Make Your Own Sketchbooks With a French Link Stitch

[@BookandPaperArts]

Actual stitching starts at the 16:45 mark. My online classes are here: kelly-s-school-b1d1.thinkific.com/collections and you can learn how to make an art journal with “boiled” pages in this course: kelly-s-school-b1d1.thinkific.com/courses/art-journal-with-onion-skin-eco-prints

[@lizgorley]

Thank you for this very excellent tutorial!!! I can not wait to try this. All your creations are so unique and amazing! Thank you again!❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you, Liz. This is truly nice to hear and you have made my day. Kelly

[@andreahapgood400]

Wow I love this! Never had I heard of the French Link stitch till now so thank you for your teaching how it's done and in a superb understandable way. My heart skipped a beat when you showed the William Morris fabric - I have that exact WM in the same colours not in a fabric but as serviettes, purchased to use somehow in my paper crafting. Maybe I will glue some onto the front of a journal made using the method you've shown here, and that will link me to the memory of what you taught in this video. Thank you Kelly, you are a great teacher and artist.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you for this lovely and thoughtful message, Andrea. I love, love working with paper serviettes. They are weirdly versatile and yes, glued to a front page would make a charming cover. I have the William Morris tissue paper but almost fell down when I went to my local fabric store here in Swansea (it is a little dumpy) and they had these huge rolls of the fabric. Well, I couldn't just leave it there. 😺

[@annepayne890]

This so lovely! And your instructions are so clear. Thank you for demonstrating.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Anne. It is my real pleasure. Thanks for stopping by to let me know and I hope you make some gorgeous books.

[@heleneebenstein9120]

Kelly, wonderful video. Thank you for all your encouragement and reassurances that perfection is not the goal. Creating a sketchbook that lies flat is a terrific plus and if it's a little wonky and loose, who cares?

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for this, Helene. They sometimes wobble but they stay in one piece, they are cheap, gorgeous, easy, and non-fattening. What are we waiting for? I hope you try it. Keep me posted. Kelly

[@diane2941]

I think I can do this! Thanks for the great lesson.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Diane, I know you can and then you are going to be off and running and making all kinds and shapes of your own blank books. Now go get 'em!

[@heikesiegl2640]

I think i will try this today! The process doesn't seem as complicated as the finished stitch makes it look.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Yes indeed, Heike. It is very do-able. To be honest, I had to pull the stitches out of my first one and try again but that is what we call learning. I hope you give it a try. It makes a great blank book. Kelly

[@tofino14]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so, Tofino. I hope you give it a try! Kelly

[@joanwagner5224]

I watched your video last night and couldn’t wait to try it this morning. I am so happy with my results. I used fabric strips and did all of the stitches correctly. I decided to make a hard cover using cardboard from an ice cream package and covered the front and back pieces with paper that I printed on a gel plate. I glued the covers on to first and bottom sheets and glued the fabric over the cover. Thanks for your wonderful tutorial! I wish I could figure out how to send photo of finished product.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hello there, Joan. Tanks for this. I love, love to get messages like this. Well done you!!! I am so glad you were out there and gave it a try with covers and gel prints and made it your own. 😺😺 Feel free to send me photos via email [e-mail]. 🌷🌼🌻

[@deedeeslife]

Excellent video!! You made it so easy to understand and I’m very excited to try it. 👍

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, DeeDee. This is what I like to hear. Let me know how it goes! Kelly

[@lynnboyd33]

Kelly, just ABSOLUTELY LOVED this informative video! Yes, it was a bit longer then your usual, but that I liked as much as the lesson!! Thank you, thank you! I have done quite a few books with the three whole pamphlet stitch (Yes, I still DO use a phone book, tee hee) But never have I tried this French link stitch, with or without fabrics.It looks so amazing, can't wait to try my hands at this project. I love all of your finished books, but especially the red one, the eco print one, and that tiny, cute as a button, blue covered book! Your instructions and filming were right on! Thanks for have the knowledge as well as the patience to go over these technics with all of us. It means so much!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for this, Lynn. Not gonna lie, it was a ton of work to make this BUT it also made me get in there and mess around with this spine and that has been on my to-do list for ages so it's okay. Let me know if you try it and how it comes out! Kelly

[@alexandraalmeida3661]

I never bought an art journal or a sketchbook in my life. I’ve always make them myself, because I never seem to like any that I see. Not that they aren’t beautiful, they simply don’t fit my style. There’s something so satisfying about making your own book 😊 I’ve never tried that binding. It’s really cool ♥️🧡💙💚🩵🩷💛💜🩶🤎❤️

[@BookandPaperArts]

Such a good way to go, Alexandra. I only started making them when I was running late for a plane and didn't have time to buy one so I made one in a few minutes and now - what was I waiting for? 😺

[@junestartin9146]

Great tutorial.. thank you ❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, June. I do appreciate you stopping by to let me know!

[@debsmith7050]

Great tutorial!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Deb. Hope you give it a try!

[@emilywatts993]

Thank you, Kelly for such a clear demonstration of this wonderful binding. I look forward to using it. Also, I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the eco dyed journal in the final demonstration. I am so glad I found your channel.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hello and welcome, Emily. I hope you give the binding a try and make some cool books. And more eco printed journals are on their way! Kelly

[@DonnaVintageSnippets]

Wonderful tutorial, Kelly. I understood it all. Thank you for showing us how to bind our books with these pretty stitches.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for stopping by to let me know, Donna. It feels like a good time to make things that will help us connect. Also, we can't know too many ways to make a book, can we? 😺

[@fyrtalker]

Your instructions are so clear and understandable. I feel like I can do it. Thank you!

[@JLH-h8e]

I absolutely love this tutorial - you are so encouraging and funny and so terrific at precise instructions - I am going to give it a try - fingers crossed. I definitely want to look at your boiled book tutorial as I love the artistry in the book you show in this video - TFS

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why thank you, Judy. This is truly nice to hear. I hope you make fun and gorgeous books! Kelly

[@lynwalton761]

Oh wow, such an excellent demonstration, thank you so much.

[@sandybe11]

Great tutorial Kelly! I’ve seen the French link stitch but never had the courage to try it. Your instructions took all the fear and dread away.😅 I agree, I love making my own books..have used pamphlet stitch and tab binding.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Sandy. Now that's funny because I was just about to try the tab binding, a new one for me but I like how it looks. Happy making! Kelly

[@sandybe11]

@ would love to see your take on tab binding!

[@jennywren2395]

Very timely as I have just ordered some Khadi paper to make another stitch journal. Very clear tutorial Kelly. Thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Jenny. I love Khadi paper but I'm not always sure what to do with it. 😺😺

[@64235]

Thank you 🎉👏

[@BookandPaperArts]

It is my very real pleasure!

[@robingoff322]

Thank you for showing this binding stitch, I really like it! You explained and showed it very well, I’m not confused….I am a visual learner.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for this, Robin. I am NOT a visual learner so I had to fumble and cuss a bit but once I got the thing airborne I couldn't stop making these. I hope you give it a try! Kelly

[@alicevn7020]

I make my own books for a few years now and I agree: they are less intimidating than store bought. and more precious at the same time! I love the french link stitch with ruban, simple but gorgeous!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Alice. Thanks for stopping by. You know, I really started making my own books because I didn't have time to go to the art supply store and the ones I wanted online were sold out so I had no choice. Now I will never go back and love making books that just look perfect for me. Precious indeed!

[@lynnedove9163]

So much clarity in your instruction. Well done and thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Lynn, and thank you for stopping by to let me know. 🌷🌷🌼🌼🌻🌻

[@odettepeters7493]

What a great video! Thank you for showing this technique.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Odette, it is my real pleasure. Thanks for stopping by!

[@chococat9685]

Beautiful, I love the way it looks, I will try this later, thank you!

[@BookandPaperArts]

I hope you make gorgeous fun books!

[@reginaeid1568]

TYSM! Love it!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Regina. I appreciate it!

[@annemcdonald5602]

This is such a fabulous video! I'm going to gather my materials and watch again as I do the stitching. I have a Question: Must you use only an uneven # of signatures? I am so excited to try this! Thank you! (After the video: I did it! You made it so easy with your amazing instructions! The results are so decorative and fun.) Thank you!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Anne, now this is what I like to hear! You got up and made something. 😺Yeah, you can use any number of signatures. I just got tired of stitching at five. Four also works and I've seen versions that use eight or twelve. Go get 'em! Kelly

[@annemcdonald5602]

@@BookandPaperArts Thank you, Kelly. I'm excited to try adding various mixed media papers. This will be fun!

[@fyrtalker]

This is amazing! Thank you for sharing! How do you judge how long of a thread to start with?

[@BookandPaperArts]

Oh blast, can't believe I forgot that. You need a length of thread that is the length of each signature so five signatures is five times as long plus I add a generous extra one because getting to the end and being half an inch short of thread is the worst. Hope this helps!

[@fyrtalker]

@ ok, thank you so much! BTW my box I received from you is beyond amazing!!!!