This is your first bookbinding project. Everything you need to bind Alice In Wonderland

This is your first bookbinding project. Everything you need to bind Alice In Wonderland

From a super high level, making a book is as easy as 1-2-3:

  1. Making the textblock (the pages part of the book)
  2. Making the case (the cover part of the book)
  3. Casing in (attaching the cover to the textblock)

If you want, check these articles to see if you need special paper, tools, or glue (hint: you don’t).

Below is a quick-start guide aimed at getting you from zero-to-finished-book without overthinking materials or doing weeks of research. Give yourself grace! This is your first project and, like a parent’s child, it won’t be perfect but you’ll love it all the same :)

What you’ll need is:

  • Blank paper
  • A printer
  • Needle (thimble optional)
  • Thread
  • Cheesecloth, tulle, or any thin cloth (or bookbinding mull if you have it)
  • Scissors, craft knife, box cutter, or razor blade
  • Cover or chip board (or thick cardstock)
  • Cover material (pretty paper or bookcloth)
    • As one big sheet - 11” x 14”
    • As spine + 2 sheets - 11” x 4.5” (1 sheet) + 11” x 5.5” (2 sheets)
  • Endpaper (pretty paper or cardstock)
    • (8.5 x 11 or A4) (2 sheets)
  • Cardstock or Bristol paper (for spine)
  • Glue (Elmers is fine, don't overthink it)
  • Printed free instructions
  • Printed free typeset of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
  • Printed hole punch template
  • Printed spine spacer template

Extra things that you may want:

  • Space to work
  • Scrap cloth or ⅜ inch ribbon (or bookbinding tape if you have it)
  • Some heavy books to press down on top
  • An awl or thumbtack (is easier to use than a needle for punching holes)
  • Lots of scrap paper (glue tends to get everywhere)
  • Ribbon (for making a bookmark)


***Alternative*** Use this pre-made bookbinding kit which has all materials pre-cut and ready to assemble

How to proceed:

  1. Gather your materials
  2. Print out
    1. Book pages
    2. Instructions
    3. Spine spacer template
    4. Hole punch template
  3. Cut your materials to size based upon your printed page size
    1. For 8.5” x 11”
      1. Cover boards (x 2) = 8.75” x 5.5”
      2. Spine = 20 mm (adjust based upon your paper weight and the size of your assembled text block)
      3. End papers (x 2) = 8.5” x 11”
    2. For A4
      1. Cover boards (x 2) = 223 x 149 mm
      2. Spine = 20 mm (adjust based upon your paper weight and the size of your assembled text block)
      3. End papers (x 2) = A4 (210 by 297 mm)
  4. Assemble your Text Block using the instructions
    1. *Step 4 - adjust - use a thumbtack (or needle and thimble) instead of awl
    2. *Step 4 - adjust for A4 - Hole punch template needs to be cut 2mm under the top line (holes 2mm higher)…
    3. *Step 5 - skip - waxing thread is ideal but not required
    4. *Step 6 - adjust - use ribbon or cloth strips for spine tape (or skip this step)
    5. *Step 9 - adjust - surprise! A hammer is not required, but makes it easier. Any sturdy blunt object will do
    6. *Step 13 - adjust - use cheesecloth or tulle for mull
  5. Assemble your case template
    1. *Step 14 - adjust for A4 - trim the top of the template down to A4 size
  6. Cover and decorate your case however you like
    1. *Step 15 - adjust - the instructions assume you are using the cover included in the bookbinding kit. Here you will make your own cover and design!
  7. Case in using the instructions
    1. *Step 18 - adjust - you can use several sheets of scrap paper or a sheet of wax paper instead of the kit’s drying papers
  8. Read and Enjoy!!!
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