Dos and Don'ts of Buying Bookbinding Leather Online

[@ArenDsiire]

INSANELY helpful, thank you! I love that you even showed us how to search and what to look for in online listings.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I'm glad these tips were what you needed. Good luck on your next project!

[@JeffreyDaleStarr]

I will always be indebted to you for these wonderful videos. I have gotten into bookbinding out of necessity...it is impossible to find high-quality, leather-bound copies of some of my favorite novels (particulary by George Eliot), so to quote Thanos "I'll do it myself!". Merci

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Sounds like we've been on the exact same journey. I'm glad I could help with yours!

[@the01condor]

Good morning, I'm writing from Switzerland. I've been a bookbinder for 13 years, and I've never used leather by choice, as it goes against my ethics regarding animals. However, this doesn't mean I didn't appreciate your video; it was informative. Thank you.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you, I appreciate your qualms and also your kind support. Many of the principles discussed in this video can apply directly to choosing a vegan leather substitute.

[@berits.2346]

Hi. I have the same problem, I would not want to use leather for my books, but what fo you mean by vegan leather? Artificial leather? That is not as durable as leather, isn't it? But then again, your heat foil is not as durable as gold leaves. I enjoy your videos anyway. Would be interesting to see how the foil does on different surfaces, like linen, "vegan" leather and whatever else is used to protect books.

[@AnaVeganTips]

heey! im just starting in bookbinding and I am vegan, so I won't use real leather, but there are so many variations of faux leather that I am totally lost... can you please give me some times about which kind of faux leather u think is better to use? thank youuu!

[@SaryFarraj]

Thank you so much! Your videos are really a step up over all book binding channels, especially when it comes to leather! Keep em coming! Would love more videos about how to design and use the vinyl cutter as well!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! That is really high praise and I'll do my best to deserve it. Thanks for the video ideas too!

[@TheMimzez]

nice nice, I knew it was supposed to be thin but I still wasn't sure what exact thickness to go with, and that conversion chart is also handy!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I'm so glad this video could come in handy.

[@vanessamurray553]

This was fantastic and super helpful! I can't wait for the veg vs chrome video!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! The veg/chrome analysis is already out. It's part of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4apoqx8r5uVntk

[@daneryta]

The best way to explain as always!! Thank you so much for the details !! You’re the best!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! I literally couldn't do it without your support.

[@grimnaw971]

Thanks so much. I was looking on eBay and was a bit nervous of what to look for until now. Looking forward to the veg/chrome tan video

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! I'm glad this video could meet your needs so perfectly. I hope the upcoming veg/chrome discussion will do the same!

[@NAAccount1]

Hey thx for making this video I saw Ur other book binding tutorial and I was gonna ask where u get ur leather and what should i be looking out for si again really glad i found this video of urs

[@appleslions4934]

Thank you so so so so much! I love your bookbinding videos, they’re all so well explained, well edited and informative :)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like the editing; I'm trying to improve that step by step every time.

[@Mightyjordy]

Just want to say that until this morning I’d never once considered book binding as something I ever wanted to do. I’ve just binged everything you have on the topic and I’m borderline obsessed. I want to make leatherbound versions of all my books! For someone just getting into the hobby, have you considered documenting what you think it might cost? You did a really nice summary on your to building video for what it cost to make your press, and I saw you got that leather for about $20. I’d be curious to see how you got your vinyl heat machine thing to print the foil designs and what that process or that machine costs. (Again, I’m just now learning about this stuff so I don’t know what it’s all called!)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

The next video I'm working on will actually include a breakdown of how much an average book costs me to make, so stay tuned!!

[@ezrayeaton4075]

This was such a helpful video, thank you so much for assisting me in the beginning steps of my bookbinding journey!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so glad it came in handy! Good luck with your new hobby!

[@Riktor123]

Love these videos, iv always wanted to bind my favorite books in leather. And this giving me the courage to give it a shot. Thanks for all the great info!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much. I'm so glad you felt empowered by these videos. That really makes it all worth it to me.

[@joshmoore8290]

Have you ever tried using faux leathers? There really isn’t any leather supply stores near me but Joanns has a very thin and stretchy faux that looks and feels basically the same as leather

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm currently experimenting with faux leathers. They should work as long as they have all the properties described in this video. The only risk is potential melting when ironing designs onto the books. This shouldn't be a big deal since many commercially available books are bound in vegan leather, but I would experiment on a small section first to see how it handles heat.

[@laurasalado2429]

Very helpful!! Clear step by step guide! Thanks!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad this was what you needed!

[@kevinmorris6984]

This was great, thanks for coming back with some new content 👍🏻

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! There's more on the way too, so I hope you'll stick around!

[@kevinmorris6984]

@@ingeniusdesigns I’ve now been able to use your videos to help me do my first Bible rebind and- just the other day- my first hardcover attempt at my paperback copy of the Westminster Confession and catechisms. Im very happy with how it turned out and appreciate your help!

[@ellawoods4291]

If possible would you be able to make a video on how you use your cricut in terms of book binding and which model you'd recommend? I haven't been able to find any specific videos about it :)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So far I haven't made any Cricut-specific content because I don't want the videos to only be applicable to people with a certain machine. That being said, I use a Cricut Maker and cut on the Washi Paper preset with more pressure. I also have some information in this video about successfully designing cover art that is optimized for vinyl cutters. The last half of the video is particularly pertinent to that point: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpbcc5h-q9GMlbs

[@coachsmith50]

Excellent information!!! Thank you for taking the time to make this video

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to watch it!

[@kimwallace5729]

First off I am glad to see you are back I have seen a couple of your videos and find then easy to understand. I am fairly new with my interest in book binding. I know there are different cover types, I've also seen a few other videos with different opinions and wanted to ask your opinion on vinyl as a book covering.? And what sort of fabrics are ok v not ok.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm flattered that you noticed my absence! I'm back in action now and have a few fun videos planned. As for fabric, to be honest I haven't played around with it much. Most of my interest has been in leather, with some minor experimentation with paper. Maybe in the future I'll dive into fabric binding, and if I make any discoveries I'll be sure to post them on the channel!

[@magdelena_lee]

thank you so much! i was looking at leather at my local craft store and was unsure about it. i'm glad i didn't get it now it was way too thick! 😅

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad I could help your journey. Sounds like you dodged a bullet there!

[@Richard-mz7qu]

Outstanding information!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you, I'm so glad it came in handy!

[@jyack275]

Your projects look like fun. The spiderman book looked very cool.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

They are as fun as they look. If you haven't tried it yet, you definitely should!

[@DanteMetaphor]

ended up on your channel as I'm looking for leather pieces to repair my headphone headbands which have peeled off, do you think these types of leather can be used for this purpose? I was intending to buy from the first eBay store you just shared.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm not any kind of expert on headphone construction, but this kind of leather is often used for garments so I imagine it would work.

[@Tim_with_Tomes_and_Tales]

Thanks for the advice. What is your experience with faux leather? Is it a suitable substitute? Does it tear easier to need more ounces? Love to hear your thoughts.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Faux leather can be an excellent substitute, but there are many different kinds and they are not all created equal. I think this would make a good topic for some experimentation and a future video!

[@EvlNabiki]

Thank you so much for this video, it is exactly what I've been looking for!! I have a question, and I'm not quite sure where to ask it, so I'll ask it here, but have ya'll come across flipback/dwarsligger books? I'm looking to print & bind some for myself, but information on them is very scant in this regard; i'd love to hear your thoughts and tips for them, thank you so much!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Hmmmm...I've heard of them but never held one in my hand. I imagine the binding process would be pretty similar to any other book though, just rotated 90 degrees.

[@pratikkar9967]

Goat skin nearly 0.8mm 0.9 is best for book binding and I can made French half binding.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Sounds like you know your stuff! Thanks for joining the channel!

[@foorje]

Wow! This really wasn't what I looked for but it's super well explained nonetheless! Thanks for the informative video :).

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! Out of curiosity, what were you actually looking for? Is it something I can help with?

[@LadyAbather]

I was wondering if you're planning on how to bind books that are not a rigid spine? I have an old bible I'd love to recover. I've really enjoyed your videos and look forward to watching more. Thanks for sharing this is really awesome to watch. Cheers!😊

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm glad to know there's interest in other types of bindings. If I end up making some softcover leather books you can bet I'll have something to say about it on the channel!

[@LadyAbather]

@@ingeniusdesigns Awesome. Thanks for getting back to me too. 🙂

[@OnePieceOfEt]

I didnt even know that I needed this video, wow

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad I could meet your needs...even if you didn't know they were needs!

[@tigerlilymassey2760]

Great video. Do you think you could use the faux leather sold at fabric stores?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

It's hard to make a call on that without seeing the specific faux leather that you're interested in, but if it has all the properties (thickness, flexibility, etc.) of bookbinding leather that I lay out in this video, then I don't see why it wouldn't work. If you're planning to apply cover art with heat transfer vinyl, though, you might want to test your iron on the fabric first, to make sure it won't melt.

[@RickshawMunky]

Informative as always thanks 👍

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I appreciate you sticking around the channel!

[@SamuelLee-i5b]

wonderful job, may I ask for advice since we are making unique book for parents?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

What do you need advice on for your particular project?

[@SamuelLee-i5b]

@@ingeniusdesigns This should be explained with NDA but can i ask you about this project via email?

[@derrickarbiol6611]

Hello, I would like to ask for some advise. I am planning to make a book cover jacket. I was wandering how thick and what kind of leather do I need to buy? This is my first time attempting to do leather work. 😊

[@AmbientQuest]

This was a huge help!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wonderful! I'm so glad you found the information useful.

[@PlayfulCalamity]

tyvm !

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You're very welcome!

[@carpecoffee7988]

Would thicker stiffer leather work if you weren't using it to cover a hard book? Like if you were doing a soft cover?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yes, a softcover book would be more forgiving, since not all the bending has to be concentrated at one point.

[@geometricray5046]

Great video!!! Offhandedly, is that a Menē ring? Very nice 😎

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Nope, I'm not sure what a Menē ring is, so I don't think it is one, but I appreciate your attention to detail!

[@mbooklover1090]

Thank you so so much !!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure! So glad you enjoyed.

[@natesh999]

What about imitation leather ? Have you ever tried with that ?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yes indeed! You can get good results with some vegan leathers, although I haven't tested enough different types to make specific recommendations yet. Sounds like a good topic for a future video!

[@juansantana7407]

You’re the man, thank you

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure. Glad this was helpful for you.

[@iwannareadforever8185]

Do you have any other crafting hobbies you can use the scrapes on? I noticed you testing some scraps for experimental bookbinding but they were perfectly square so did you buy a leather Hyde just for tests?

[@rowanphillips3497]

*hide

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Great question. I keep most of my scraps (except the smallest ones) for other leathercraft purposes. I do a lot of other things with leather. I also use the scraps (as you noticed) to practice for other bookbinding projects. The rectangular ones I showed on the other video were cut from my scraps too. I definitely wouldn't buy a dedicated hide for throw-away purposes. Waste not, want not!

[@iwannareadforever8185]

@@ingeniusdesigns what other crafts can you use the leather for? after you finish your bookbinding videos do you think you will share your other leather craft hobbies or do you want to keep work and play seperate?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

The thin leather scraps can be used for anything from bags to clothes. I do leathercraft with thicker leathers too, making accessories, armor, etc. If there's interest I'd be happy to put more of my hobbies on the channel!

[@iwannareadforever8185]

@@ingeniusdesigns I admit I mostly come for your bookbinding tutorials but your other videos have such a high quality that I cant help enjoying you nerd out over your passions and hope to someday be as professional as you look on camera. so long story short I think you should share what makes you happy and I wouldn't mind benifiting in the process.

[@sahafiandisheh1746]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@hooooba94]

we don’t have here any leather thinner than 0.8 mm thickness 😭😭😭 even the machines can’t thin them more than that will they work ???

[@ingeniusdesigns]

It very well may if it's from goat, sheep, pig, or deer. I would be more hesitant about cow leather though.

[@pedrocorrea4337]

Hi. Would you make a video showing your Spider-Man binded books, please?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I've been thinking of a future video that will include a featured section on those books. I'm glad to know there's interest!

[@johnkennedy1242]

Thanks

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure!

[@irenesyriac4081]

Is there any faux leather on Amazon that would be okay? I don't really want to use real leather, and I can't tell what would be a good, cheaper alternative.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you for the question. I did a little searching on Amazon and found one faux leather that seems thin enough to work. I've listed it on my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs/list/12IL3LGKPV6AD?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfingenius.designs_QNR81BDXXY76HWV03VHS

[@littleowl22778]

What about horse leather? And can you even ethnically buy horse leather?

[@magicearsmckenna6335]

Have you ever tried faux leather?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yes! And it works great. The tricky thing can be finding faux leather that has all the qualities of a desirable bookbinding leather (as outlined in this video), but if you find one then many faux/vegan leathers will work fine. If you plan to iron on HTV designs like I often do, though, then you should test on a small piece of the faux leather first, to make sure that your iron isn't going to melt it.

[@Peaceisful]

Thank you so much.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you for watching and for your kind feedback!