How to thread the binds of a leather journal?

Ever wished to make your very own journal? Creating a leather cover is easy, but how about going down to the basics and actually assembling the loose pages and threading the binds of your very own leather journal! Book binding is an ancient art, which has regained its popularity as a summer time hobby in the recent past. Again, binding a regular book is very different from binding a leather backed journal; one because leather is a lot thicker than paper, and the leather cover in itself is a decoration that can only be enhanced by proper book binding.

If you are seriously interested in binding leather journals professionally, then some in-depth research at your local library is recommended. Also, you might need to invest some amount of money in getting authentic book binding supplies from reputed distributors and suppliers. However, if you aim to get some quality work accomplished during your free time along with some wholesome satisfaction and pleasure, then the following instructions and suggestions might suffice. So on to the process:
First, we begin with collecting all the pages and cutting them to the right size. When creating a journal from scratch, you have a lot of freedom in terms of number and size of the pages you want. For binding, mark the paper sheet with the your desired height and double the width that you want the final journal to have. For instance, if you want 8” x 5” journal pages, you have to cut out 8” x 10” paper sheets.
Preparing book signatures: Book signatures are not your autographs, rather small packets of pages folded in the center and stacked inside each other. To make a signature fold, each of the cut paper sheets has to be folded in the center to get the actual page size that you need. Stack 6 to 7 folded sheets one above the other, taking care to align the central fold. Now, your journal signature is ready. Usually, a signature of 6 to 7 sheets is wise for hand binding, anything less can be too thin and will rip easily, and anything more will be too thick to handle.
Making binding marks: Once you have made enough signatures (that’s your book block) to bind into your journal, you will have make markings from where the binding threads will enter and exit. For this, fold the signatures along the central fold and mark 1/2" in from the top edge and 3/4" in from the bottom edge. Now, measure the distance in between the 2 markings and divide it into the number of holes that you want your book binding to have. So, for a 8” x 5” journal, the distance would be 6 ¾”. If you want 4 holes, then divide 6 ¾” by 4, that’s approx 2”. So, mark at every 2” starting from the head marking.
Punching the holes: Using an awl or any sharp pin, poke holes through each marking, making sure that the holes are made right through the spine of the signature. Now, thread a needle with waxed thread and insert the needle at the upper head hole, leave about 2” of the thread behind and come out from the next hole. Holding the extra thread with one hand, tighten the thread from the next hole. Sew across the holes, coming out from the foot hole. Then, insert the needle into the foot hole of the next signature and continue the process. You will come out from the head hole this time. Repeat the sewing process for all the signatures in this method. If you run out of thread, just tightly knot a new piece onto in inside the book. When done with stitching all the signatures, end with a double kettle stitch.
Pasting the signatures: Once your book block is stitched and ready, brush the spine with excess of PVA glue. Ensure that you allow some glue to go in between the signatures, which will give your journal the added strength. Measure the length and breadth of the spine and cut a piece of cloth and card paper or cardstock. First paste the cloth directly over the spine and then paste the card paper or cardstock over the cloth.
Covering the journal: Take a thick card paper or cardstock sheet and measure the dimensions of the pages of your journal. Add ¼” to the width and ½” to the length and cut out 2 separate pieces. Now, cut a piece of book binding cloth – the size will be length of the journal cover plus 1” and width of the spine plus ¾ the width of your journal cover. Place the card paper covers over and under the journal. Apply glue on the outer sides of the cover and the spine. Center the book binding cloth and paste it to the covers and the spine. Now, your journal is ready to be leather backed.
Covering the journal with leather: For this, visit a craft shop and ask for book binding leather. This type of leather is more durable, produced by employing vegetable tanning technique. This ensures that your journal last for long. When measuring the leather to be cut for the journal, measure the dimensions of the covers and the spine. Add 1/3 of the measurements to these dimensions to allow enough leather to wrap the edges and the insides of the cover. Center the leather and paste it over the journal covers using leather bound glue. Your leather journal is ready to use!
As mentioned earlier, this is just a basic method of binding a leather backed journal. There are many variations to this method, which may or may not follow the same sequence. However, I would recommend that you master this method prior to trying out any other variations.

How to make homemade leather back personal journals?

Leather backed personal journal is a dream possession for anybody who cares. It is sleek, elegant, classic, and lasts for generations. But again, leather journals are too expensive to buy, a major deterring factor one might say. Now, if I say that making your very own leather backed personal journal is not only easy, but, really cheap, would you believe me – probably not! So let me illustrate the method to you, and you will find out for yourself.
There are plenty of methods to create your own leather back journal, ranging from easy to complex and everything in between.
1.The easiest method is to treat leather like the brown paper covers that we used to cover our books with during our school days. Buy a sheet of book binding leather; this is better quality leather. However, if you want to cut costs, you can use the leather from your old tote or hand bag. Measure the dimensions of your journal (including the spine width). Add 1” to all sides and cut out the rectangle. Now simply cover your journal with the cut leather sheet, turn in the edges, and paste it on the inside with a duct tape or leather bonding glue. Now, your leather journal is ready!
2.The another method is, soften the glue at the spine of your journal by heating it with a hairdryer. Carefully peel off the journal cover, taking care that it stays in one piece. Lay the cover on top of your leather sheet and trace out the edges of the cover on to the leather. Cut out the leather along the tracings and paste on to the journal cover. Brush PVA glue on the spine of the journal and repast the leather bound cover over it. Leave it to dry.
3.Here goes how to make a center open lockable leather journal. Soften the spine of your journal as instructed earlier. Now, carefully peel off only the front cover of the journal going half way through the spine. Measure the dimensions of your journal (including the spine width). Add 2” to the width and trace it out on a leather sheet. Using a pair of shears cut out the leather. Then, fold the leather sheet in the center and mark the central line. Measure and mark the center of your journal on its back cover. Apply leather bond glue to the back cover and paste it on to the leather sheet aligning the central line. Now paste or sew a wooden button on one end of the leather cover and a core or leather strip on the other. On completion of this process, your center open leather journal is all set to go.
4.Remove the journal cover as explained earlier. Measure and cut the leather as demonstrated in method 2. Measuring from the top edge make 2 equidistant markings just ½” inside from the spine of your journal. Punch holes on these marking using a hacksaw or a sharp skewer. Place the cut leather sheet along the journal and trace out the punched holes on the leather. Using an awl, punch holes in the leather too. Align the holes of the leather and the journal. Cord the leather to the journal using satin ribbons or strips of leather. For a dramatic effect, you can use nuts and bolts to attach the leather cover to your journal.
These are just some of the ways in which you can transform your bland paperback journal into a classic, elegance personified leather journal. It is fun, economic, and a very good summer time or holiday project. The results are so remarkable that you can use these methods to create your own handmade leather gifts. However, be forewarned that these are just some examples of the several ways in which you can work with leather and create homemade leather back journals and books.

Decoration and doodling ideas for a personal Leather Journal

Many among us maintain personal journals, inside which are penned an assortment of thoughts that describe the person we are. Into these pages go the abundant creativity that bubbles inside every person’s heart. However, the plain-clean sheets of a personal journal are not the only place where you can showcase your talent and flair for creativity, the journal covers are equally gripping. This is especially true in case of a leather journal where the leather is not just an embellishment in itself, but a vast virgin expanse waiting to be decorated. The ways in which you decorate and adorn your journal cover says a lot about your personality, artistry, and creativity. Here are some ideas to decorate or even doodle your personal leather journal with:
1.Go the traditional way and emboss or engrave your journal cover with your name, your favorite saying, a poem, floral patterns, or anything else that fancies you. Cover the the entire space of leather with embossments or just center your decoration. You are at your creativity’s free will!
2.Rubber stamp an imprint of your choice over your journal. Rubber stamps are economical and can give a dramatic effect if used in the right way. In fact, due to the smooth texture of pure grain leather, the rubber stamp imprints are richer and cleaner than they appear on paper images. Moreover, since the ink usually gets absorbed into the leather, the imprint is long-lasting and smudge-proof.
3. A contemporary method of using rubber stamp over your leather journal is to water mark it. For this, create a rubber stamp imprint using a solvent-based ink. Then leave it for a short span of time, take care that the ink does not dry out completely, and rub off the excess ink with alcohol. What you get is a subtle water marked kind of an effect on your leather journal cover. You can enhance this design further by using metallic paints, pens, or metal engravings. The longer you allow the imprint to stay before rubbing it off, the darker the effect you get.
4.If your creativity demands the use free-form arts like doodling, then so be it. Doodle with all over or on a part of your leather journal using permanent markers. The colors of the markers look crisper and sharper over leather surface. Do not forget the spine of your journal. The spine, being smooth and crease free, gives a better surface for penning some drawings. You can even use some formal art forms on the main cover and doodle over the spin.
5.Paste it stickers – the young artist’s best weapon! Use any and every sticker that you like. Add it to you journal border, on the spine, or cover the entire leather with an assortment of stickers. Do it as you like - after all it is your PERSONAL journal, so you are the boss. However, do remember to check that the stickers you are using have a strong adhesive, or else you might have the stickers peeling off the leather in no time – giving it a highly unpleasant look. But again, if you are one of those who hate monotony, then go for the regular stickers and keep changing the stickers every now and then.
6.Cut out photos from your favorite magazine or take out snaps from your photo album and stick it on your journal. Center paste a single photo or make a collage that follows a scheme of thoughts or ideas – that’s again your choice.
7.You can also embellish your personal leather journal with mementos like the fabric of your wedding gown, your first air travel ticket, the place cards from your prom night, anything that matters to you.
Remember! What have been listed here are just ideas for decorating your personal leather journal. The way what goes inside your journal is left completely to your discretion; be it doodling or decorating your leather journal cover. While writing in a leather journal will preserve your memories for ages, personalizing it in your unique style will turn it into an heirloom and a keepsake for generations.