2025

• A list of your current or all-time favs (like your favorite movies, music, shows, books, video games, anything!)

• Goals for 2026, or a bucket list

• Habit tracker, planner, or calendar

• A printed version of your Pinterest board

• Blank journal or sketchbook to fill with your thoughts and creations

Just make sure you pick something that genuinely makes you smile and has you feeling excited!

🔖 Step 2: Gather Your Materials & Tools

You probably already have most of these items at home, but I’ll include alternatives just in case! Don’t feel pressured to buy anything; just start with what you have. 😁

• Paper for the inside contents: 3-5 sheets of paper (can be printer paper, notebook paper, whatever you have!)

• Cover material: 1 sheet of heavier paper (like cardstock or scrapbook paper)

• Needle: Any sewing needle is fine

• Thread: The “standard” bookbinding thread is typically made out of linen or cotton. But use what you have! If you have regular sewing thread, embroidery floss, or even dental floss, you’ll be set.

• Something to poke holes with: An awl is a staple bookbinding tool, but anything pointy will do (like a thumbtack)

• Something to crease the paper: Bone folders are also a staple tool, but you can also use a butter knife, plastic card, spoon/fork handle, a sharpie, or your fingernail.

• Box cutter and/or scissors

• Ruler

• Pencil

And that’s it! No fancy supplies needed.

🔖 Step 3: Create Your Contents

This is where we get to start making things! 😋

Depending on whether you’re creating a blank journal/sketchbook or something more custom, here are some design options:

Making a journal or sketchbook:

• Use blank, lined, or dot paper (you can print the lines/dots on regular paper if needed)

• Hand-letter your title page

• Doodle little decorations

• Add washi tape or stickers

Making a custom book:

• Design your pages in Canva, Word, or Google Docs

• Add prompts, lines, or any blank pages

• Make sure your total page count is a multiple of 4 (like 8, 12, 16, or 20 pages)

• Follow the printing steps below!

A quick note on size: For a nice pocket book, we’ll create a small booklet by cutting standard printer paper (8.5” x 11”) in half to get 8.5” x 5.5” sheets. When folded, this creates a 4.25” x 5.5” booklet (this is called quarto size, and it’s perfect for slipping into a bag or pocket!)

Page order matters (diagram below): When you fold sheets in half to create a booklet, the pages won’t be in order unless you arrange them correctly. This is called imposition, and here’s the easiest way to do it:

1. Set up your document with a page size of 4.25” x 5.5”

2. Design your pages and download as a regular PDF (making sure your total page count is a multiple of 4)

3. Use a free imposition tool to convert your PDF to booklet page order. Make sure to select “4 pages per sheet” or “quarto” size in the tool. Some free websites:

   1. BookletFree.com (simple to use, beginner-friendly)

   2. Bookbinder JS (more features, but can be overwhelming)

4. Download and print your newly formatted document

5. Now you can cut and fold the sheets as mentioned above, and your pages will be in the right order!

🔖 Step 4: Create Your Cover

For the cover, there really aren’t any rules; you can get as maximalist or simplistic as you’d like! However, the main guideline would be to use a heavier/thicker material for the cover than what you used for the inner pages (like cardstock, scrapbook paper, or even a cereal box).

Here are some design ideas:

• Design and print off a custom cover

• Collage one together (print pictures, use magazine images, stickers, washi tape, anything!)

• Draw or paint the cover

• Use decorative scrapbook paper

Cover size: Your cover should be the same size as your folded pages from Step 3 (8.5” x 5.5”, which is then folded to 4.25” x 5.5”)

Now that you have your cover + your book’s inner pages, let’s bind it all together!

🔖 Step 5: Bind it all Together!

So here’s where you put the bind in bookbind to create an actual book!

What you’ll need:

• Your inner content pages (folded and nested inside each other)

• Your cover (folded in half)

• Needle and thread

• Your hole-poking tool (awl or thumbtack)

• Pencil and ruler

Binding prep (making the sewing holes):

1. Nest your book together: Nest all your inner pages inside your folded cover, ensuring everything aligned at the fold/spine.

2. Mark the holes: Open the booklet to the center fold. Using your ruler and pencil, mark 3 holes along the spine:

   1. Hole 1: about 1/4” from the top

   2. Hole 2: halfway down the length of the fold

   3. Hole 3: about 1/4” from the bottom

3. Poke the holes: Make sure everything’s aligned, then use your awl or thumbtack to carefully poke through all the pages at each mark.

Stitch steps (video tutorials below):

Note: If you prefer the thread knot on the inside of the book, do the opposite of each “outside/inside” direction.

1. Thread your needle: Cut a piece of thread about 3 times the length of your spine. Thread the needle (but don’t tie a knot yet!)

2. Start the stitch (hole 2): From the outside, push your needle through the middle hole (hole 2) to the inside. Pull the thread through, leaving a 3” tail on the outside.

3. Stitch up (hole 2 → hole 1): From the inside (hole 2), push the needle out through the top hole (hole 1) to the outside.

4. Stitch down (hole 1 → hole 3): From the outside (hole 1), push the needle in through the bottom hole (hole 3) to the inside.

5. Stitch to the middle (hole 3 → hole 2): From the inside (hole 3), push the needle out through the middle hole (hole 2) to the outside. You should now have both thread ends coming out of the middle hole on the outside.

6. Tie it off: Tie them together in a double knot and trim the excess thread.

Helpful video tutorials:

• 3-hole stitch tutorial by Helen Hiebert

• 5-hole stitch tutorial by art // books // boxes // Ina Baumeister

🍁 And voilà! You have just made a book!

But remember,

Done is better than perfect! ✨

Since the pamphlet bind is so low-stakes, if you mess up, you’ve only used a few sheets of paper and maybe 15-30 minutes of your time.

The point is that you created a book with your own two hands! And you can always make another one (which I hope you do anyway 😉)

📚 What would your pamphlet-stitched book be?

Would you create your own personal journal? A new sketchbook? Or something more unique and personal?

Share your bind ideas in the comments!

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🌱 Thank you for reading, happy binding!

💌 Know any creatives who’d like to make their own cozy book this fall? Share the love!

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“This is so cool! It’s wonderful that you bound so many meaningful texts. I’ve been wanting to get into bookbinding, but I didn’t have any ideas of what to bind other than blank journals (I’m a stationery fiend) and my academic theses. + I hadn’t even thought of typesetting....” —

This was perfect timing, because Jekyll & Hyde was not just my second bind ever, but also the first time I typeset a book!

So I figured I’d frame this project around the four mistakes I made while learning to typeset. 😁 My hope is that you can avoid these beginner mistakes if you’re trying out typeset design yourself!

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🔖 Mistake #1: Making the Font Too Large

After getting my Kindle a year ago, I learned that enlarging the font to grandma size really helped my ADHD brain focus while reading. So I figured that using a larger font for my book would have the same effect.

Wrong. I was so wrong. 🥲

Setting the font to 13pt looked so goofy! (typical size used is 9-12pt) Of course, I didn’t print any test pages to catch this before printing and binding my entire text block. 🙃 What looked great on my computer screen actually looked completely off when it was on the physical page.

What I learned: PRINT TEST PAGES! What works on a computer screen doesn’t always translate to paper. Printing a test page or two will save you a lot of facepalm moments down the line.

🔖 Mistake #2: Using Stiff Text Alignment

Text alignment was one of those things I didn’t think would have a huge impact on the overall design.

Again, WRONG!

I decided to use justified text alignment because I thought it was satisfying how the words fit neatly into an even block. But what felt clean and sophisticated on the screen actually ruined the entire vibe of the story.

The text looked and felt so rigid on the page, which was NOT the feeling this classic, gothic Victorian story deserved.

The story was missing the organic, natural flow that left aligned text would have achieved.

What I learned: Pull books from your own shelf to use as references. Notice how certain design choices make you feel as a reader. What about its typeset feels natural? What about it feels off? Looking over your books with this perspective will help you develop your own designer’s eye 👁️ (And also, PRINT TEST PAGES!)

🔖 Mistake #3: Too Much Breathing Room for the Chapter Starts

When researching typeset design, I read that chapters were supposed to start on the recto (right-side) page. I decided to follow this guidance, but also chose to make the verso (left-side) page blank, thinking the dramatic two-page spread would feel elegant.

While I’ve seen this design choice implemented in other books, to me it completely killed the reading flow of the story. You’d finish a chapter, turn the page, and be greeted with a lopsided feel of a blank left page, and a text heavy right page. It felt very choppy, like the story kept pausing before you could continue.

Plus, if the previous chapter ended on the verso side, that meant you had 2-2.5 blank pages before hitting text again in the next chapter! This was definitely not the flow I was going for.

What I learned: Using my own books as references would have helped immensely here too! Test pages not so much since you’d have to print whole chapters in order to get the picture. Even though this design choice wasn’t my cup of tea, it’s nice to have a physical reminder of what I DON’T like.

🔖 Mistake #4: Not Accounting for Trimming Space in My Margins

Margins are still something I am playing around with, but one mistake I will not be making again is forgetting to include extra space for text block trimming!

Despite knowing I was going to be using my guillotine to trim the pages, I didn’t think about how that would make my existing margins smaller. 🙃 So I ended up with smaller margins than anticipated at the book’s foredge and tail.

What I learned: Make the foredge and tail margins slightly larger in order to account for what will be cut off. (Of course, if you want cool deckled edges, this can be ignored!)

🌟 Bonus Mistakes!

These are other mess ups I noted during the construction of the book itself:

• Forgetting to print borderless for full-page images. I ended up with unwanted white edges around the picture on the title page.

• Trimming the text block before gluing the spine. Thankfully this didn’t cause any major issues this time, but trimming the text block after it’s bound and glued ensures there won’t be any shifting pages after they’re already trimmed smooth.

• Not aligning the pages to the top edge! This one is HUGE. When tapping the unglued textblock on your workspace to align its pages, always align them to the head and the spine. You don’t want the top of your book or the spine to be uneven!

• Using thin fonts on the cover design. This was round 2 of my HTV weeding nightmare 😭 (to see my first HTV disaster, check out this post about my first bind ever). Do you know what would have prevented this? Did you guess printing test pages? If so, you get an A+ for paying attention!

• Eyeballing my corner cuts resulting in uneven turn-ins. Not exactly a mistake since I’ve seen lots of binders be able to do this perfectly without using any tools. However, I do not possess, nor care to improve this skill. I ended up buying corner mitters but wish I had made them at home from my scarp book board!

• Struggling with PVA glue drying time. Again, not really a mistake, but definitely something I got extremely frustrated with. I knew I wanted to explore methyl cellulose for future binds to create a MC/PVA paste mix. This would slow down the drying time, allowing for more working time trying to align things while gluing.

📚 Have you tried typesetting yet?

Is it something that you’re curious to try out? Or does it seem overwhelming?

Share in the comments! I love typeset design and would be thrilled to share more of what I know if it’s something that you’re interested in. 😊

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I hope my mistakes were helpful for you. Enjoy more photos of this book below!

🌱 Thank you for reading! Happy binding!

📸 Project Photos & Stats

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Book Pages: 120 (2 flyleafs + 118 original pages)

Signatures: 4 signatures, 6 sheets each

Project Timeline: March 2025 - June 2025

💌 Know any bookbinders or creatives who’d enjoy this weekly newsletter? Share the love!

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But this past year wasn’t just about learning to bind books; it was about learning how to sustain this new hobby while navigating some big life changes.

This year brought some challenging adjustments, like starting a new job that requires commuting 15 hours a week, and working on getting my anxiety and ADHD under control. (Seriously, cheers to anyone else who is tackling their mental health right now because it is NOT easy feat!)

But there were also some amazing highlights too, like my boyfriend and I settling into our first home together, welcoming a new fur baby into our family, and starting this newsletter!

And somehow, in the middle of all that, I managed to complete four binding projects.

Four may not sound like a lot, but it marks the persistent love I have for this hobby despite any chaos that popped up this year.

I want to reflect on these projects not only to showcase the binding skills a beginner can learn in a year, but also to show what it really looks like to grow a creative practice while life goes on around you.

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🔖 Project 1: The First Bind

The Legend of Dante by Laura Gulbranson (November 2024 - March 2025)

The bind that started it all! The Legend of Dante was written by my friend Laura, and was bound by me as a belated holiday gift for her last year. I experienced the bookbinding process for the first time, along with the profound satisfaction of completing an entire book by hand. I wrote about breaking through my ADHD hobby-hopping streak with this project in my first newsletter.

🔖 Project 2: My First Typeset

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (March 2025 - June 2025)

Jekyll and Hyde was a fun project because I typeset the story myself! I LOVED the typesetting process and learning Adobe InDesign. Using my software background, I had fun coding a few InDesign scripts too 😋 I had found a guillotine on sale and added it to my growing bookbinding tool collection. I learned how to use it for the first time by trimming this text block! This book now lives on the shelf in my craft room, where I flip through it when chilling between projects.

🔖 Project 3: The 2-Day Bind

Connerisms: a collection of a retiree’s stories (May 2025 - July 2025)

Oof...ok, this project was a whirlwind. To make a long story short: my mom had been collecting stories her coworker Connor would share after she found out his wife had Alzheimer’s. She wanted to create a meaningful retirement gift that he and his children would treasure, so I raised my hand when she wanted to turn these stories into a book! This project became a mad dash since I didn’t get all the pictures my mom wanted to include until the weekend before his retirement party 🙃 With only two days to get it completed, stress was high and mistakes were definitely made. I learned to not sweat the slip-ups because, as the saying goes, done is better than perfect! Also, hearing how touched he was by his gift made the entire experience worth it. (I cropped out his face for privacy, but he had the most adorable smile while holding his book!)

🔖 Project 4: 7 Medieval Quartos

The Official Ledger of the Academy Keepers (July 2025 - September 2025)

What started as a simple zine idea spiraled into making seven single-section mini books for each of my coworkers! It was a blast to design them each as DnD-like characters and create a medieval-inspired typeset. But as I got to the actual binding, I learned fairly quickly that this style was tedious as HELL! The process was honestly grueling, but I was proud of pushing myself to finish these books (despite avoiding them for a couple of months 😅). I really loved how they turned out and to see them all together side-by-side! (It’s also been cool to see them proudly displayed on my coworkers’ desks every day ❤️)

⭐️ My Year 2 Goals

Since I’ve gotten the gist of creating a hardcover book, I now want to learn how to create one that is well-constructed and stands up to the wear and tear of frequent reading.

I also want to explore different cover materials and designs this year, as well as familiarize myself with the rounding and backing process. I plan on trying both out on my current project, The Blue Fairy Book: Font Sampler Edition. (The typeset I’m using is from one of the free directories I featured in this newsletter post 😋)

📚 What are your bookbinding goals for 2026?

Are you planning your first bind? Or maybe itching to try a new style this year?

Share in the comments because I’d love to hear what you’re working on and cheer you on! 😊 I truly want this space to grow into a supportive community where we can learn and celebrate together.

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🌱 Thanks for reading! Happy binding!

💌 Know any bookbinders or creatives who’d enjoy this weekly newsletter? Please share the love!

Share The Sprouting Bookbinder

I reached out to bookbinders whose binds stopped me in my tracks while scrolling. These four books each feature something unique, from delicate hand-embroidered cherry blossoms to a playful picnic bind topped with toast!

I hope they spark some inspiration for your own projects and serve as a beautiful reminder of our amazing community.

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🩵 A Huge Thank You!

Thank you to the four talented binders who gave me permission to feature their beautiful work with you today: @linkandpage, @treasuresandtomes, @twistedserpentbindery, @mrsyoflam

If you love these binds as much as I do, head over to their pages to let them know!

📝 Last Quick Notes

• Typeset credits are included if they were mentioned in the original post.

• I showcase binds, but don’t vet story content or creators. So check tags before reading, and remember binders’ views are their own. 😊

✨ This Month’s Inspiring Binds

🔖 Cherry Blossom Coptic Journals

Binder: Shannon, Link & Page (@linkandpage)

Original Post: View on Instagram

Can you imagine having one of these beautiful spines poking out on your bookshelf? 🌸 The pure precision and care that is demonstrated with each stitch is astonishing. Besides the gorgeous spines of these Coptic binds, the velvet cotton cover material and gold-flecked endpapers are just lovely. One day I hope to own one of these journals 🙏 (but I’d probably be too scared to even put anything in them haha!)

🔖 ​​Classic Chiyogami Cranes, Manacled

Binder: Treasures and Tomes (@treasuresandtomes)

Fanfiction: Manacled by SenLinYu (originally posted to AO3, but removed to be traditionally published as Alchemised)

Typeset: Designed by Elryk Bindery (@elrykbindery)

Original Post: View on Instagram

Being the staple Dramione fanfiction that it is, Manacled fanbinds are the ones I’ve seen the most often, and it’s really cool to see all the different design directions people take. But this particular bind stopped me in my tracks for its superb classic aesthetic. The paper cranes on the Japanese chiyogami paper are absolutely stunning, along with the design of the cover label and the spine. (And the drastic contrast of the red endpapers is just...*chef’s kiss*!) This is probably one of my favorite binds I’ve ever seen 💚

🔖 Floral Velvet Cut-Outs, Remain Nameless

Binder: Zoë, Twisted Serpent Bindery (@twistedserpentbindery)

Fanfiction: Remain Nameless by HeyJude19 (on AO3)

Original Post: View on Instagram

The blue velvet, the 4-panel cutouts, the symbolic flowers, the charming back cover framing, the illustrative endpapers, the typeset! Everything about this book is GORGEOUS! (Ugh, the money I would spend to own this if buying fanfic was legal 😩) I’m honestly not sure what else to say because its beauty truly speaks for itself. Zoë, hats off to you because every piece of this bind is magnificent and still has me awestruck!

🔖 Picnic-Themed, Soft As It Began

Binder: Betty, Mrs Yoflam’s Books (@mrsyoflam)

Fanfiction: Soft As It Began by rubber_soul02 (on AO3)

Typeset: Designed by the binder!

Original Post: View on Instagram

A toast and jam, picnic-themed bind...yumm! The cute little toasts and the simplistic, thin font on the book’s cover are what caught my eye first. Then I realized, that wasn’t the book’s cover; it was its box! The book itself continues the charming, delicious aesthetic with its strawberries on the cover and the picnic-patterned spine. 🍓 This book is truly a full experience, from its clamshell box, to its outer case, and finally the text itself!

📚 Did any of these binds inspire a future project or new technique you want to try? Share in the comments!

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🌱 Thank you for reading! Happy binding!

💌 Know any bookbinders, book lovers, or creatives who’d enjoy these inspiring books? Feel free to share the love!

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Maybe you’ve heard the phrases casing in or nipping while watching tutorial videos that still don’t make sense.

Or perhaps you’re confused about the difference between rounding vs backing, or a hinge vs a joint.

From this intro alone, it’s clear that there’s a lot of bookbinding terminology that can be confusing, especially when starting out! This is meant to be a type of glossary that helps with that 😊

I’ve compiled this beginner-friendly reference of common terms you’ll encounter when entering the world of bookbinding. Some of these phrases and tools may not be immediately useful at your current skill level, BUT you’ll definitely encounter them when following tutorials from more experienced binders (so it helps to know what they’re talking about!)

What You’ll Find Here

📖 8 Sections covering everything from book anatomy to binding types

1. Anatomy of a Book - Breaking down the main parts of a bound book

2. Inside the Textblock – What makes up the pages and content

3. The Outer Case – Components specific to hardcover bindings

4. Common Materials – Papers, adhesives, and reinforcement materials

5. Common Tools – Essential and advanced equipment

6. Process Terms – Techniques and actions you’ll hear in tutorials

7. Common Binding Types – Different styles and their unique traits

8. Book Sizes – Traditional book dimensions

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🔔 Before You Dive In

A few quick notes:

• Hardcover focus: These terms are curated from a case-bound/hardcover book perspective since that’s the binding style I focus on. However, many of these concepts do carry over to other binding styles!

• Using Italics: Italicized terms indicate that they are defined somewhere within this reference.

• Self-compiled resource: I’ve compiled these terms from my own bookbinding journey. I’ve tried to create accurate, yet simple definitions based on my research, but some definitions may vary slightly depending on the source.

If there’s something off or missing, please let me know in the comments 😋

1. Anatomy of a Book

• Textblock/book block – The pages that make up your book that get sewn and/or glued together. This is the “book” part without the case.

• Case/cover – The hardcover that holds and protects your textblock. Usually made of boards and covering material like book cloth or leather.

• Spine – The edge of the book where all the pages connect. It’s the part you see sticking out when it’s on the shelf. The spine can look and function differently depending on the binding style (flat, rounded, hollow, or exposed).

• Sewing supports – Horizontal strips (cords or tapes) that run along the spine and get sewn into the textblock for added structural strength. Traditional leather bindings often have raised cords you can see and feel on the spine, while modern bindings might use flat tape that’s less visible.

• Fore-edge – The edge opposite the spine where you can actually open the book. Like the spine, its look can also vary (smooth pages, deckled pages, gilded edges, hand-painted edges, etc.)

• Head & Tail – The top (head) and bottom (tail) edges of the book. You’ll also hear headband and tailband referring to decorative bands visible at the top and bottom of the textblock’s spine.

• Squares – The amount the cover hangs over the textblock edges. This protects your pages and makes the book look finished.

2. Inside the Textblock

• Signature/section – A grouping of pages folded together that make up the contents of the textblock. The number of pages in each signature and the total number of signatures both affect the thickness of your textblock, AKA the swell.

• Swell – The extra thickness added to the spine when the signatures have been sewn together to form the textblock.

• Endpapers – The decorative papers that connect your textblock to the cover. They’re attached to the first and last signatures through a process called tipping in and then glued to the boards of the front and back case. Popular paper choices include scrapbook paper, cardstock, and specialty handmade paper (basically anything that’s sturdy enough to handle glue!)

• Shoulders – The ridges created on either side of the spine during the backing process. They form a little shelf where the boards of the case will sit, helping protect the spine and giving a more structured look.

• Flyleaf – A blank page at the beginning or end of a book. They’re often added to the textblock as extra pages to reach a specific page count for desired imposition (the arrangement of pages for printing).

• Recto – The right-hand page (always odd numbered). Books traditionally begin on the recto page, along with chapter starts.

• Verso – The left-hand page (always even-numbered).

• Typeset – The arrangement and design of text on the page. Essentially, it’s the nicely formatted version of the story you’re binding that gets printed and turned into your textblock. Typesetting is a whole other side of book arts that can be really fun to explore! (If you want to find free typesets to use for your next project, then last week’s post is just for you!)

The Sprouting Bookbinder

5 Free Typeset Directories for Bookbinders

If you’re struggling to decide what story to bind for your next hand-bound project, or maybe what you want to try binding first, this post was made specifically for you…

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6 months ago · 1 like · 2 comments · J Bookbinds

3. The Outer Case

This section is specific to hardcover/case binding.

• Boards – The stiff material for the front and back covers of the hardcover case. Usually made from book board, Davey board, or chipboard.

• Cover material – The outer material that wraps around the boards and spine to create the finished look of your case. Common choices include book cloth, decorative paper, or leather.

• Turn-ins – Where your covering material wraps around the board edges to the inside of the covers

• Hinge vs Joint – Both describe where the cover bends to open. The “hinge” is inside where the endpaper folds. The “joint” is the outside groove along the spine where the cover material folds.

• Hinge gap – The small space left between the spine and the boards when making the case. A wider gap gives more flexibility and lets the covers lay flatter when opened.

• Squares – The amount of board extending past the textblock edges on the three sides (head, tail, foreedge). This protects the pages and creates a polished, finished look.

4. Common Materials

• Grain direction – (Not a material, but is an important attribute of paper) Grain direction refers to the direction a paper’s fibers run. One of the golden rules of bookbinding is ensuring the grain direction runs parallel to the spine to prevent warping. (but not something to seriously stress about when starting out 😊)

  • Short grain = grain runs parallel to the short edge of the paper

  • Long grain = grain runs parallel to the long side of the paper

  • No grain = typically occurs with handmade paper

• Book board/binder’s board – Strong, dense material used for the covers of a hardback bound book. Often used synonymously with “Davey board” and “chipboard”, despite being different in thickness, durability, and quality.

• PVA glue – A white glue commonly used in bookbinding (stands for polyvinyl acetate). It’s a popular adhesive choice because it dries clear and flexible. BUT the dry time is extremely quick, which can be difficult to work with. This is why it’s commonly mixed with other adhesives (like methyl cellulose).

• Methyl cellulose – A powder that you mix with water to create a gel-like adhesive. Often mixed with PVA to slow the drying time, allowing for more time for adjustments while working.

• Book cloth – Fabric with a paper backing made specifically for covering books. More durable than regular fabric and doesn’t fray. There are various DIY methods to make your own!

• Endbands (headbands, tailbands) – The decorative thread bands that can be added to the head and tail of the textblock spine.

• Mull – A loosely woven fabric that’s glued to the spine of the textblock for reinforcement. It helps hold the signatures together and looks like gauze or cheesecloth.

5. Common Tools

• Bone folder – A smooth, flat tool used for creasing and burnishing. Traditionally made from bone, but now commonly made from Teflon or plastic. It’s an essential tool for bookbinders.

• Awl – A pointed tool for punching the sewing holes into signatures for sewing.

• Nipping press/book press – A press that applies even pressure across the entire book. Used for pressing books flat while drying or after gluing.

• Laying/lying press – A press that holds the book upright horizontally, Typically used while working on the spine

• Sewing frame – A frame that holds cords or tapes taut when sewing signatures. Using one keeps everything aligned and maintains even tension.

• Punching cradle – A V-shaped support that holds signatures in place when punching the sewing stations/sewing holes. It keeps each signature stable and aligned to ensure holes are accurately punched into the spine.

6. Process Terms

• Nipping – Pressing something briefly with heavy weights. Can be done via a book press or using a board weighed down by heavy objects.

• Scoring – Creating a crease line in paper, or another material, so it folds cleanly.

• Tipping in – Applying adhesive to the edge of a paper (commonly used for attaching endpapers to the textblock).

• Casing in – Attaching a separately-made cover/case to the textblock. This is the standard hardcover method.

• Sewing stations (sewing holes) – The specific holes or points where your needle goes through when sewing signatures together. You mark these out before you start sewing to keep everything aligned.

• Kettle stitch – A stitch used when reaching the last sewing hole of a signature to connect it to the next signature.

• French link stitch – A common stitch that creates and X-like look. Used decoratively with exposed spine bindings. Also commonly used when not utilizing sewing supports on the spine (but it can be used when using supports as well).

• Rounding and backing – These are two separate processes, but are often used together. “Rounding” refers to the process of curving the spine which helps to reduce swell. “Backing” creates the shoulders (the ridge where spine meets the cover). It provides stability for the rounded spine and increases the longevity of a bind.

7. Common Binding Types

I’ve tried to keep these descriptions simple, but each binding style has its own rich history with some dating back to ancient times and others being more modern.

• Coptic binding – An ancient style with an exposed spine and decorative chain stitching. This style doesn’t require any adhesives and allows for the book to lie completely flat when opened.

• Case binding – The standard hardcover method where you make the cover separately, then attach it to the textblock via casing in.

• Perfect binding – More commonly known as “paperbacks”. Pages are glued directly to the spine with no sewing.

• Saddle stitch bind – Folded pages that create 1 signature which are bound together using staples (like magazines or thin booklets).

• Pamphlet stitch bind – Folded pages that create 1 signature which are bound together using thread.

• Bradel binding – Uses a paper joint to connect the cover boards and the spine to create a single case unit. This differs from standard case binding where the front/back covers and the spine are attached separately

8. Book Sizes

These sizes are based on how many times a sheet of paper is folded.

• Folio (half letter) – 1 sheet folded 1 time = 2 leaves = 4 pages per sheet. (the largest size)

• Quarto (quarter letter, 4to) – 1 sheet folded 2 times = 4 leaves = 8 pages per sheet.

• Octavo (8vo) – 1 sheet folded 3 times = 8 leaves = 16 pages per sheet.

• Sextodecimo (16mo) – 1 sheet folded 4 times = 16 leaves = 32 pages per sheet.

📚 Did this cheat sheet help clarify a bookbinding term or concept for you? Let me know which definition was the most helpful! (Or maybe one that I missed 👀)

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✂️ In Case You Need It

If you are just starting out with bookbinding, or found a tool you need while reading this reference, I created a free beginner’s bookbinding supply guide (including budget friendly alternatives!) that you might find useful 😊

🌱 Thanks for reading! Happy binding!

💌 Know any bookbinders or creatives who’d benefit from this resource? Feel free to share the love!

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I found these 5 free typeset directories that can be used to download beautiful typesets of both fanfiction and classic stories that are in the public domain (like Pride and Prejudice or Dracula).

In case you’re not sure what I’m talking about, a typeset is the nicely formatted version of the story you’re binding. It’s the file you print out in order to create the textblock for your book. 😊

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What You'll Find Here

📖 5 Free Bookbinding Typeset Resources: 2 sources for the classics + 3 sources for fanfiction + step-by-step instructions for accessing each directory

🔔 Important Etiquette & Usage Guidelines: General crediting etiquette and personal use policies

✅ Next Steps After You Download: The helper tool you’ll need BEFORE you print your new typeset + a digital beginner supplies guide to save you time and money when starting out

🔔 Before You Dive In

Here are the important guidelines and notes you should know:

1. Personal use only: The majority of these typeset resources are for personal use unless otherwise stated by their designers.

2. Credit your fellow binders: These designers are graciously sharing something they've personally created for free. It's good etiquette (and common courtesy!) to credit them if you post a bind you made using one of their typesets.

3. Independent opinions: I don't personally know or associate with any of these bookbinders, so any thoughts or opinions they express are solely theirs.

📖 5 Directories for Finding Free Typesets to Bind

NOTE: These resources were free and available at the time of writing. If they’re not readily available anymore as you're reading this, please let me know so I can find new free resources for you and future readers!

🔖 Directory #1: Canon | in_D Press

What they offer: typesets in the public domain

Access method: Google Drive (request access)

Speed: You’ll need to wait to be approved before accessing the Drive, but they are pretty quick!

Links:

• Typeset database & access request

• Tumblr directory

• Preview gallery of typesets

How to get started:

1. Click the database link above

2. Request access with your Google account

3. Wait for approval (it was fairly quick for me!)

4. Once approved, use the same link to browse their available typesets

5. Click and download the typeset you like

Why I love it: The typesets from Canon | in_D Press are absolutely gorgeous, and gaining access to them was very straightforward. One of my current binding projects is using their The Blue Fairy Book (Font Sampler Edition) typeset, which will be really useful when making my own typesets!

Extra Bonus: They have free typesetting resources if you’d like to try creating your own typesets 😊

🔖 Directory #2: Interplanet.Janet

What they offer: Classic literature typesets in the public domain

Access method: GitHub repositories (no account needed!)

Speed: Instant access

Links:

• Repository list of typsets (primarily organized by author)

How to get started:

1. Click the repository link above

2. Choose an author that interests you and click into that repository (think of each "repository" as a folder containing different books by the same author)

3. Click the green "<> Code" button

4. In the "Local" tab, click "Download ZIP" at the bottom

5. Navigate to where you saved the file on your device and extract the zipped folder

6. Browse through the folders to find the typeset you want

   

What is GitHub? GitHub is primarily a platform used in the tech world for backing up and sharing code files. (As a former software engineer, it’s pure nostalgia ☺️)

Why I love it: I discovered this resource through a Reddit post and found this GitHub after digging further. Alongside the typesets themselves, I love that they included useful content warnings for relevant stories and also provided the source text for each book (so you can typeset them for yourself).

🔖 Directory #3: Amateur Fanfic Binding

What they offer: Fanfiction typesets (and some of the classics) + beginner-friendly bookbinding community

Access method: Google Drive (no request needed), also accessible via their Facebook group

Speed: Instant access

Links:

• Google Drive typeset database

• Spreadsheet of available typesets within the Drive

• Facebook group

• Discord server

How to get started:

1. Click the Google Drive link above

2. Browse the folders (the “Other Fiction” folder contains the classics)

3. Click and download the typeset you like

Why I love it: This group is seriously such an amazing community for beginners (hence their name). Everyone in the Discord is very welcoming and extremely helpful. They even have a channel called "newbies-no-stupid-questions" in the server! Their Facebook group includes the same friendly people who are always happy to answer any and all questions.

Extra Bonus: Their Drive database includes free typesetting resources, graphics, and templates too!

🔖 Directory #4: Renegade Bookbinding Guild

What they offer: Fanfiction typesets (and some of the classics) + active bookbinding community

Access method: Contact the individual typeset designer via Discord for file access

Speed: Varies by individual creator

Links:

• Typeset database (fanfiction)

• Their classic literature typesets (only a few, but still beautiful!)

• Discord server

• Their website

How to get started:

1. Browse their typeset database using the link above

2. Find a typeset you'd like to use

3. Log in to Discord (or create an account)

4. DM the user listed in the database to request their typeset

Important note: You need to contact each typeset owner individually, as they will distribute at their own discretion.

Why I love it: The range of fandoms represented in their database is INCREDIBLE. The Renegade bookbinding community is also another newbie-friendly community. The community hosts various events throughout the year, which can provide some great inspiration for your future binds!

Extra Bonus: Their website features a cool "Bookbinding 101" page that includes guides, templates, and the handful of classic literature typesets I mentioned.

🔖 Directory #5: Stephy's Bindery

What they offer: Fanfiction typesets (primarily Dramione/Harry Potter)

Access method: Gain access to the Notion database via Google Form

Speed: Immediate access upon form submission

Links:

• Access request form

• Stephy's Linktree

How to get started:

1. Fill out the request form above

2. Submit the form

3. Click the link that appears immediately after submission

4. Browse the Notion typeset database and download PDFs directly

Why I love it: The process is super streamlined, so you get instant access to the directory of typesets once you submit the Google form. This resource is definitely for my Draco x Hermione lovers 🐍 (Definitely check out the illustrated Manacled typeset!)

📚 Did you find a typset for your next bookbinding project? Let me know which ones you liked!

Leave a comment

✅ Next Steps to Start Binding

Before you start binding with the perfect typset you found, check out these two helpful resources to immediately move you to the next steps of the bookbinding process:

• Need help with imposition (page arrangement for printing)? Check out this free helper website: Bookbinding JS. It's a community favorite and includes support for nearly any size or binding style you’re using.

• Still need bookbinding supplies? I created a free beginner's supply guide that covers all the essentials you need to get started (plus budget-friendly alternatives).

🌱 Thanks for reading! Happy binding!

💌 Know any bookbinders or creatives who’d benefit from these resources? Feel free to share the love!

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It’s almost like we’re in the talking stage with every hobby, but never able to make it official!

This story is how bookbinding became the one that lasted despite my usual hobby commitment issues popping up along the way.

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The Meet-Cute

Doomscrolling on Instagram is where bookbinding and I first locked eyes. I was instantly entranced by all the ripping, printing, sewing, and everything else that these creators did to create a book from scratch. (And how often they looked so much better than what you’d buy at the store!)

After watching way too many reels, I knew there was no chance of this new craft leaving my head. However, I have a pretty bad track record with sticking to hobbies. 😬

Most of my previous hobby relationships never lasted long due to my ADHD. Essentially, I’m a serial dater when it comes to starting new things. But I have learned to accept these commitment issues of mine and decided to journey into a new fling with bookbinding.

The Stalking Phase (AKA researching my brains out)

For anyone who’s dated in this sad era of crappy dating apps, you understand the need to suss out any red flags before meeting up with a stranger in person.

I tend to do the same thing for the hobbies I’m trying out, since I’ve often run into the biggest red flag a little too late: the start-up costs.

Unexpectedly spending too much money up front is a big no-no since I usually ditch hobbies after a few weeks. So it was a pleasant surprise when I found nothing but promising green flags in my beginner bookbinding research, assuring me I wouldn’t go broke just trying to start. 💚

My research also led me to the perfect hardcover binding tutorials for me to follow (you can find their links at the end) and a great list of supplies for me to gather. After gathering any items or tools I was missing, it was finally time to start my first project.

The First Date

The only thing left before I could officially begin bookbinding was deciding what story to bind.

Coincidentally, the timing of this aligned with the upcoming Christmas holiday, and I had been struggling to find a gift for my friend Laura. Even more coincidentally, Laura is an author who had sent me the PDF of her first book 9 months earlier. (You can find her beautiful work on Instagram @thebookthatlovedme)

The stars could not have been more aligned!

Laura’s book file was already beautifully typeset, so all I needed to do was add a couple of blank flyleaf pages in order to properly impose the file (imposition is arranging the pages for printing. See the end notes for the site that made this process a million times easier 😋)

Afterwards, I printed the story on some 20 lb cream-colored paper and folded the sheets into 16 signatures. Once sewn together, I had a nice chunky 512-page textblock ready to go!

Holding this sewn textblock in my hand led to such a magically profound moment where I realized for the first time what a book truly was: something you wanted to preserve (the textblock), held together somehow (the binding), with protection around it (the case).

It may sound silly, but breaking down a book into these simple components introduced a new perspective on what a book could be and thus sparked a million project ideas racing through my brain (something I hadn’t quite experienced with any of the other hobbies I tried out).

Coming back to reality, I continued the binding process with fresh excitement. I did all the gluing and added cute decorations to the spine, like a golden ribbon bookmark and endbands that matched the bookcloth I was going to use for the case. I even made a makeshift nipping press out of a brick paver from my backyard!

This first date seemed to be going perfectly…until it came time to construct the book’s case.

The Bump in the Road

Creating the hardcover case is where our relationship hit its first major hurdle.

Laura had included a gorgeous commissioned art piece within the typeset that was drawn by visual artist Ariana Enriquez. (You can find her gorgeous murals and paintings on her Instagram @arianabelen.art) It was the perfect choice for the book’s front cover, but sadly, it was far too intricate to cut cleanly from the HTV (heat transfer vinyl).

What followed were weeks of frustration trying to get the design simplified enough to be usable for the book’s case.

I’d painstakingly try to simplify the design in Adobe Illustrator, send it to my cutting machine, attempt to weed the tiny details out of the vinyl, fail miserably, and then have to start over.

It was such a laborious and time-consuming cycle that kept ending in failure. This is what led me to start avoiding the project completely.

I began to question whether bookbinding and I were compatible after all.

The Choice of Commitment

At this point, the Christmas deadline came and went, and I was sitting in the new year with half a book finished. It made me sad to think that my hobby-quitting habit had struck yet again.

Laura thankfully was traveling out of the country during this entire process, so there was still time to find another gift to give her...right?

NO.

I didn’t want to give up bookbinding. I didn’t want my graveyard of dead hobbies to grow any larger. I didn’t want another incomplete project lying around my room.

I needed to commit and finish what I had started.

And, to my total surprise, that’s exactly what I managed to do.

After giving myself various pep talks, I dove back into the designing cycle and was finally able to simplify it enough for the cover!

Despite a couple more hurdles popping up (HTV not bonding to the bookcloth case, using pure, quick-drying PVA glue to case-in for the first time 🥲), I was genuinely so proud of the determination I developed that got me to the finish line: the final press!

Falling in Love (The Gift)

Pulling out the completed book from my DIY press was nothing short of surreal.

I couldn’t believe I had made this. I had made a legit freaking book! A hand-bound, hardcover book that was created with my own two hands! (Seriously, how insane is that?!)

As a former software engineer and digital artist, I had never experienced any of my creations in 3-dimensions before. This new tactile experience really blew my mind in such an incredible way. Holding, rotating, and opening this thing I made that you could actually read was the coolest thing ever!

I was super excited to finally get it all wrapped up and ready to gift to Laura, after taking lots of pics of course 😋 (check out the full gallery at the end!)

It was such an unreal experience to watch Laura open this gift and hold the physical copy of her own book in her hands. Seeing the shock and pure appreciation spread across her face was the priceless conclusion to my first bookbinding experience.

My Current Relationship Status

Almost a year later, to my continued surprise, I am still binding books and have completely fallen in love with this craft. ❤️

Beyond my growing project backlog, I’ve also gone full nerd-mode by trying to get my hands on all the bookbinding knowledge I can!

From exploring more tutorials, tracking down library books, to looking for local classes, and even starting to research the American Academy of Bookbinding. I’ve become dedicated to learning not just how to create a beautiful book, but a well-crafted one.

Parting Advice

If you’re curious about bookbinding, seriously, just try it out!

There are so many different styles that can be much simpler but just as beautiful. (Pamphlet Stitch, Coptic, Japanese Stab Binding, and lots more!)

And truly, nothing beats the satisfaction of creating something beautiful with your own two hands 😊

Thanks for reading! 🌱 I’ll end with the book details, resources I used, and final pictures from this first bind of mine.

📚 What drew you to bookbinding? I’d love to hear your story!

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Project Deets and Photos

The Legend of Dante by Laura Gulbranson

Book Details:

• Book Pages = 512 (4 flyleaves + 508 original pages)

• Signatures = 16 signatures, 8 sheets each

• Total Time = About 12 weeks (including the design drama!)

Resources & Tutorials That Helped:

• Imposition Helper

• The bookbinding communities of Facebook, Discord, and Reddit

• The YouTube tutorials I followed (and still go back to today!)

  • Case Bound Book playlist by DAS Bookbinding (his entire channel is a gold mine of bookbinding knowledge. I HIGHLY recommend his channel; it is my #1 go-to for tutorials)

  • Step-by-step case binding tutorial by Bitter Melon (another one of my go-to channels)

Photo Gallery: