HOW TO MAKE BOOKCLOTH 📚 Once & Done Method

[@NiktheBooksmith]

0:00 - intro 1:40 - bookcloth making methods 3:45 - once & done method 13:35 - outro

[@donnanowland3163]

Thank you, thank you & thank you! You explained the process in a manner even I understood.

[@tellis905]

Hello Nik! This awesome! Can you please tell me where you got the toasty linen fabric in particular????

[@carynscheffer6299]

11:06 As a garment seamstress and former fabric store employee, I must share with you.... When instructed to "PRESS" that is different from "ironing"... Hold the iron in on position when pressing, lift the iron, move it to the next location and "PRESS" for designated time, lift and repeat. When ironing, you move the iron across the fabric spreading the heat. When joining iron-on interfacing to fabric, you risk stretching the fabric on the cross-grain when "ironing" rather than pressing. I hope this helps everyone who doesn't have the same experience I have with iron-on interfacing.

[@shirleyb2896]

💕💕💕

[@Tammy-uo5ye]

Dear Nik, I have been wanting to comment on your posts a billion times BUT then I just click on your next video and “SSSWWIIIIIISSSHHHHH” I am sucked down your rabbit hole of INCREDIBLE BOOKBINDING!!! But today, I FINALLY had a little bit of self-control, LOL! I have thoroughly ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE POST YOU HAVE MADE! You are crazy talented and your tutorials are always so well done!!! I wanted to make sure to tell you HOW MUCH I have learned from you and what a wonderful teacher/craft maker you are!!! I absolutely adore your skills and your support as a “teacher”. Thank YOU SO MUCH for taking the time out of your life to help all of us learning to do bookbinding. I PERSONALLY am so grateful to you Nik🌻 Again, my sincere appreciation and thankfulness. With enduring THANKS, Tammy🌻

[@iamdawt]

Hear, hear!

[@ericka8958]

I’m fifteen and trying to start bookbinding for the summer - your channel is practically heaven sent! Thank you!!

[@Admiral86Untidy]

DAS Bookbinding is a channel on KZbin that has many different instructional videos on just about every type of book you can bind

[@belldandypleb5610]

To easy your mind a bit… the original saying is "There's more than one way to skin a CATFISH". Somewhere along the line people just got lazy and dropped the 'FISH'… not sure why, they just did. Thanks so much for this video. I have been wondering all along as to why not just use the fusible interfacing. So glad you answered that for me! Thanks, thanks, thanks!

[@tabbyhoards]

thats so more understandable catfish lol who'd have thought!

[@April4YHWH]

The original was "more than one way to skin a cat[fish]". No meows were harmed in the making of that saying. As always, your vids are super informational and I love learning this stuff.

[@deannastevens1217]

Very Interesting. My daughter (17) has discovered hnd sewn book binding. I'm going to send this to her for reference. Thank you for a great Video.

[@MarthaKite]

I've been bookbinding for a couple of years using pre-purchased book cloth - A friend is a poet and has asked me to bind up some of his poetry. He was in Bali and I had him buy some gorgeous linen, so I'm really excited to use this method! I can't use wheat paste... I have celiac - can't work with wheat. :/ - this method looks brilliant! Thank you so much!

[@kayviolet9168]

There’s also methyl cellulose paste adhesive, which works very similarly, but doesn’t contain wheat of course (and also has the benefit of not going bad if the jar is left out for a while)!

[@heartandsoulfuldesign]

I always use "There's more than one way to build a box". 🥰

[@KAPPYCAM]

Oh my gosh . I have seen all the other methods. I had iron on interfacing from my sewing. I used it and it worked fine. I am glad to see you do this. I was worried I was doing something wrong.

[@judithgreenwood4704]

I so much enjoy your videos and am a beginning journal maker. I have learned do much from you. I'm always game for the "once and done" method. the easiest way. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@pdtrubber]

I always though bookcloth was only used on the spine. Thanks for opening up my eyes.

[@valerieoliver4957]

Thank you for this video. I HATE when making a journal with fabric that the glue comes through. I never thought of doing this. :) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

[@susane945]

Love your humorous video. Thanks ❤

[@tin2698]

Thanks a lot! Heat and bond is not easily accessible here in my country but pelon is everywhere! And it costs only $0.3 per yard😊

[@BexfromTexas]

Brilliant!!! I sew & I NEVER THOUGHT of this!!!!

[@TheJadefox640]

Wow I was just getting ready to make journal. My Sister made me some beautiful cotton cloth with colors she put in. I never knew about anything like this (late in life to crafting lol). Im so glad I saw this before I tried to glue that cloth on the book, I probably would have ruined it

[@marlenejones6266]

Oooooo your sister makes fabrics? I'm goin to try a simple way of printing things on fabric so I get to have fabric with pics and photos I find online that are free to print without copyright issues. So excited. Nik is the best teacher...so calm and easy to listen to and follow. I'm glad I subscribed to her years back. So we will all have beautiful journals when we are done no?

[@marywiggins7411]

You can use an ironing cloth, or teflon sheet on more delicate fabric, it will also keep fusible from sticking to your iron.

[@bridgetletcher3034]

I ironed the head n bond onto the the fabric then just ironed it right to my book cover. Worked fine though you do have to iron it for a while to get it to stay. Be sure to keep the iron moving to avoid burns

[@ForrestAguirre]

Thanks for this! This is perfect for newbie me.

[@diannemiddaugh2478]

You are so fun! I love your videos. Also I'm a one and done person also so I'm excited to try this method. I'm a watercolorist and I'm making watercolor journals to take on vacation. Thanks for all the information in your videos. 😊

[@KathleenRenninger]

Thanks, Nik. 'Once and Done" is for me! I do like the fact that you talked about other ways to do it, though.

[@spindola245]

I saw that you use a Rowenta iron. Smart woman. Those are the best for us people that like to wear ironed shirts and pants. Thanks for all the education.

[@kimwinston]

Omg this is thrilling! I am brand new to bookbinding but I quilt and sew and think interfacing is fabulous. I feel like it might be more lasting than tissue paper? I'm excited to try this!!

[@lateonaname]

Could you do a part 2 of adhering this to a book?

[@conniebentley9699]

I never thought to add fusible interfacing to strengthen the fabric so the glue won’t bleed through. Thank you! There’s more than one way to akin an onion! lol.

[@judyandersen3842]

Thank you for sharing! I really enjoy your videos!

[@MabruBlack]

Thank you so much! Heat n bond doesn’t exist in my country, so I was wondering if interfacing will work, and I’m glad to see it does! I will look for a similar interfacing to the Pellon sheer weight.

[@penelopemarshall6320]

'Corners and edges on point', the bane of my existence!!! I was using heat and bond, you my girl are full of brilliant ideas! 😊💕

[@DenisePoole-Closet-Crafts]

Thank you for this very informative. I like this way. I have used in the past, used normal fabric with double sided heat n bound, iron it all straight on to the book board. I iron straight on with no problems. I made a book this way 8 years a go and thank goodness it's still OK I was worried. I only do it with cotton fabric that feels thick enough but not to weighty. Silk is nice also. I just like can do it all in one go.😃

[@anthonyfranchino6132]

Love your channel and the commentary! I am a fan!

[@317susan]

Thanks! I learn something every time I watch your videos!

[@Meanne77]

I've only used this technique once (so far) and it took way more than 10 sec per area to get the interface to stick to my (light) scarf, but my instructions didn't say to put a damp fabric between the iron and the interface. I'll try that next time! (otherwise, it worked well)

[@janelockwood3099]

Love what you do Nik thank you for sharing your amazing knowledge so helpful

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

exceptional video Nik the Booksmith. I broke that thumbs up on your video. Always keep up the high quality work.

[@teresitalamas5304]

Thank you Nik, hope you are well. Love the fabric you used in the video.🌷

[@risamateo8003]

Thank you for sharing your way. It looks easy I will definitely try it

[@carlericvonkleistiii2188]

I enjoy your channel. You make very good content. When the mask mandates were around, I started making masks out of men's ties that I would find at the thrift store. I only use the silk ties. The material is very durable, and you can find some neat patterns. You can get some very nice jacquarded silk pieces. When you disassemble a tie you can usually come up with a piece of fabric that you can get one 9" or 10" long square about 8" wide. It might cover one face of a book cover, so you need 2 ties if you want to use the biggest piece of fabric you can cut from the ties. But, you can cut very long strips from a tie about 3" or 4" wide, and use them to do partial covers, and have enough material to put on both sides of the book. You can use contrasting material from a different tie on the spine of the book. I have covered one Harry Potter hardback this way, and it was great. I used a quilting interface on the silk fabric, and it made a very good book cloth. You do have to watch out with bleed through with Modge Podge, but if you coat the book and let it drie til the glue is tacky, bleed through isn't too hard to avoid.

[@collettekunkler7211]

Thanks for sharing! Wheat past like you say know one has time for that🤣🤣🤣will have to put on my todo list 😉

[@madebylora]

I’m so happy to see this. Some time ago I watched a ton of videos on making bookcloth and thought it all looked too much hassle! I actually decided to try iron on interfacing and it worked fairly well… although mine was quite thick stuff. Seeing you use the same method gives me confidence to try it again, but with lighter interfacing! Thanks Nik!

[@caridavila2071]

You ready are a great teacher! Thank you!

[@suelepage6970]

There's more than one way to filet a fish :)

[@melstampz]

Thank You SO much for sharing all of your knowledge & tricks. I appreciate it ever so much. That way we don't have to waste money and time learning the hard way. Much appreciation from a new subscriber

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Thanks Mel! Yeah, I craft obsessively so you don't have to. 😄

[@adrianholroyd4533]

Great vid, really clearly explained. Just what I needed.

[@reikane5501]

You could say there's more than one way to tie a knot? There are quite a lot of knots out there for it to express a bit of vastness

[@Jana-TheCraftyGambler]

It’s so funny that I came across this because I have started using hear n bond on some of my fabrics that I use in my journals. I was wondering if I could use it to cover my journals. I had even thought about the interfacing and I’m so happy to know that I can do it and it will be a great way to cut down on the glue seeping thru.

[@denisestone9119]

So easy. I’m planning to try this soon!

[@LiterarySnob]

Thank you for explaining book cover fabrics!! I always wondered where you got them and stuff like that!!

[@johnniekuykendall2696]

Thanks for the tips! I've been wanting to use some vintage ladies handkerchiefs from my collection in my journals but knew glue would come through the fabric. Even though I have been sewing for years and purchased interfacing for clothing, I never thought about using it in bookmaking.

[@beena1]

Love this! Thank you for posting

[@dandani2]

This was a lightbulb moment after trying to glue material alone 👍

[@jeanettetobey1312]

Ditto!

[@lorrainedurgee1761]

Your right about interfacing- what a mess I went through to sew on some interfacing - broke so many needles..thanks for telling me about sheer weight by Pelion…

[@susane945]

Hi Nik! I really agree with you about the cat saying. It's not good at all. I will have to think about alternatives. I'm sure other people have said this to you before, but you do sound just like Julia Roberts. Lol Thank you for the tips. 🙏❤️

[@jenfries6417]

More ways to peel an onion? Great demo, thanks. I've been thinking about making book cloth but have been intimidated about mixing fabric and paste. Why did I never think of fusable interface before?

[@PatriciaPageMosaicArtsCrafts]

Lol I agree 100% "hundred ways to skin a cat" who came up with that and why? Great video 🤗

[@lisaleone2296]

Or "you can't swing a dead cat without hitting ". What did old timey people have against cats?

[@PatriciaPageMosaicArtsCrafts]

@@lisaleone2296 exactly 🤗

[@noelaniization]

This. Is. Brilliant. I was using the heat-n-bond method, but damn if this isn't so much quicker.

[@Mudhut2880]

Hi from Aussie Subbie 👋 Im making a white fabric cover for a journal, this will be a great way to ensure my glue doesn't show through, TFS! xx Kelley

[@LedgerAndLace]

Not swatch testing is how I ended up with Pandemic Henna Hair. Hahahaha But then, you know what they say, there's more than one way to skin an onion . . . . Yes, it's your opinion, but it's also CORRECT. ;-) I could rant on about Pellon and its crappy packaging and stupid number labels. But I won't. Yay for 21st century, Booksmith book cloth!

[@tuthillg]

Great, helpful info, Nik! TFS the inspiration!

[@gen-thethreadedbobbin]

How about instead of "A million ways to skin the cat" We say "A million ways to spread the butter"? 😂 Absolutely love your channel! I've learned so much from you. Thank you for making these videos for everyone. Have a great Day Nik ❤️🤗

[@JournalsInTime]

I just don't bother to back the Heat n Bond with anything! I put glue stright on top and sometimes I iron the heat n bond to the book board as well!

[@dawnholder8819]

Thank you for explaining this! I'm going to give this a try.

[@sharonolsen6579]

This is AWESOME ! I have been wanting to make some book cloth.. THANKS !

[@sherryvanderpool4024]

Tfs very helpful informative

[@velvetspicer1962]

Thank you for this!

[@gardensiren]

Great information Nik. Thank you!

[@belladorable]

Thank you! I love your videos! Maybe our new saying should be, “there’s more than one way to cover a book”! 😊

[@CJG1419]

I will try this method. I have been quilting fabric, and I use the term loosely, to muslin.

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

Awesome. Q: can methylcellulose be used instead of wheat paste when doing the wheat paste method? Thank you! "...more than one way to shave a peach", maybe?

[@hep223]

Can't wait to try this - thanks so much for the information!!!

[@Kel5iesKrafts]

Morning. This is awesome thank you. 💜

[@conejaverde]

There's more than one way to peel an orange! Also, thank you for your informative videos - i havent bound a book since middle school, and even then it was a very simple method only applicable to journals with a few pages. Your content excites and motivates me to revisit it!

[@thebudgetbee9694]

How is buckram created? Is it possible to diy buckram?

[@christopher69681]

Explained well, thank you!

[@kathleenswenning9915]

Thank you!!!!

[@danacolosimo5874]

Thank you so much for sharing :) enjoyed this video and will have to give it a try :) TFS :) :)

[@dianaauerhammer5681]

Sooo intuitive!! Thanks!!

[@noeraldinkabam]

Hello Nik, is there a way to make paperbacks into hardbacks? If so, did you cover (!) it?

[@thebudgetbee9694]

second that!

[@melissaann513]

I've seen a few youtube videos that take paperbacks and make hardcovers for them..

[@fakiirification]

There are a few ways. if the spine is strong you can just cut most of the covers off, leaving a little tab to sandwich between splitboards, and then just make a normal case as if you were case binding. or you could go more in-depth and cut scores across the glued spine and glue in some light cords as reinforcement. tip on end papers, then do a normal hard bound process treating the text block like any other. then there are conservator methods where you would dissolve or guillotine off the glue and completely rebind the pages if the book is falling apart. but most paperbacks are not worth that much effort unless they cannot be acquired any other way. or you just want to have fun with an in-depth project.

[@thebudgetbee9694]

@@fakiirification or you might want to rebind a tattered paperback if it was sentimental or maybe if you had a series of 2-3 books you wanted to bind together into a fatty.

[@lisaleone2296]

I do the allergy test and the test strand every time I dye my hair. But I will say I don't pre-test how a fabric will work with interfacing....

[@avigail5356]

I have seen people ironing clinging film to napkins it could probably work for fabric as well, you get then a layer of fabric facing down, a layer of clinging film, and then baking paper, or glacine, or freezer paper to iron on, it has the same effect,, seals the back of the cloth

[@rowangreymantle]

I have done a couple of journals and I run into issues with covering the front back, and spine covers. I don't seem to be able to accurately cut material. I want to give this a try. Thanks Nik!

[@esmereldakaffeeklatch8812]

Thanks for this video! 1. I have some sew-in interfacing - do you think I could attach it with spray adhesive, or glue it, and have it work? 2. How about "There's more than one way to flip a pancake"?

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Hi Esmerelda, it might work. As long as the adhesive is very evenly applied and it doesn't dry too stiff for the hinges to bend open properly.

[@v.mishrasart43]

Very nice👏👏

[@jeanwestackroyd2966]

Very interesting Nik, so useful to know. If my brain stops slipping a cog, there are other ideas in there somewhere... How about next time you could 'scan a kit' ... Thanks for sharing some great info though.

[@cyndieross2162]

Awesome video! I have some thicker fabrics I want to try this method with. 🥰

[@doreenbailey6130]

Thanks Nik 😄

[@TheSande52]

Great information. Thanks for sharing

[@MindfullyMindy]

More than one way to build a bridge

[@giusicoluccia6594]

Thank you for sharing 👍💗

[@Pandamomentum]

Thank you, this looks so easy! I looked on your Amazon list but didn't see pellon so wanted to confirm - your favorite is the pellon 906F fusible sheerweight?

[@NiktheBooksmith]

hi Sylvia! Yes, that's it. It should be on the list but sometimes its out of stock so perhaps it disappears at times!

[@Pandamomentum]

thank you! I tried it with that pellon and my book cloth binding came out great! no strike through at all, although I did put the glue on the board instead of the cloth, just in case.

[@AisforAlibi1]

Do you machine wash your fabric before making it into book cloth?

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Hi Janet! I've used both washed and unwashed without any discernable difference, but I image it's probably a good idea to wash the fabric first. Thanks for asking such a great question, I hadn't thought of discussing that. =)

[@DianeRabinowitzArtist]

Hi Nik, someone else mentioned glue bleeding through. I had trouble with glue bleeding through to a silk dupioni (medium weight silk) fabric when I used pellon sheer or lightweight interfacing. What can we do to avoid this?

[@wonderwend1]

Gosh I'd never really twigged that those book covers were actually cloth! What rock have I been living under?,

[@gemmeldrakes2758]

How do you waterproof the homemade bookcloth? I see lots of methods of making bookcloth, but none for making it waterproof/sealing it.

[@NiktheBooksmith]

Hi Gemmel, that is a good question. I am not sure about waterproofing, but you can make it water-resistant with something like Scotchgard or other fabric treatments.

[@celinavarchausky5333]

Thank you!! :D

[@triciab8751]

Oh I confess!! I never test when I dye my hair. But think about it...if you go to a salon they don't test either so it must be fine right? 😅😂😊

[@kayviolet9168]

They usually do, though? At least if the colour/brand/whatever is new to your hair, or they don’t know what you might have in your hair already. I’ve seen tons of videos on yt where a stylist is so glad they did a test strand bc the client didn’t inform them they’d box dyed, or used relaxants, or the bleach doesn’t lift as much as expected, etc.

[@randalllaue4042]

No idea could make!!!

[@fludrbywest3886]

😮❤❤🎉🎉awesome !

[@Beach652]

I did this - using the pellon sheer on 100% cotton and i just attempted to glue it to bookboard (using lineco pva glue) and the glue seeped through the cloth! A lot. Everywhere. If you have any idea what i did wrong, let me know!!

[@CharoNuguid]

It's possible that too much glue was used.

[@CharoNuguid]

It's possible that too much glue was used.

[@jam4441]

If cloth is open weave and interface is thin there in no barrier to stop glue seeping. I use heat and bond plus tissue paper and works great.

[@SherriPotter06]

@@jam4441when you use heat and bond, do you have to glue to tissue or paper to the bond? Is heat and bond adhesive on both sides? I am having the same issue with glue seeping using Pellon and I’m at my wit’s end!! Luckily I’m just doing test strips, but none have been successful.

[@jam4441]

Hi @@SherriPotter06 I use Heat-n-Bond Ultra Hold Iron-On Adhesive, White and it is double sided adhesive. I iron on heat and bond to back of fabric first then remove the backing sheet from the Heat-n-Bond then place tissue onto the tacky Heat n- Bond and iron this on . DAS has a video here at 3.50mins showing the process. hope that helps. Cheers Judy kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3bHpKWQerydjJY

[@bz5978]

This absolutely did not work for me. Major glue seepage and I didn’t even use much glue. Ruined my casing and had to start over. Gonna try the heat and bond method next I guess.

[@hanneloreboyer1525]

There's more than one way to trim a tree (all pun intended 😜)