{"id":1504,"date":"2014-01-13T19:12:41","date_gmt":"2014-01-13T23:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/?p=1504"},"modified":"2017-01-24T10:55:07","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T14:55:07","slug":"5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Great How-to Books on Bookbinding"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1523\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding.jpg\" alt=\"5 great how-to books on bookbinding from RuthBleakley.com\" width=\"475\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding-450x663.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding-101x150.jpg 101w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5-great-how-to-books-on-bookbinding-400x589.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 475px) 100vw, 475px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Are you interested in learning bookbinding, and wondering how you can get started binding your own books? Believe it or not, most of what I learned about making books by hand is self taught! <strong>Here are some of the most helpful do-it-yourself bookbinding books I&#8217;ve personally used, in order of easy to difficult<\/strong> with links to buy them on Amazon. I&#8217;ve also written a helpful post called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/where-to-buy-bookbinding-supplies-online\/\">Where to Buy Bookbinding Supplies Online<\/a> that you might like too!:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307353362\/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0307353362&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1507\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51gDVRP276L._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-223x300.jpg\" alt=\"5 Great How-To Books about Bookbinding: How to Make Books by Esther K. Smith\" width=\"223\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51gDVRP276L._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51gDVRP276L._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-111x150.jpg 111w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51gDVRP276L._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_.jpg 258w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307353362\/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0307353362&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\">How to Make Books: Fold, Cut &amp; Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=ruthblea-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0307353362\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is a great book for beginners &#8211; lots of great photos, and Esther K. Smith has a great range of projects, from super simple no-sew 8 page books to more complex binding styles. I love the raw book board cover, too!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/048629157X\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=048629157X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1509\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/416aDZx8eKL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"5 Great How-To Books about Bookbinding: Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction by Aldren A. Watson\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/416aDZx8eKL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/416aDZx8eKL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/416aDZx8eKL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_.jpg 260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/048629157X\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=048629157X&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\">Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=ruthblea-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=048629157X\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is an older book about bookbinding, and it doesn&#8217;t have photos, but it has lots of neat, detailed illustrations. The author Aldren A. Watson also does a little bit on the history of bookbinding. Good resource for all-around bookbinding.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0764160842\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0764160842&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1508\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51HZED6iwnL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"5 Great How-To Books about Bookbinding: Bookbinding Techniques and Projects by Josep Cambras\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51HZED6iwnL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51HZED6iwnL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_-107x150.jpg 107w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51HZED6iwnL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2TopRight10_SH20_BO1204203200_.jpg 249w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0764160842\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0764160842&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\">Bookbinding Techniques and Projects (Decorative Techniques)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=ruthblea-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0764160842\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This bookbinding guide written by Josep Cambras is unusual in that it was translated from Spanish! Lots of photos, but for me the best part of the book is that the author has a project on making your own Moleskine-style travel journal.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0834801965\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0834801965&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51ANSDVXWHL-217x300.jpg\" alt=\"5 Great How-To Books about Bookbinding: Japanese Bookbinding by Kojiro Ikegami\" width=\"217\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51ANSDVXWHL-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51ANSDVXWHL-108x150.jpg 108w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/51ANSDVXWHL.jpg 362w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 217px) 100vw, 217px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0834801965\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0834801965&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\">Japanese Bookbinding: Instructions From A Master Craftsman<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=ruthblea-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0834801965\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is a dense and authoritative guide to Japanese bookbinding (the style with the stitches going down the side of the book) by Kojiro Ikegami &#8211; you learn the history of this ancient binding style and there are plenty of guides to sewing patterns.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0963768263\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0963768263&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1505\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/36ebc060ada0551c56cb1210.L-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"5 Great Books About Bookbindng: Keith Smith Non Adhesive Binding Volume 1\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/36ebc060ada0551c56cb1210.L-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/36ebc060ada0551c56cb1210.L-99x150.jpg 99w, https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/36ebc060ada0551c56cb1210.L.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0963768263\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=390957&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0963768263&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;tag=ruthblea-20\" rel=\"nofollow\">Books without Paste or Glue<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=ruthblea-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0963768263\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Keith Smith&#8217;s Non Adhesive Binding Vol. 1 is a must-have if you&#8217;re interested in coptic stitch binding &#8211; it&#8217;s dense and contains lots of text and many, many bookbinding projects that don&#8217;t require any glue to make. It&#8217;s definitely more technical than the other books, and with it&#8217;s biblical proportions (352 pages!) it&#8217;s more of a good reference book if you&#8217;re already into bookbinding and want to learn some new sewing techniques.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #dc2235;\">Do you have any recommendations on good how-to books? Which bookbinding book is your favorite? Post a comment!<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>this post contains affiliate links<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you interested in learning bookbinding, and wondering how you can get started binding your own books? Believe it or not, most of what I learned about making books by hand is self taught! Here are some of the most helpful do-it-yourself bookbinding books I&#8217;ve personally used, in order of easy to difficult with links [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[163],"tags":[230,231],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1504"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1504"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2639,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1504\/revisions\/2639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ruthbleakley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}