diy hand-stitched notebooks in 9 easy steps

Stella Jayne Paper

DIY hand-stitched journals and notebooks are fun and easy to create. You're able to customize them down to page length, not to mention you can personalize the cover and inside design any way you choose. They also make great gifts for friends who enjoy writing or simply make grocery lists each Sunday.

Here's what you'll need to get started:

Stella Jayne Paper

1. Cover (preferably designed from a heavy cardstock)
2. Beeswax
3. Bookbinding thread
4. Needle tool (or anything with a very sharp tip)
5. Blank or lined inside pages
6. Needle

Let's get started!

1. Fold your cover and blank pages in half, so that the inside pages sit comfortably in the cover like a book. For this demonstration, we're making a 4 in. x 6 in. notebook. This means our cover and inside pages must be cut to 8 in. x 6 in. (Fig. 1)

Figure 1, Stella Jayne Paper

2. Once you've fit the blank pages inside the cover, line up all of edges so that they're even. Grip the spine of the notebook tightly between your fingers. In the center of the folded crease, use your needle tool to pierce through the inside pages and cover to make three evenly spaced holes (we just eyed it the best we could). (Fig. 2 & 3)

Figure 2, Stella Jayne Paper

Figure 3, Stella Jayne Paper

3. Next, coat the bookbinding thread in beeswax by rubbing it across the block. You'll feel the thread become slick. Then, feed an end through a needle. This may take a few times. There's no need to tie a knot. (Fig. 4 & 5)

Figure 4, Stella Jayne Paper

Figure 5, Stella Jayne Paper

4. Now, we'll begin to bind our notebook. Hold the pages out flat in front of you. Be especially careful not to jostle the pages; you want to make sure all the holes you created earlier stay aligned. Point the needle downward and through the center hole of the notebook, so that it comes out the back of the pages. Pull the thread through until you have an inch left. Hold it against the inside crease with your thumb; you'll need this to tie the thread once we're finished binding. (Fig 6 & 7)

Figure 6, Stella Jayne Paper

Figure 7, Stella Jayne Paper

5. From the back of the spine, feed the thread through the top hole now so that it creates a loop on the back of the spine. (Fig. 8)

Figure 8, Stella Jayne Paper

6. Make sure you still have a firm grip on the inch of thread you are saving. Now that your needle is back on the inside of the notebook, feed it through the last hole at the bottom of your pages so that it again comes out on the back of the spine. Pull the thread taunt so that it creates a loop around the inside crease of your notebook. (Fig. 9)

Figure 9, Stella Jayne Paper

7. Lastly, feed the needle through the center hole from the back of the spine. This will bring the thread back to its starting point. (Fig. 10)

Figure 10, Stella Jayne Paper

8. Pull the thread completely through and with scissors, cut any excess thread. Be sure to leave enough thread to tie with your fingers. Once again, pull the thread tight, while also making sure to not pull so tight that the notebook has difficulty remaining closed. Once it's tied, cut any extra thread as close to the knot as possible. (Fig. 11, 12, & 13)

Figure 11, Stella Jayne Paper

Figure 12, Stella Jayne Paper

Figure 13, Stella Jayne Paper

9. Before customizing, wedge your new notebook under a few heavy books. This will help mold the spine to remain shut. You might want to let it sit for several hours. Then you can customize and personalize the pages with your own designs.

Stella Jayne Paper

A tip to keep in mind while making your notebook:
1. Don't use too many inside pages - this will make it hard for your notebook to stay shut, as well as making the inside pages jut out from the edge of the cover. If this happens, cut the edges off the excess paper with a paper cutter.


All photos taken by Stella Jayne Paper. Copyright, 2014.