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Supplies
Bookcloth
We will be using PVA to assemble our books. If PVA (or any other liquid glue) is used on cloth it can soak through the cloth and mar the cover of the finished book. To prevent this, bookbinders use bookcloth. While bookcloth can be purchased it is generally expensive and limited to solid colors and a few patterns, so we are going to make our own bookcloth, using fabric, HeatnBond, and Tracing paper.
HeatnBond UltraHold Iron-On Adhesive Value Pack, 17 Inches x 5 Yards
https://smile.amazon.com/HeatnBond-UltraHold-Iron-Adhesive-Inches/dp/B000XAMYXI
Tracing Paper
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055Q16TI
Fabric
Using 100% cotton or lightweight linen is best since the fabric will need to be ironed. Synthetics can melt or change in texture and feel when ironed.
I often use batik quilting cotton and sometimes buy it as Fat Quarters (precut 18″L x 21″ rectangles of fabric). Fat Quarter packs are a good way to get a variety of cover fabrics that are related in some way. Each Fat Quarter will make 2 books.
Pack of 10 Batik Print Fat Quarters
https://smile.amazon.com/FAT-QUARTER-COTTON-Fabric-CRAFTS/dp/B01C24CJEQ/ref=sr_1_2
Other Fat Quarter Packs
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=fat+quarters+quilting+fabric&i=arts-crafts&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Heavy Paper for Cover
For the covers of the books I use a heavy watercolor paper. Watercolor paper can accept liquids (like the PVA glue) without distorting as much as other papers. Each book will take 2 sheets of watercolor paper.
Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad, 140 Pound, 11 x 15 Inch, 30 Sheets
https://smile.amazon.com/Canson-Watercolor-Textured-Charcoal-100510941/dp/B0049UXGD0
pH Neutral Polyvinyl Adhesive
PVA does not become stiff and brittle when it dries. This is important for making books that will be opened and flipped through many times during their lives.
Lineco Neutral pH Polyvinyl Adhesive, 1 Quart
https://smile.amazon.com/Lineco-Neutral-pH-Polyvinyl-Adhesive/dp/B0016ZWEDY/ref=sr_1_6
Please note that PVA is ruined by freezing. If you live where the temperatures go below freezing at the time you are purchasing the PVA, you will need to find a retail store to buy this item. Most quality art supply stores will have PVA (either Lineco or Books By Hand brand)
Needle Point Awl
You will be punching holes for the sewing of the book in your cover and your signatures. A needle-point awl is a very fine tipped awl with a tip that stays thin over its full length. This will give you small holes that are consistent in size.
Needle point awl
https://smile.amazon.com/Excel-Needle-Point-Hobby-Awl/dp/B000R9PYF0/ref=sr_1_1
Pre-printed, Blank, or Hand-written Signatures (book sections)
We will be using U.S. legal (8.5” x 14”) or its equivalent European-sized paper to make our books. The paper should be 28 lb paper which is quite strong and will make a durable book. Legal-size paper can be printed using most home printers and when folded in half, makes an 8.5” x 7” book. I have included a file for printing the book in this course. If you are hand-writing your sutra book, this paper will have less bleed through than regular printer paper.
Acid-free 28 lb Paper
https://smile.amazon.com/Hammermill-Premium-Letter-Bright-102630R/dp/B00NCBKNU6/ref=sr_1_5
Folding Bone
This is an optional, but highly recommended, tool for making books. It helps with the folding of the signatures (book sections). Genuine bone or Teflon folders are suggested. They do not mar the paper.
Single Folding Bone
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B082BCV9HH/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1
Pack of Folding Bones
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0YQNA3/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0
Bookbinding thread
Bookbinding thread is usually linen thread that has been waxed. The wax makes the thread stronger and somewhat less prone to tangling. It makes the thread “stick” when you pull it tight and holds your knots better as well. You can wax your own thread if you prefer. I often buy crochet cotton or perle cotton because they come in a broader color palette and wax it myself with a cake of beeswax. If you chose to get perle cotton you will want to use size 3 or 5. If you use size 8 or smaller you should double the thread when sewing books. Like wire gauge, thread size numbers go up as the thread gets thinner.
Allow 1 yard for each book signature (2 yards if doubling). This will give you enough to make the braided cord that will wrap the book and hold it closed.
Cotton Thread options
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=perle+cotton&i=arts-crafts&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Beeswax
https://smile.amazon.com/Beesworks-1oz-Yellow-Beeswax-Bars/dp/B01LWX2IO1/ref=sr_1_7
Bookbinding Thread options
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=waxed+linen+thread&i=arts-crafts&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Bookbinding needles
You can use larger, regular sewing needles, but bookbinding needles have slightly blunted points and are not as likely to punch through the paper in unexpected, unwanted places.
Needles
https://smile.amazon.com/Book-Binders-Steel-Needles-Pkg/dp/B072JB3CHM/ref=sr_1_19
Other Items
Cutting and Measuring Tools
You will need an X-acto knife or shop knife/box cutter and a straight edge/ruler for cutting the watercolor paper to size for the cover. I use shop knives. I prefer the folding ones because they can be folded up and cover the blades when not in use. You will want to use a new blade in your shop knife.
If you don’t already own one, any of the ones on this page would work.
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=box+cutter+folding&i=tools&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
You may want a self-healing cutting mat.
https://smile.amazon.com/X-ACTO-Self-Healing-Cutting-Non-Stick-Bottom/dp/B0013CKM2A
Your ruler should be at least 15 inches long, and made of metal to avoid cutting up the edge with the box cutter.
https://smile.amazon.com/Alumicolor-8015-Stainless-Steel-Ruler/dp/B07T15LW9K/ref=sr_1_3
Optional Equipment
Rope-maker
This is a totally optional tool for making the books. If you want to make a plied cord instead of a braided one, you can get one of these tools and turn the thread into a miniature rope.
Fringe Twister
https://smile.amazon.com/Fiber-Artist-Supply-Company-Twister/dp/B07BBXBWVH/ref=pd_sbs_201_5/144-1629930-5127501
Punching surface
People who make a lot of handmade books often use a punching cradle. You can purchase one of these, but they can be expensive. If you want to build one I have included the instructions in a separate file in this course.
You can also roll up a heavy towel and use it as a punching surface. I show this process in the course videos, as well as using a punching cradle.
Punching Cradle
https://smile.amazon.com/Punching-Cradle-Bookbinding-Letter-Scrapbooking/dp/B0191Y5JC4/ref=sr_1_1
Please note – I have not used this punching cradle, so I cannot confirm its quality or ease of use. I built the ones I use.