Making your own Midori-style Leather Traveler's Notebook

[@pennymeyer3416]

You don't find many DETAILED instructional videos, which is absolutely necessary for newbies. Thank You 7 years later!!!

[@annawaiq6360]

I was almost sure I would order an original one but while watching your tutorial I realised that I already have everything at home to make on myself. THANK YOU FOR THE TUTORIAL

[@kristinebrousseau8626]

Exactly ,,,same here, this is the best video yet on this beautiful journal. Thanks so much for the great detail. I cant wait to get started on minel Bulk making as vending season is soon upon us here. Happy crafting everyone

[@dorin.dumitru]

I just finished two Midori-style notebooks, a standard one with moleskine cahiers insider and a passport-size one with Lamy A6 notebooks. Easy job. I also made out an 2 fountain pens clip out of leather and a money clip that was laying around. And all these because the access to the original items was almost prohibitive pricewise in my location. And the materials for all these combined costed me like ~80$. The good part is that these are items made out of my own hands. The kids also enjoyed staying around me doing them.

[@bibilove6277]

Thank you so much, I when to Micheals and had a 50% coupon. I bought the leather and string. Travelers note in under $9 dollars.

[@Kaos.Theory]

I have watched many tutorials for making your own traveler notebook. This one is the best. Straight up. The way you bind it, the way you explain it, and give the seizes. Plus, you give some additional ideas (such as stamping) Thank you so much!

[@grimagination]

I just made my own version with slightly different dimensions for larger notebooks, but I could NOT have done it without your video. Thank you so much!

[@TracieClaiborne]

This is one of the most excellent tutorials I've ever seen on KZbin! Thank you!! I am a papercrafter so I have all the tools I need for this except the leather itself. I can't wait to try and make one and I've recommended your video to my FB group I own with several hundred people. :)

[@RayBlake]

That's great. Thanks for the comment.

[@timwilkins2008]

i just made a home made traveler's notebook (fauxdori). It is a three string book. It currently holds the five inserts. I made all of them. Your videos were my inspiration!!

[@zowadacustomknives]

I enjoyed your video very much. I went right out to the shop and made two notebooks. Here is something you might find helpful: soak the last 3mm of the elastic in super glue, stretching it slightly, so the glue will penetrate. After the glue hardens, cut the end at an angle with a very sharp knife. This will make a hardened elastic "needle", and simplify threading the cover. My favorite cover is made from sea ray hide. It is very thin and indestructible. Thank you for your videos and wonderful book.

[@DolceFioreRosa]

This is utterly fantastic and most helpful to those of us who have taken a particular interest in handmade travelers notebooks. Thank you very much!

[@Beati3]

Thanks very much, Ray. A $2 off cut from a leather factory, some elastic from the $2 shop, a bit of ribbon and your directions and I have my first standard Field Notes size faux-dori. Brilliant! Ta!

[@FrofooBagiss]

Oh god sake thank you for using mm mesurings and not other hard to find measurement scales like inches and so. I love you for that. Excellent work.

[@kitse_xiii8334]

@mrcynthiag it's typically not taught to do conversions between metric and empirical. Unless you're in the US and such

[@wildbill23c]

Weird my rulers have both, not hard at all to find LOL.

[@andreacook7431]

Some of my rulers have both. My nice, gridded one is only in inches.

[@shoto42]

Thank you so much, I was thinking of buying one but after I saw how simple the design of the midori I knew I could do this at home. I also like your little touch with closing elastic being in the spine rather than the back so that you aren’t writing over that. I’ll most certainly be ordering some leather and elastic once I have the money(broke highschool student).

[@CanuckJim]

I think your approach to threading notebook elastic is brilliant - it gives the spine of the notebook a very handsome looking finish.

[@lionsze]

Hi Ray - Just re-watched this video after seeing your latest blog post, and there are a few ideas I would like to share with you (or anyone reading the comments): (This was from what I learn in a leathercraft class) 1. Since you have made a template anyway - you could make the template on slightly thinner card, with the round corners and punch holes marked. 2. When you cut the leather, you cellotape the template onto the leather, using 4 pieces of cellotape on the 4 edges of the template. 3. In contrast to what you advised - (measure twice and) cut ONCE - oh you still use a steel ruler to guide the cutting part anyway - is to do long cuts but getting deeper at each cut, to avoid accidentally moving the knife/ruler about when you aim to cut the whole depth of the leather at one cut and apply too much force on the ruler and knife. i.e. no need to aim for cutting through the leather using just one cut. 4. for the corner, again, several cuts - deeper each time - around the round corner on the tempate 5. for the holes, you punch them through while having the template placed on top (by this time you probably have cut passed the edges so you could just place the template on - pencil mark slightly, or retape the template on the leather you've cut out). **The benefit of doing this this way is that 1) it save you staining any of your leather scrap with any markers or pens - maximising the area of leather you can use. 2) save you time measuring the centre / places for the holes 6. When you stamp the letters/names - gently moist the area with water - this will help the letters to stay permanently. (However I am not very good with this; when I used a metal ruler to guide the stamping like how you use a plastic ruler to guide, I somehow hit the ruler too, so underneath the name I had a horrible and rather permanent horizontal line... :'( I need to ask for more tips on being able to stamp accurately.... My preferences: 1) I would finish off with using the special glue/finish and the wooden tool (forgot the name - oh, "wood slicker") to smooth out the cut edges :D 2) bookmark - I would pull the cord till it's equal length on both ends, and tie a knot to stabilise it, pull the knot upwards - and have 2 bookmarks :D I had so much fun doing a leathercraft course in Hong Kong 2 years ago and I made a card holder and a coin purse. I have always toyed around making Midori notebook covers but this never happened :P as I didn't know where to find the right tools & buying leather in London. Recently I have stopped using my Midori (now using a Flex cover with a Large Moleskine + hand made A5 notebook as monthly calendar). QUESTION - Ray, have you experimented with making Midori style notebook cover in A5 and or Large Moleskine size?

[@RayBlake]

Some interesting ideas - thanks. Yes, I've made bookmarks in the way you suggest and I have indeed worked with the larger sizes.

[@nvrumi]

Thanks, Ray, for posting this. I don't know that I'll make my own covers, but I really enjoy watching people who know what they're doing work and you explain the process very well.

[@cunitia]

Watched this video and was hooked. Just ordered leather, punch and elastic thread !! I'm so looking forward to making this! Thank you for this great tuorial, I really love it!

[@joseluismartinezs.3609]

Thank you for all the entertaining and educative tutorial. You truly inspire me to improve and share what I know. You have a gift in your hands.

[@aprilquilts]

Thank you so much for this! I made one of these several weeks ago, and your version is definitely nicer. I especially love your tip with the needle, and the tip for the rounded corners for the washer. Thank you for all you do for the stationery community!

[@Langenoire]

Thanks for this tutorial! I didn't feel as if I could manage the leather craft in order to make my own leather cover until I saw you do it. Now I feel like it's possible to not only make myself one, but also one or two as a gift.

[@idgieemma]

Received my Raydori FN Traveler's Notebook at the beginning of the week & I love it. Thanks Ray!

[@1775Dreamer]

Ray, this is a nice intro to making a Midori-style notebook. I especially like that you put the measurements on your templates, and include those numbers right at the beginning. Thanks for a great "intro" video! As for rounding your corners, there are, in fact, many tools for rounding corners. They range everywhere from manual punches for traditional leatherworkers, to large, table-top rounders made for rounding bound books or stacks of printed material (made for print shops), and even little punches from Fiskars and Martha Stewart, and range in price from under $10 to over $200, depending on how sturdy, and how much capacity they have. Just Google "corner round punch". If you are not making a lot of these notebooks, cutting the corners by hand is probably more cost-effective, but if you are doing a lot of them, you might consider a commercial-grade rounder like a Lassco...

[@BreathingRoomMedia]

Dentel bridge threaders work great for threading stuff that is kinda thick through small, pre-made holes.

[@MeezerGurlMakes]

+Lexi Hanson This is genius!

[@ThePattersonHomeschoolAcademy]

Belt End Cutter to round the corners. But using a washer is a fantastic idea.

[@pesto12601]

Just made mine today.. took about 45 minutes but I think I can do them in about 20 moving forward now... Thx for the video... it was pretty easy once I got down to it!

[@sunriderksy]

You are awesome - thank you for this tutorial. My son is about to turn 10 and he's really getting into both drawing and writing and asked for a notebook that's not standard sized. I realized I could make him a travelers notebook (in his favorite color) and it would let him have drawing and writing notebooks in hand. Thank you!

[@rainbarber7657]

One of the easiest videos I've seen. Thanks for sharing this. I've made some with paper but I've been wanting to try leather but the tutorials just called for way too many tools. Your video is fabulous. Cant wait to make a leather one now!

[@tadeyishu]

instead of using a washer for the corners use a pair of nail clippers, child's for a tight curve.......

[@kristinebrousseau8626]

My leather arrives saturday I Cnt wait to make mine. I have Travelers, many. But curious to start learning leather hides types, differences, qualities. Beautiful video great artist u are!

[@AndyZE123]

Excellent! I couldn't swallow the cost of the original shop bought one so I will have a go at this. I am going to use a paper corner cutter to put a 5mm rad on the corner. They are not designed for leather but four corners is a small job in the scheme of things. Thanks for making the video.

[@JudayaJude]

I found this video recently and I want to thank you for posting this. I learned so much from this. It was awesome.

[@MystLily]

That is fantastic, thank you for all that info and the fact you used very little tools means I really just need the leather and a hole punch. I'm heading to a tannery soon to see what I can find as I'm only very new at these midori travel notebooks but they look great and if I had both in front of me I would always pick your hand made over a factory made :)

[@froochie123]

@18:40 its called a "Corner Punch". They're made and can be pricey but if you're doing a lot of these I'd wage its worth the money.

[@froochie123]

froochie123 Great Vid though! Thanks

[@BrianLiles]

Thanks for the video Ray! I bought a passport size with the intent of using it as a template template and then using it as a notebook as well. Now I have the measurements for the larger and a midsize one too! I will also check out your site for the PDF files. I appreciate you taking the time to share all this info with the interwebz!!

[@treemerryweather]

Wonderful video Ray. I enjoy watching you create these items.

[@tattoomykl]

This instruction was absolutely brilliant. I was able to build a field notes sized one right along with you! Well done.

[@SheLuvsHerIpod]

Huge fan of your blog. Thank you for this great tutorial.

[@amandascott-burton8843]

Hi Ray, thank-you for a very clear and precise instructional video. I appreciate you sharing your ideas and skill. Amanda

[@RayBlake]

The address book is from a download available on my blog. There's a link in the video description. An old leather jacket would probably yield quite floppy leather, but it's worth a try.

[@KerryMcKenzie]

Definitely the best video I've watched in learning how to make my own tn. Thank you so much for the clear and precise instruction.

[@shadesofgray5476]

I made one and it seem too flimsy so I cut some foam sheets to size and glued them inside the cover in the front and back. That helped and made mine look a lot better. I cut the foam sheet about 1 cm narrower than each side to give more room at the spine (middle).

[@kkossor3046]

Great tutorial. I can also use this guide for making Journals for friends. Brilliant. Thank you!

[@peter-robinson]

eexcellent tutorial thanks, I'm going to make an a5 version. one bit made me laugh. "the exact centre is about 12.8 cm, roughly"

[@onicahanby1826]

Thanks, Ray! I love the one you made for my husband!

[@catrinm7832]

You uploaded this video on my birthday - what a great gift :) (Even though I won't be able to make my own, it was a pleasure to watch this great video!) Thank you, Ray!

[@58Kym]

We Are Memory Keepers tool called Corner Chomper would make short work of the corners.

[@andreasutter6767]

I made my first notebook today and I am so excited. Thank you for such an easy to follow tutorial!

[@melissasmith3297]

Just got a big bundle of scrap leather at local flea market. Planning on making some of these with it. This will be a first try

[@johnavery5384]

You can use a curved wood chisel (gouge) to cut a circular corner.

[@shabbyoldepottingshe]

What an awesome tutorial... thankyou for taking the time to make this... I'm gonna give it a go!! I have an old leather jacket I never wear anymore ... wondering if I could make it work...might be too soft leather... I think it's lamb leather. If not... you've inspired me to go buy some to make one. Thanks again!

[@LittleRedPoppies]

I was thinking about buying one, but now I'm excited to save that money and make my own instead! Thank you!

[@chriscts]

Great video. I've been searching around for one and might just give it a shot making one. Thanks for the inspiration, Ray.

[@deewilliamson9966]

Fantastic tutorial! I have just gotten my leather and am anxious to start. Thanks for sharing!

[@Stormbrise]

The planners I use has the measurements I would need for an A6 insert. I am looking to make a small travelers notebook for that. Unfortunately your field notes notebook is a bit too narrow, and the passport size is too narrow and short. I will tackle this during the summer. Thanks for the tutorial, it is saved and I have subscribed and liked for the algorithm

[@RhomanysRealm]

For my bookmark I put a very small metal flat bead where the Midori 'clasp' would be, threaded the bookmark through and then tied a knot on the inside. This gives you two book marks but still the design element of the bead.

[@Obsidian_Iris_]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you for taking the time to make and upload this. It’s really appreciated!

[@nicoleo1778]

A decent pair of nail clippers will give you a nice clean corner and nice nails too :)

[@terryboyle]

Thanks for taking thetime to put this together

[@LynneWilliams101]

Excellent idea and tutorial. I like your precision and style!

[@awatercolourist]

There is a gadget that rounds corners. It is usually used to round the corners of pages. I haven’t tried them before, but I suppose one that can round the corners of 15-20 papers at a time should handle the leather easily. Thank you very much for sharing this :)

[@dierdriu]

Tools for cutting paper don't really work well for cutting leather, typically; it isn't just the thickness. Same as you wouldn't take scrapbooking cutters to a single layer of fabric and expect good results. You'll get better results using a sharp knife and a guiding curve the way he did it here.

[@awatercolourist]

@@dierdriu Thanks for the advice 🙂👍🏼

[@snack528]

Thank you for the great tutorial!!! I started on my channel with card-making tutorials, but I'll definitely give traveler's notebooks a try!!

[@watchfan6180]

Great video! What about staining the leather?

[@daiedwards5735]

Thanks for sharing this Ray. I decided to make my own after watching this and am really pleased with the result! (And how little it cost!)

[@ebyn77]

Another less expensive corner rounding option: I am guessing a We Are Memory Keepers corner chomper would easily cut through leather. The have a variety of corner rounder sizes (2 per each tool) retails from 25 to 30$ US. (that size would likely be the yellow tool that does 1/8" and 3/8". I can easily chomp through book board for book making :) (Amazon UK for 19pounds)

[@BritgirlTX]

This is wonderful Ray! Thanks for sharing with us!

[@ArpitaBhawal]

Thank you! This is awesome. Now I don't need to spend a $100 to buy a traveller's notebook from Midori or Chic Sparrow. You are most kind! And I don't really care about stitching the edges. This looks fabulous.

[@TheNataliest]

if i want to house 4 regular size inserts and a kraft folder, what would be the size of the leather i need to cut out, so there would be no over hang?? thanks!

[@axissixa3737]

Really great video, thank you so much! I have a nice piece of leather I've been wondering what to do with and I've been looking at Traveler's notebooks getting ready for 2021 so, shazam!, homemade traveler's notebook here I come. And I'm going to check out your homemade inserts. Much Mahalos!!

[@Librarygurl]

What a fantastically useful, well done video. Thank you so very much.

[@LosPeregrinos51]

Instead of having a separate closure loop would there be a problem with folding a single length of elastic in half and threading it through the centre hole to make a closure loop. knotting it off on the inside then taking the two ends and threading them through the top and bottom sets of holes, tying them together on the longer spine elastic that holds the notebooks in place, possibly at the bottom of the cover and out of the way?

[@kimpowell3829]

If I wanted a cover that would hold two or three inserts, I’d add extra holes horizontally across the “spine”, correct? Any suggestion as to how much width to add to overall width?

[@RayBlake]

I wouldn't, becase extra holes in teh spine weaken the structure and casue the spine to bend. Here's what I'd do instead: app.box.com/s/vbberuirppg8hbfgewwi

[@cwardinger]

I really enjoyed this video. I have now made my own leather notebook cover (I also made the notebooks for the inside, thanks for your web page too). I have watched this several times, and now that I have made my own, I have a question. Do you use an edge beveler to clean up the inside? Mine seem to be a bit ragged there and I have been trying to decide how to make it look nicer. Again, this is a great video. I have looked at almost all the others on KZbin on this same subject and I keep coming back to watch yours.

[@RayBlake]

Thank you. No, I've never felt the need to do that, but all leathers are different, so give it a go.

[@RayBlake]

If you make a few from just paper, you can use them to lay out on a big piece of leather and work out the best yield.

[@jadebethj4807]

I also have that lettering set! But I didn't know how to use it so thank you

[@itsffellie]

There is a corner rounder by we r memory keepers which I believe could do the job of rounding your leather corners :) you could check it out. Another one is a corner rounder by bind-it-all.

[@xtryfailrepeatx]

Hi Ray, thank you so much for your great and detailed tutorial! I'm thinking about making one for my Dad (as well as one for myself, hehe) for Christmas. Cheers Fran

[@daniellemarceaux5395]

finley add mittin i need a planner found a lot of videos were pepole all ready had videos on were on all redy made the outside and all of them were not small enough for what i need and what i want so thanks for that info will try to make this

[@Cindoraart]

Thank you so much for this great tutorial. I made my own one and because of your tutorial it was so easy. This notebook will be a great sketchbook. I can't wait to take it with me. Every day :))

[@berlinaroids]

Great tutorial, Ray. Thanks a lot for sharing your skills.

[@RhomanysRealm]

I just made my own last week in exactly the same way. Never thought to make templates though, that's genius!

[@lindabeebe7065]

Yay! Three books, thank you very much.

[@ornellag.5401]

Thank you !!! Now I finally understand how to insert the binding! Good job! :)

[@billa.785]

Why did you cut off the tag end? I would have just fed both through that center hole for the tie loop. Nice work on the tutorial. Thanks.

[@CreatrixTiara]

Thank you! This was immensely helpful in making my first fauxdori :)

[@asem8187]

Hi. Nice vid. what is the size of the hole puncher used here?

[@karinmeira]

Such professionalism! Thank You!

[@mkeller18]

Any advice on how much bigger the leather should be than the inserts?

[@jordanbeattie3371]

Great video. Why did you cut the leather so far from the edge?

[@hheintze1]

Would this make a good first leatherworking project? What would the cost of the leather be around?

[@cwestern08]

Wonderful tutorial..would love green or orange leather!

[@kersshah102]

beautifully done ! ..... can i order the leather online, and can i use any type of leather ?

[@GiuseppeLiverino]

Hi Ray thank you very much for an extremely accurate tutorial. Do you know the sizes for the passport size cover?

[@RayBlake]

This is already included in the video at 2:00.

[@GiuseppeLiverino]

Ray Blake thanks a lot I didn't notice, I thought the whole vid was for the regular size :) will get to work now!

[@limmaveric8363]

What’s the thickness leather use for making the Mindoro notebook?

[@RayBlake]

This is at the edge of what would be acceptable, I'd say. Usually I'd go a bit thicker. Actually, though, I find the thinner stuff works much better for smaller sizes. It's not going to survive any kind of major mauling, but my lifestyle generally doesn't require it to.

[@rellshairhealthandbeauty3854]

Thank you for sharing Ray it is fantastic. I will try your method for my next piece of work ☺

[@lisettevial2629]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful project! I'm in Canada and I've been looking for that punch you used but with no success in the stores. Could you tell me under what brand or how to search in order to buy online? Thank you

[@genereeves3866]

Nice video and workmanship. Thank you!

[@teachmrshh6169]

Where is a good place to get leather? Do you have an eBay seller you'd recommend? LOVE your work!!

[@Queenmom313]

Hi Ray! I enjoyed this video very much. Thank you for your information! I just wanted to let you know I watched a video by poketfullofvintage and she had said that she used a We R Memory Keepers "Corner Chomper" and was able to round her corners very easily. I really like that tool as well, for paper projects. Just thought I would share.

[@33-vertebrae]

What was the size of the instrument used to make the holes?