In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make a custom hardcover coptic stitch book.
Paper is a fairly easy material to work with, so I like using it on most of the hardcover coptic stitch books i make. This video will mainly focus on the covers, but I will show
you how to make the entire book.
Here's a list of materials and tools I'll be using.
First off, I'm going to fold all my paper in half, and run the bone folder across the
folded edge.
Now stack the pages in groups of 4 to make signatures.
Then Im going to take 1 signature and trace it on my board, using it as a template to
make the covers.
For more about the board you can use for the covers, check out my video here. I'll also
include the link in the description.
Now cut the boards out with a utility blade.
And now it's time to wrap the covers. I'm using this Elmer's craft bond extra strength glue stick, but you can use PVA glue as well.
In my experience, this particular brand of glue stick has been a good alternative to use on paper hardcovers.
If you're covering your book in any other type of material that isn't paper, I would
stick to using PVA glue.
Now take one of your covers and put many coats of glue on the inside, then coat the outer
edges. Then push it down on the center of the paper. You can flip it over and run the
bone folder across to smooth out any air bubbles.
Now using scissors or an x-acto blade, cut all corners at an angle like this. And leave
a little gap of paper at the corner tips.
Then glue one flap at a time. You can put a piece of scrap paper down in case the glue
gets messy.
If you bend the edge over like this, it creases the paper which helps the flap glue on evenly.
You can then pinch over those little gaps on the corner tips, and continue gluing the
rest of the flaps.
Repeat the same process on the other cover.
After both covers are wrapped, make the inside covers.
For this book, you should be able to trim these from one 8.5 inch by 11 inch piece of paper.
Then glue them onto the covers. Put a lot of coats on the inside of the cover, and then
apply coats onto the outer edge of the paper. Then press the paper down centered on the
cover, and run the bone folder to smooth out.
Repeat this on the other cover.
Now it's time to make the holes for binding.
I prefer to keep the holes toward the top and bottom of the book, in order to make the
binding a little less wiggly. So I'm going to take one signature and mark 4 holes 3/4 inch
apart on both ends.
Then stack all the signatures together, and using the marked one as a guide, use something
with a straight edge and mark the rest of the signatures like this.
Then using an awl, pierce holes on the marks on each signature, and keep them stacked
in their original order.
Now take one signature, align it on the cover about a 1/4 inch from the edge and pierce
next to the signature holes.
Then pierce the holes completely through so that your needle will be able to go through.
Repeat this on the other cover.
Now you're ready to complete your book with coptic stitch binding. To learn how to coptic
stitch bind, click on this tutorial here. You can also find the link in the description
below.
After coptic stitch binding, your book is finished! I hope you found this tutorial helpful.
Knowing how to wrap your own hardcovers gives you so many more cover design options.
If you end up making your own after watching my tutorial, feel free to post a photo on my Facebook page
or leave a video response. And leave your comments below.
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