Demo-Making A Sketchbook (Patreon)

Here's a video about how to make a custom sketchbook. I started doing these because I like to use different types of paper for different types of drawing. For this sketchbook I used:

 Canson Mixed Media paper, Strathmore Toned Blue Mixed Media paper, Canson Sketch paper, Strathmore Toned Tan Drawing paper, and Arches Watercolor Paper. 

I'm using coptic stitching to bind the pages together. 

And if you want something to follow along,  I'd highly recommend watching this video rather than mine. 

I've only done this one other time before. So, as I say in the video, I have no right to be making this video. 

I think it's still a valuable video though because I'm just doing the most basic, quick and dirty version a custom sketchbook. And you can see some of my mistakes.

Here's the basic steps

1. Gather Materials:

   - Paper for the pages (I'm using mixed media, watercolor, sketch and toned paper.)

   -Something for the cover (I'm using the back of an old sketch book that is the same size as the paper I'm using for convenience.)

   - Needle and strong thread (waxed linen thread is commonly used, I used whatever kind of thread I had laying around. And it's not the best kind for this. Too thin. )

   - Awl or bookbinding needle (I used a push pin and a small nail, you could also probably use a safety pin.)

   - Cutting tools (scissors, craft knife, cutting mat, I used a box cutter to cut the cardboard)

   - Rulers

   - Bone folder or scoring tool (I used a butter knife)

   - Pencil

2. Prepare the Pages:

   - Cut the paper to your desired size for the pages of your sketchbook. I just used 9x12 inch paper pulled right out of the books.

   - Fold each sheet in half  and stack the folded sheets to form the signatures (groups of folded 4 pages. I did 2 folded pages for the thicker papers). This turns my 9x12 inch paper into 6x9 inch paper.

3. Prepare the Cover:

   - Cut two pieces of cover material to the same size as your pages for the front and back covers.  used the back of the sketchbook because it's the same size as the paper and I just cut it in half.

   - You can also decorate the cover material here with decorative paper or other embellishments.

4. Prepare the Holes for Stitching:

   - Using a ruler and pencil, mark evenly spaced lines along the spine of the stack of signatures. These lines will mark where the stitches will go.

   - Using an awl or bookbinding needle, or push pin like I did, poke holes through each signature at the marked points. Make sure the holes are aligned across all signatures. and make sure that the holes are big enough for your needle to go through.

5. Stitching

   - Double Thread your needle with a long but manageable length of  thread.

   - Start by sewing the first signature to the cover. Bring the needle through the first hole from inside the signature. Then around the cover and up  through the corresponding hole in the cover.

- loop the thread around the stitch once, then return the needle into the same hole in the signature.

-Move on to the next hole and repeat this step for the rest of the holes on this signature.

-On the last hole of the signature, do thing same thing, but instead of returning the needle into the signature, stack the next signature on top.

Repeat this stitching pattern. Looping the thread around the previous stitch for each hole.

  - Once you start running out of thread tie off the thread securely, double thread the needle again, and finish the book.

-When you get to the last stitch, tie off the thread securely.

6. Enjoy your sketchbook.

This method of stitching a sketchbook allows you to customize the types of papers you use, create a custom size sketchbook.

it also allows the sketchbook to lay completely flat when drawing on it. 

Have fun

Goodnight Sweeties