#bookbinding diy

i created this little stab-bound notebook filled with loose leaf paper over the weekend.

i made several mistakes:

i didn't have the right tools to punch holes in the paper, so it was a long process of widening them the right amount for the needle to be able to go through several times

i didn't line up the holes on the front and back boards properly, so the back board has two sets of holes!

my corners could've been nicer

i couldn't get my needle to come back up through the middle of the book to tie off at the end, so i had to tie it off around the front

i'm going to be doing some more research before i try anything else, but this was a good experience for finding out what i don't know, and what other tools might be useful if this is something i decide to keep pursuing (for now it is!)

although it was frustrating, i had a lot of fun, and i'm still happy with the finished product. i don't know how many stab-bound books i'll make because i prefer my notebooks to lie flat, but i'll try this at least once more in the future!

To make a thick, smooth paste, measure 1 1/2 cups of cold water into a saucepan. Measure 4 tablespoons of plain white wheat flour into a separate container. Add the flour to the cold water a little at a time, beating it in thoroughly with an egg beater. Put the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture constantly while the water is brought to a boil ... When it reaches the boil, remove it from the heat and allow the mixture to cool. This paste can be thinned to any desired consistency by adding water that has been boiled and cooled.