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1. 11" x 18" sheets of white drawing paper. When sheets are folded in half, the inside of
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your book will be 5 1/2" x 9".
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2. Needle - with a large eye
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3. Twine, crochet thread, carpet thread, or quilting thread
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4. Two pieces of cardboard or corrugated paper. This material should be 1/2" larger than
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the pages in your book.
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5. Wallpaper, leather, contact paper, felt, or cotton fabric.
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6. White glue, rubber cement, or wallpaper paste.
Each of the 11" x 18" sheets of paper will become four pages of the book, when folded. Therefore, you will need the number of pages desired divided by four sheets plus
two
extra sheets. When you have determined the number of sheets you will need, stack and fold them within each other. Put paper clip on all four corners to hold the book together. Mark and pierce the center fold in the following manner. Beginning 1/2" from the top of the fold, measure off an even number of intervals about one inch apart. Pierce each mark with the needle or a small nail. For a larger number of pages consider sew small groups together. Beginning at the back, sew the book. Tie both ends with a knot on the outside. It is suggested that the book be finished before sewing or attaching the cover. After the book is sewn, the edges may need to be trimmed. Use the paper cutter.
Begin the cover by placing the cover material face down on a flat surface. Place the two pieces of cardboard on top of the material, leaving a gap of 1/8" to 1/4" (or larger) between them. Mark the position of the two pieces of cardboard on the material with a pencil. Lift the cardboard away and cut the material to measure one inch around the entire outside from the pencil marks. Apply glue to cardboard and place within pencil marks on the materials. Apply glue to the 1"' margin of material. Fold in the four corners and glue down. Fold in the four sides.
After the cover is finished and dried, place cover open on a flat surface. Cut two pieces of paper large enough to cover the inside front cover and the first page of the book. These papers will measure 11'' x 9''. Center the book pages into the center of the cover on the fold. *Apply paste to the inside front cover as well as the first page of the book Lay the 11" x 9" paper onto the paste. This will join the front cover and the book pages together. Close book and let dry. You may wish to paste down just the front half of the book and then the back half. Close the book, place under a weight, and leave it to dry for several days.
