Handcrafting a Large Sketchbook for Painting ⟡ Calming ASMR Bookbinding

Thank you to my patrons for making this video possible! ♡
This is the biggest sketchbook I've made so far! Big books are a bit intimidating because there's a higher chance the cover boards will bow. Also, they're more awkward to work with due to their size and weight. I'm really glad it turned out well. I used 160 gsm Fabriano Accademia paper in A3 size for the signatures and assembled the book using long stitch binding. If I made this again, I would space out the signatures slightly further apart and maybe reduce the number of sheets per signature as page turning feels a bit stiff.
0:00 Lucy gets settled
0:23 Folding signatures
2:07 Cutting spine board
3:33 Measuring and cutting spine cloth
4:24 Assembling the cover
7:14 Gluing decorative paper
10:34 Gluing endpapers
13:34 Creating punching guide
14:35 Punching holes
16:51 Sewing long stitch
25:19 Completed sketchbook
26:05 Beauty shots
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Filming Equipment
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro with Canon 24-105mm F/4 lens
Editing Software
DaVinci Resolve Studio www.blackmagicdesign.com/prod...
FAQ
✦ What tools and materials do you use? • Bookbinding Tools & Ma...
✦ Where can I buy bookbinding supplies? your local art supply store, Blick Art Materials (US), TALAS (US), Hollander's (US), DeSerres (CA), Etsy
✦ What adhesive are you using? Archival quality PVA glue, there are multiple brands that sell this
✦ How do you make your book cloth? • How I make bookcloth f...
✦ Where do you get dot grid writing paper? • How I source dotted wr...
✦ Where did you get your...
guillotine cutter - amzn.to/3UFSnS9
book press (made it myself) - • Bookbinding Studio Vlo...
✦ What brand is your...
thread - Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread
corner rounder - Akiles Diamond-1
✦ Where is your music from? I use Epidemic Sound, sign up for a 30-day free trial here: share.epidemicsound.com/asrshm
✦ What is your dog's name? Lucy 🐕
Produced on the unceded territories of the Tongva people. Learn more: native-land.ca/

[@bittermelonbindery]

If you want a comprehensive guide on beginner bookbinding, my new book is coming out on December 5, 2023! Every preorder gets a bonus ebook with extra content. Go to my website for preorder links: www.bittermelonbindery.com

[@shakawatshawon6031]

Can we just appreciate how well and beautifully she binds and create sketch books 🤌🏼✨

[@bethcrane5780]

What a joy it would be for a watercolor artist to receive this beautiful, beautiful sketchbook. Thanks for bringing us along.

[@lenanana8]

Wow, I never thought you could do a long stitch variation on a hardcover! That's so cool! Your sketchbook is so elegant and classy, I love it.

[@graceverissimo6332]

....binding the signatures directly into the cover spine.... thats amazing😮😮❤❤❤

[@alexday7905]

Can’t say enough about your channel. I’m an author. I use shaving brushes, hammer dies, pizza boxes. I’m just a beginner.

[@Intenzity]

Wow. A piece of art in itself. Amazing work.

[@KizetteandTotoro]

It is so beautiful. I paint, and I really wish I could afford one of your unique creations. Your channel has deservedly grown so much in such short time. Congratulations. Your skills have truly reached soaring highs. You’ve worked so hard for it. I hope you continue to post. I was hooked to your channel from the beginning. Thank you for sharing.

[@user-pu9zg7un1r]

The angled stitching on the outside makes a really lovely addition to this cover bound book. So gorgeous. A couple of questions for you from a very novice bookbinder... did you design the stitch pattern yourself? Also, I noticed that you didn't guillotine these pages, were they trimmed before you started stitching or just left to fall where they may after stitching?

[@karma13612]

Absolutely stunning work! Would you ever consider doing a close-up tutorial on the spine binding? I would love to try it. I enjoy bookbinding and always appreciate learning a new stitch. Thank you!🙋‍♀️❤️👏🧵🪡📚

[@atamaria43]

Una maravilla de Sketchbook, la encuadernación del lomo con la costura es espectacular, 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@toshirok4481]

Τhank you! Clear, tidy, precise instruction, perfect timing, harmonious!

[@janalewis3030]

That is a really cool design! Very nice!

[@M3DU5A]

What an absolutely beautiful binding ❤

[@lindahigham5317]

Good afternoon 🤗 Bitter Melon Bindery 🌹 Totally Awesome Style of Bookbinding Thank you for sharing this video enjoy your week and weekend ahead ☺️🌹💌🦄🤗📚

[@kathysausen6493]

This was SOO Beautifully done!!!!👏👏

[@deborahbloom4624]

Now THAT's what I'm talking about! Beautiful to see the stitching on the outside of a case bound book. ❤

[@clashofclaws1332]

Yeah, i think if its the most of the process, why not to show your creation 😊

[@AresshaSahiba-cn7ku]

So beautiful I love it

[@leslie4421]

Amazing and such beautiful craftsmanship. 🤩

[@avislyons3539]

I’m interested in when your book is to be released. I love watching you work and you have inspired me to be more reflective as I do my books.

[@jfredmuggs3586]

Another wonderful and beautiful job - I really like the quiet/no ad format. Once again I like to sketch and this book would make me somewhat nervous to actually use! Thanks for a good video.

[@lunaportia989]

This is so relaxing and beautiful! 🥰Thank you so much 😍😇

[@KatPadmore]

aaah this is my dream vid! I'm finishing up my third book all because of your beautiful videos. the first was a soft felt shell with blanket stitch, then a larger scrapbook just like this (my first hardcover- ahh!) and now I'm completing a hardback journal. you are such an amazing teacher, I can't wait to read your book! edit: and that STITCHING PATTERN! I'm utterly in love!!! that has to be my next attempt

[@beesinthelavender]

Have you ever used adhesive vinyl paper on a book cover? I picked some up today and tried it on a scrap of chip board. It went on really nice and smooth. No glue mess.

[@bittermelonbindery]

No I’ll have to try that. Sounds like a good way of waterproofing covers too.

[@letteringinspira]

Gente que lindo!! Meu sonho é encontrar alguém que venda sketchbook com gramatura alta. Lindo trabalho ❤

[@biancaaparecidaoliveira9137]

Estou começando a fazer e faço em gramatura alta

[@biancaaparecidaoliveira9137]

É otimo pra skets com aquarela e nanquin

[@idaloo62]

Absolutely STUNNING!!! This is my first time visiting your site and I'm so very impressed. Your work is outstanding and I can't wait to give this project a try. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. 🪡😊

[@chrisfiller465]

Beautiful work. Well done.

[@Kdmud]

Thank you Chanel! As always, so beautiful and inspiring! This is definitely my next project ❤

[@ericadiaz7349]

Simple, rustic, yet beautiful

[@tatianawerner2219]

I love these types of videos!! But I am curious, when it comes to the cover; how much space do you typically leave between the spine piece and the cover Panels?

[@bittermelonbindery]

1/4 inch!

[@holyshiftperformance]

Awesome work.

[@johnproffitt3272]

Nice job!

[@drleonesse]

Very attractive!

[@lightbulbnirvana]

Most excellent!

[@oscaropazo3529]

Maravilloso!

[@mushnik01]

Stunning, absolutely stunning… Karen Meltcher ☺️💜

[@mayelicusis5584]

Muy hermoso ❤❤❤❤

[@annahdz5807]

You are amazing ❤❤❤❤

[@tubevi8643]

Amazing

[@gwencrable7286]

Beautiful,meticulous work.👍🏾❤️

[@BloomingPresence]

Lovely work as always! Where is the painting paper from?

[@daphneus69]

Votre présentation est efficace , et sobre . j’adore! ❤J’apprécie beaucoup la douceur de votre vidéo . On se retrouve un peu hors du temps et c’est très apaisant . Merci pour ce beau moment de partage . Ce serait parfait si on pouvait avoir plus d’informations sur le matériel que vous utilisez, je pense notamment à cette toile (verso et papier recto) que je ne connais pas . Merci pour tout

[@bethrose8938]

Love this spine design. Do you pierce all or some of the signatures while sewing? I saw you using an awl now and then.

[@nadellecullis8624]

Thanks for the fb post, I thought I was already subscribed… I’ve missed you 🤗

[@deborahbloom4624]

Lol. When you put down the bed for your dog and she laid down on it, I said, "Good girl!" as if she was my dog and right here in the room with me! 😅

[@tarzan8575]

I have always wondered if there is a reason why the cover cloth always goes over the spine clothe? I never see anyone do it the other way round.

[@whiteflower8805]

hi i love your work. what kind of shipboard you use?

[@anonymous83728]

Have you try lay-flat book binding, that perfectly flat when opened? And for me i have try it and it's so good but really time consuming and some pages have little tape on it. And it's not perfect too because i want it to finish it early and because i want to start using it.

[@francklie6568]

What kind of paper is it and where do you get it? Thanks!

[@Charlieesk_bookbinder]

Hi, where do you get the book board ? Lovely video

[@gonecoastalfl]

Hello, Can you please tell me where you got the metal strip you used to measure the gap between the cover board and the spine at minute 4:54?

[@bittermelonbindery]

It’s the steel rule set from Talas!

[@avislyons3539]

I see you put an elastic band on your journals. Could you tell me where you get them?

[@Phyanh]

Hello, your notebook is amazing, I love it. Can you tell me what type of paper you cut at 4:11, is it paper or fabric? I want to know the name? Pls ☺️

[@mariaetheridge8343]

❤❤❤

[@Mike-bh7sh]

won't the pages tear out/wear out easy with so little actual stitching holding them in?

[@purehope1684]

Giirl you're amazing i get inspired by your video and i learned more about binding books so i get started my project by your ideas so can i do my business with your inspiration videos?

[@joanpringle-canning2834]

🤗🤗❤❤🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[@bobdouglas262]

This question is off topic, but is your dog a rescue?

[@bittermelonbindery]

Yes!

[@alexatanasov1658]

That pickle threw me...

[@lolaadesina5362]

For painting sketchbooks, you should wear gloves cos the oils from your hands will negatively impact the sketchbooks's ability to absorb painting and drawing mediums.