Discover 10 junk journal binding ideas with example projects and tutorials. Most of these methods suit both beginners and intermediates.
This is a DIY Book Binding Tutorial on how to make that Elusive Perfect DIY Journal You've Been Waiting For! Easy to make & oh-so-nice!
Let's learn how to do DIY Easy Journal Binding for Junk Journals and Handmade Books. Step by step Tutorial included.
Learn about the traditional Korean bookbinding technique and our experience learning how to bind a book.
How can you securely stitch pages into a signature or folio without breaking out the sewing machine? Do it by hand! This technique is fast and easy and gives a clean look and secure pages. I’m using a thick waxed thread in black to make sure you can see the stitches. In this case, the black also works with the bald graphics of the signature cover. You can machine stitch or tape in signatures, but sewing by hand is fast, easy and yields great results. The stitch we will be using is called a sadd
Do you want to make some Little Golden Book junk journals? Need some junk journal ideas and inspiration? Check out my photos and videos now!
Ok, so the title might be a little misleading… we’ve actually crammed in 18 of the best Coptic Stitch (also known as the Chain Stitch or Coptic Sewing) book binding instructions and tutorials we could find on the web, along with a collection of video tutorials and many coptic-stitch related resources (PDF’s, Stitching Patterns, Photo Galleries etc) for you to get stuck in to – it took us a while to put this together but we hope it serves as a good resource for some of you out there. If you’ve got any suggestions for additional sites/resources we can include on this page then please leave a comment at the bottom of this page. We have also prepared several other collections for you: Top 15 Japanese Stab Binding Tutorials Top 10 Long Stitch Bookbinding Tutorials Top 10 Secret Belgian Binding Tutorials Top 10 Endband Tutorials Top 10 Box Making Tutorials For those a little unsure about what a the Coptic Stitch style actually is, we’ll give you a little intro: Coptic Binding by Henry Hebert Originally the coptic binding process was used by early Christians in Egypt (the Copts) some 2000 years ago and hence its name. A coptic stitch style binding (also often referred to as a Chain Stitch binding) is one that doesn’t use any glues and where the signature stitchings are generally exposed or left completely open thus allowing flexibility without sacrificing strength. Coptic stitched books generally allow the book to be opened up flat without weakening the spine or signatures. Modern glue based binding techniques are often prone to damage when opened flat and weaken with use, much quicker than books that are sewn in a coptic style fashion. Because the signature designs are normally left exposed on a chain stitch binding, many book binders decide to inject their own personal flare into the spine designs which can result in some very attractive looking books. People will often follow this style of binding for use on their journals or art sketch books. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to make a coptic stitch book using traditional bookbinding techniques then continue reading… all of the tutorials below are different in some way or another and I would strongly advise going through at least a few of them to get the best understanding of the binding processes. Enjoy 😀 #1 – Coptic Stitch Bookbinding Tutorial In this coptic stitch bookbinding tutorial, Linda Tieu takes you through how to make your own hard back book journal using very clear and concise photographs. A perfect tutorial for beginners and people looking to do a quick project. View Tutorial on favecrafts.com Tutorial Contents Materials Covering the boards Punching holes in the board Punching holes in signatures Sewing Signatures onto board Chain Stitching Signatures Stitching the board Get the Equipment You Need to do the Job Properly! (Click image for more product details) Xacto Knife Set Silk Thread Curved Needles Leather Punch See More Related Materials & Equipment #2 – The Coptic Bound Book Tutorial A personal blog tutorial by Ashley @ No Big Dill. A very detailed tutorial with high quality photographs and good descriptions of each steps from selecting the paper and folding the signatures right up to chain stitching the bindings. View Tutorial on nobigdill.com #3 – Create a Stunning Combination Coptic Long-stitch Archival Book Perhaps one of the most comprehensive coptic long-stitch bookbinding tutorials we could find on the net. 80+ high quality photographs guide the user through the process of making a hard-backed coptic long-stitch book. View Tutorial on TutsPlus.com Tutorial Contents Supplies & Materials Paper Grain Identification Cutting and gluing the cover material Preparing your signatures Making a hole-punch guide Punching holes in your signatures Punching holes in your coverboard Sewing the Signatures to the Back Cover Sewing the Remaining Signatures using the Kettle Stitch Sewing on the Front Cover Tying Square Knots on the Long Stitches #4 – The Exposed Tape Binding in 140 (ish) easy steps As the name might suggest, this tutorial from Molly Brooks is a very comprehensive photo tutorial (+ descriptions) on how to make an exposed tape bound hardback book from scratch. Whilst not technically a coptic style bound book it does cover many of the same processes so I thought I would include it within this list. Similar in many ways to a French Link Stitch bound book. ~ Thank you Molly! View Tutorial on mollybrooks.com Tutorial Contents preface tools/materials prep cut covers to size mark tape stations on the inside of each cover cut graves into boards cut slot to feed tape through cut tapes to length rough-cut cover papers / trim end papers glue cover paper to board attach tapes to front cover glue end paper to front cover press the cover under weight punch holes through signatures sew bookblock glue cover paper to back cover board attach tapes to back cover glue end paper to back cover press book under weight #5 – How to Make a Sketchbook Using Coptic Stitch Binding Isabel Moseley posted this tutorial on the The Canada Arts Connect Magazine website on how to make a Coptic Stitch-bound sketchbook with bookbinding board covers – it’s very good and well worth reading. High quality photographs depict the entire book making process from creating a piercing guide (hole punching guide) to fixing the boards and stitching the bindings (it’s assumed you’ve already selected your paper and made them into signatures). View Tutorial on canadaartsconnect.com #6 – Coptic Binding Instructions 21 instructional photographs are used with accompanying descriptions in this tutorial by Making Mini Scrapbooks on how to bind your own mini scrapbook using the traditional coptic chain stitch style. A quick tutorial for a sunday afternoon. View this tutorial on making-mini-scrapbooks.com #7 – Single Needle Chain Stitch A very informative tutorial on the entire bookbinding process with details about selecting your paper type, identifying paper grain, types of cover material you can use, punching holes, waxing your thread, sewing the signatures, finishing the book etc… you get the picture, it’s very good. 😀 View tutorial on cat-sidh.net #8 – 4-part Coptic Book Binding Tutorial Put your old cereal cartons to good use and make your very own coptic bound journal. In this 4 part book binding tutorial you’ll learn everything from making your book covers to punching holes and stitching the signatures. A great tutorial. View tutorial on hydecodesigns.com #9 – Chain or Coptic Stitch Bookbinding Tutorial On her website ‘torta gaialla’, Linda Tieu takes you through the entire coptic stitch binding process. With high quality photographs and step-by-step instructions, assuming you have the correct tools and materials, you’ll have absolutely no problems following through her tutorial. Many people who have followed the tutorial have asked questions to Linda in the comments section at the bottom, so anything that hasn’t already been clarified on the process is likely to be there. Make sure to check her site out. Thanks Linda! View Tutorial on tortagialla.com #10 – Life Abloom Journal and Coptic Stitch Tutorial MiMi Dibble’s first attempt at making a coptic bound book out of paper scraps and cardboard. Her full tutorial can be found at Tsunami Rose Designs here. A very basis, quick and dirty approach to making a coptic stitch book – perfect for children. View Tutorial on thescrapinator5000.weebly.com (take a break) Watch Our Video Playlist Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! #11 – Coptic Binding // A Tutorial A short tutorial on making coptic bound books by Eleanor McComb. Eleanor hosts bookbinding workshops and sells her stuff on her store at Etsy.com, she is very talented and always there to answer any questions, so if you have one feel free to leave a comment on her post and she’ll offer some advice. Thanks for sharing Eleanor! View Tutorial on eleanormccomb.com (oringal post on her old blog here) #12 – Single Sheet Coptic Stitch Tutorial For those confused as to why you might need to use a single sheet coptic stitch on any of your projects: This sewing is suited to books with board pages or other materials where you cannot fold a section. It makes a good structure for making pages out of flat objects like Perspex, metal or wood. View tutorial on boundarypress.com.au #13 – Coptic Book Binding For The Persistently Crafty A simple tutorial on coptic book binding. It’s lacking some photographs on the more detailed parts of the binding process so instead Laura uploaded a video on the entire stitching process, it’s well worth a watch. View Tutorial on autostraddle.com #14 – Directions for making a soft-covered Coptic Book A detailed tutorial on how to make a soft, leather covered coptic book. Slightly different than most of the other tutorials you can find on this page also using slightly different techniques that you might want to learn or educate yourself on. View Tutorial on Katarina Meisterin blog #15 – Bookbinding tutorial: make a coptic bound notebook Shout outs to the PaperCrafter editor, Ella Johnston, for putting together this beautifully descriptive tutorial on how to make a coptic bound notebook. You might find that her instructions will help to clarify some of the processes depicted on photographs found throughout other tutorials on this page. This tutorial itself is lacking photographs of the process. View Tutorial on papercraftermagazine.co.uk Have another break! We’ve got some more videos… Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! #16 – DIY: How to Coptic Bind a Chapbook This tutorial was an unusual find and the only one of its kind I could find on the internet. The process talks you through how to coptic bind printed documents into a printed book. Clear and concise diagrams really help to visualise what you’re doing. There’s also a video of the process here. View Tutorial on pw.org #17 – Binding a Metal Book with a Coptic Stitch Something a little different than using binding board for the end-boards; in this slighted dated tutorial you will be shown how to use metal sheets for the book covers. It’s a short tutorial with limited (but enough) photos. View tutorial on volcanoarts.com #18 – Make an Altered Book with Coptic Binding A text-only tutorial on how to chain-stitch a book. There are better tutorials than this one but it might have some information you’ve not found on other sites. View Tutorial on altered-book.com Additional Resources Coptic Binding on Wikipedia Coptic Stitch Gallery Coptic Binding Examples, Tutorials and Stitching Patterns on Pinterest! Coptic Stitch Lesson Plan for Teachers & Students (with diagrams) – PDF Simple Coptic Binding Tutorial by Emma Jane Hogbin – PDF 10-Page Book Scan (with diagrams) of the Coptic Stitch Binding process by CMU – PDF Coptic Stitch Simple Tutorial with Diagrams – PDF French Link Stitch / Coptic Binding Gallery by Ruth Bleakley Learn how to Coptic Stitch with Paula Tew – Workshop (UK) Kettle Stitch vs Coptic Stitch by Little Syam 1-Needle Coptic vs 2-Needle Coptic Photo Comparison by Cai Lun A Little History of the Chain Stitch by the Bookbinding Team The History of Coptic Bookbinding by Erica Crane Calculating Thread Length for Coptic Stitch Bindings by Agate Further reading Coptic binding is one of many methods of non-adhesive binding. Keith A. Smith is an author well-known for his non-adhesive bindings tutorials. We would highly recommend that you have at least one of his books in your collection: Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 1: Books without Paste or Glue Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 2: 1- 2- & 3-Section Sewings Keith A. Smith, Non Adhesive Binding, Vol. 3: Exposed Spine Sewings Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 4: Smith’s Sewing Single Sheets Keith A. Smith, Books without Paste or Glue Please Support us on Patreon! The minimum level of contribution is only $1 per month. Pledges received from our patrons cover the editing services for our bookish podcast! Moreover, starting with the pledge level of $3, you will get a digitized vintage book about bookbinding, book history, or book arts each month from us! These pledges help iBookBinding to continue its work and bring more information about bookbinding and book arts to you! Share this page:
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Take a tour of this Botanical Junk Journal by Beth Wallen from Beth's Journal Boutique! Full video tour is included of this gorgeous Ephemera Junk Journal.
Book Binding – A fun way to make something NEW, the old fashioned way! How to make a book – two great book binding ideas – saddle stitch and Japanese Stab bookbinding – There are lots of different ways to make books – with or without a needle and thread, but this week the kids …
You guys, I made all these journals in, like, an hour! I've made journals before, but this is the simplest way I've found to create a little collection in no time at all. These little guys make great gifts, and I love that it's easy to build up a stash. Here's how:Supplies:-regular 8.5 "x 11" printer…
This step-by-step tutorial shows you exactly how to bind your own journal and create a leather wrap-around cover. You can achieve a professional finish with this project, even as a complete beginner!
How to Make a Leather Journal: This was my first time to make such kind of leather journal, it took me some time to figure out the sewing, and I am happy with the result, hope you guys too.
The coptic stitch bookbinding method is another way to bind your book with a spine that opens up completely, so you can lay your book flat. Sometimes it’s also called chain stitch in bookbinding, but more often it’s called coptic stitch binding. I think it’s a great method for when you have book covers that […]
Take a tour of this Japanese Ephemera Junk Journal by Jane of Willow Blue Vintage! Full video tour is included of this beautiful Ephemera Junk Journal.
Binding books is a wonderful craft and you can be as creative with the binding and cover designs as you want to be. This page offers plenty of DIY ideas for taking your journals to the next level.
A punching trough is a tool that helps you line up your book signatures for bookbinding. I've heard people refer to it as a punching…
Black Magic Leather Grimoire - Bookbinding Tutorial: I've been really into bookbinding lately, and with Halloween coming up, I decided to make a dark grimoire with black leather and an amethyst centerpiece! Supply list: Real leather, black sheepskin leather 0.4mm thick 96 sheets A3 sized sketchbook…
Let's learn how to do DIY Easy Journal Binding for Junk Journals and Handmade Books. Step by step Tutorial included.
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easy altered vintage book
Ringbandbinding Deze methode word bijna het vaakste gebruikt van alle methodes. Bijvoorbeeld bij het inbinden van schoolverslagen, readers etc. De inbindcapaciteit van een ‘normale’ ringband is tot…
Easy technique to bind a book or a journal without ay sewing or stitching! Easy to follow video tutorial to master this technique
A beginner's guide to making a junk journal, including step-by-step instructions and video tutorials on the process from start to finish!
Amy Tan's new Signature Series book is a smashing success! Every page is eye candy and filled with inspiration from corner to corner. I had the opportunity to include a layout and a "PaigeBook" in Amy's book. I used only supplies from Amy's Ready Set Go line, naturally! HOME IS WHEREVER YOU 3 ARE Journaling says: No matter where we are in the world, whether near or far, as long as I am surrounded by my family, that is where I call "home." It's true - "home is where the heart is" and there's nowhere else I'd rather be! I love you all! How to: Start with a cream floral background. Trim squares from patterned papers, trim them into triangles, then cascade them down the top of the layout; stitch a line through each row using a matching color of thread. Tear a house page from a Daybook, back the heart and door with patterned paper and a "love" die cut, and hand stitch around the heart die cut with yellow floss. Place the house on the bottom of the page and add a photo on either side. Create a title above the photos, embellish with stickers, an accordion paper flower, journaling spot, and more. Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, stickers (ampersand, arrows, hearts, houses, letters, number), accordion paper flower, die cuts (arrow, flower, sentiment), date stamp, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Floss: DMC; Ink: StazOn; Square punch: Fiskars; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark ********************************************************************** REMEMBER & SHARE THE LOVE PAIGEBOOK DAYBOOK This is a 5x7" handmade book with a copic style binding so it lays nice and flat when opened. Every signature is made with Ready Set Go patterned papers and colorful matching cardstock. I incorporated charms, knick-knacks, doodads, and Ready Set Go matte puffy stickers turned into charms into the binding. The front is embellished with a bunch of Ready Set Go stickers and embellishments. I stuck these on with major super glue to ensure they'll stay put forever and a day. I have a tendency to make books and not fill them up with anything, but perhaps I can use this book for a form of "project life" or make my own version of a "smash" book. Check out these projects and DOZENS more in Amy's book! Since I want to be Amy when I grow up, maybe one of these years I can have a Signature Series book :) A girl can dream right?!
42 Awesome Bookbinding Signature Designs and Stitching Ideas to get your creative juices flowing... Enjoy!
Learn just how easy it is to use printables to make a junk journal cover with a spine.
2nd - 4th century AD leather wrapped coptic bindings
4 best coptic book binding tutorials and videos
Curious about junk journaling? Learn what a junk journal is, ways to use one, and how to get started making your very own junk journals.
