Bookbinding Tools & Materials - beginner friendly

Here are the tools and materials I use to make a book! There is no correct or one way to make a book, but I hope this video can be a launching point to figure out what works for you. Within the video I demonstrate how I cut a book block by hand and how I make glue on endbands. Note: at 4:37 I forgot to mention that you can tape the edges of your pressing boards to prevent the book block from sticking Tools used ✦ self-healing cutting mat ✦ bone folder (shop my vegan bone folders here: ) ✦ utility knife - I use the OLFA knife ✦ metal ruler ✦ awl ✦ curved needles, AKA upholstery needles, mattress needles (get the right size for your thread, straight needles work too) ✦ rotary cutter ✦ scissors (one for paper, one for fabric) ✦ glue brushes ✦ homemade book press - Materials used ✦ Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread - 2 ply ✦ Archival quality pH neutral PVA glue ✦ 70 lb sketch paper for text block/book block ✦ 80 lb sketch paper for endpapers ✦ 30 ply “ chipboard for covers ✦ 80 lb cardstock for spine stiffener ✦ homemade book cloth - tutorial: ✦ grade 90 cheesecloth for super/mull (spine lining) ✦ unryu tissue paper for reinforcement ✦ endbands, AKA headband and tailband TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:33 bone folder 0:53 sketch paper 1:09 utility knife & metal ruler 1:36 awl 2:17 thread & needle 3:12 book press 3:52 PVA glue & glue brush 4:27 light duty awl 4:47 endpapers 5:05 cutting bookblock by hand 7:12 chipboard 7:25 bookcloth 7:35 spine stiffener & spacing 8:16 rotary cutter 8:41 spine lining 9:21 endbands 10:22 casing in 11:19 pressing 11:37 finished book 12:26 review Other Bookbinding YouTube channels: Sea Lemon - DAS Bookbinding - Nik the Booksmith - Bookbinding blogs and resources: paperiaarre - tutorials Paper Craft Panda - iBookBinding - 📔 📔 📔 💌 Sign Up for Shop Updates 💌 Shop Patreon Etsy Instagram Tiktok @bittermelonbindery 📔 📔 📔 FAQ ✦ Where can I buy bookbinding supplies? your local art supply store, Blick Art Materials (US), TALAS (US), Hollander’s (US), DeSerres (CA), Etsy ✦ What adhesive are you using? Archival quality pH neutral PVA glue, there are multiple brands that sell this ✦ How do you make your book cloth? ✦ Where did you get your... guillotine cutter - book press (made it myself) - 30 ply chipboard - Blick Art Materials ✦ What brand is your... thread - Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread corner rounder - Akiles Diamond-1 ✦ What camera & lens do you use? Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX85 with MEIKE 25mm F/1.8 standard fixed focus lens ✦ Where is your music from? I use Epidemic Sound, sign up for a 30-day free trial here: ✦ What is your dog’s name? Lucy 🐕 Produced on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Learn more: