Tips & tricks for making a hardcover case - flat back case binding
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When I started case binding, I struggled a lot with the measurements. Here's a method you can try for creating the right-sized case for your book!
0:00 Preparing text blocks
0:58 Measuring cover boards
2:55 Measuring the spine board
4:48 Test fitting
6:56 Cover material
8:44 Casing in
16:33 Pressing
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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...
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guillotine cutter - amzn.to/3UFSnS9
book press (made it myself) - • Bookbinding Studio Vlo...
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thread - Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread
corner rounder - Akiles Diamond-1
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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
this could not come at a more perfect time I swear. its fate. i was *just* finishing up a hardcover book for a friend and growing frustrated with how they never turned out *quite* right. functional yes, but with little imperfections. Measuring the spine as the text block with the cover boards makes soooo much sense. Now i feel some motivation to have another go at hardcover books again ❤
You'll get it right! The slightest off measurements can be a pain. I still make wonky books here and there. I recommend making the same size book repeatedly to understand all the subtleties of how the measurements affect the final look!
A big part of bookbinding is that you'll find your own way of doing things, and I kind of stumbled upon this test fitting method myself. Let me know if you try it out and if it works for you! I consistently make measuring and math errors, and seeing the text block in the covers first helps me make more accurate cuts. Also, make sure your cuts are square!
I’d love to know how you cut your text blocks so perfectly…mine always have some kind of kink or jagged edge.
@@nicoleb3781 I use a heavy duty guillotine after many years of cutting by hand... it's been a worthwhile upgrade. It's also known as a stack paper trimmer.
I'm so stoked for this video! It couldnt've come at a better time. I've been struggling with getting the overhang even on all sides, 3mm at the head and tail, but 5mm at the fore-edge and it's been frustrating me to no end! Sometimes I get it perfect, but otherwise it's a mistake I consistently make. The test fit with the tape is so clever! Casing books has always been the biggest scare factor for me, I get so anxious about messing up, that I procrastinate to the point of having seperate textblocks and cases laying around that never get put together lol
@@bittermelonbindery Thanks for replying! :) I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for something similar here in New Zealand x
Thank you for this I am thinking of creating my own book now 😄
I absolutely love the idea of using painting tape to test fit the binding. I have messed up so many books at the casing in stage and it’s heartbreaking. I plan to use this method from now on. Measuring and cutting book board is my downfall.
Thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for.
Great video!! The tape is such a good idea. I'm bookmarking this one for reference. Thank you!
Beautiful work❤️
Thank you for this video. I will definitely be incorporating all these tips into my next bind. 😄
Great information and demonstration. Blessings and hugs 🤗
Another wonderful video 😍!! Thank you 😊
omg i’ve engaged a video about this from you for so long
Oh god, that's so cool, I've been waiting for this. I'm always messing up the back part either it's too long either it's too short. Love your videos and the atmosphere you put in them.
TKS. Beautiful and useful! ❤
very helpful! Thanks so much.
This is so helpful thank you!
Ooooh you added cm!!! Thank you so much for posting this!! ❤
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Been waiting for this soooo long !! ❤❤
💛💛💛
Such great tips thank you ❤😊
You're welcome!
seeing how you attach the endpapers to the covers is so helpful to me. I've been trying to attach endpapers by simply folding the cover down and then pressing it (like some people that i've seen online do), but i've noticed that my endpapers have ended up being misaligned once i've opened up the book with is a bummer :( i'm gonna try it the way you're doing it, hopefully my books turn out a little better in the future!
Thank you 😊
Good morning 🤗 Thank you for sharing this video I always enjoy watching and learning more about bookbinding from you I so can't wait for your new book to come out enjoy the rest of your week and weekend ahead too ☺️🌹💌📚🦄🤗
Thanks Linda!!
@@bittermelonbindery your very welcome 🌹🦄🤗
I've been wanting to know how to do them correctly for years my next notebook is going to be amazing 🎉
Have fun :)
Не будет 😅
Beautiful video, thanks for making this! I'm just starting into bookbinding and was wondering what the thin rounded stick was called that you placed in the space between the spine and cover while you pressed these? Thank you for your time ^^
Very beautiful
Oiiii amoooo seus vídeos e vê se não some mais 😂😂😂❤❤❤
Soo beautiful
So, my dad took small hardwood pieces that were slightly longer than the length of the wing nut and were deep enough to fit well in the hand and cover the width of the wing nut, and about 3 or 4 inches tall. He routed a channel running the length of the block that was a bit wider than the wings on the nut. He then drilled a hole in the center that was slightly larger than the bolt. He rounded the top length and sanded the whole outside so it is comfortable in the hand. When you drop the block over the bolt, it slides down to the wing nut and the nut then fits into the channel. You use the block to turn the nuts up and down the bolt which means they don’t hurt your hand, you can turn them faster and easier, and you can get a more even torque on the boards. TFS.
Do you have a video on making bigger spines? You mention some size adjustments to limit spine swell with the larger text block books.
is it possible to do perfect perfect binding and then put on a hardcover case? Thanks bitter melon!!
I'm not making a book, but a hardcover portfolio. Could place my print on the hardcover without using cloth?
where do you get supplies , the cardboard cover etc..
Great video Chanel 👍 I suspect the glue you’re using is much more liquid than mine and allows some time to adjust the end papers, you certainly have mentioned it already but what brand do you use please ? Thanks 👍🙏
I mainly use Lineco brand! I get a gallon jug and it lasts me all year.
@@bittermelonbindery thanks a lot will try to find it in Europe 😇
Hello! Do you add inches to the length? That is, from the spine outwards. Or you only add inches to the width?
My problem is cutting the pages and cover properly. I wish there were templates that could be used to make the cuts needed.
I really want to know about endbands… are they available online or u sew it??
I make my own and use commercial ones! Check out talasonline.com or hollanders.com
My layflat books have problems when i try opening them flat. What am i doing wrong?
Happy Ramadan to all the Muslims around the world thanks for your video it help us a lot to improve thanks bitter
Hiiii Can you tell the name of the equipament you're using in 16:50? Where can I find it?
It’s a book press I made with cutting boards! There’s a link in my description to an old video showing how I made it. If you don’t have a press, use heavy books!
The square back Bradel binding method - DAS BOOKBINDING, is better. The fore edge of the boards are measured and cut AFTER the basic case is assembled. Much more accurate.
How do you glue the paper without getting bubbles?
thats why she uses a brush to even out the glue. She also uses the quartz (??) thing which helps with the bubbles too
Is gluing the spine to the cover not required?
Not for case binding! The space allows the book to open.
How do you get the pages or signatures so need?
Do you mean the neat trimmed edges and overall? It's mainly consistently checking for alignment throughout the process of folding, sewing, gluing!
@@bittermelonbindery I mean mostly on the ends of the paper. I genuinely cut them before binding but at the end it is not precise anymore
@@nienkeverplak1111 After hand trimming for years, I upgraded to a heavy duty guillotine, also known as a stack paper trimmer. It made cutting so much easier and smoother.
Do we need to add 6mm for both l and b??
what do you mean by l and b?
@@bittermelonbindery length and breadth as Normal...
@@ashtag1495 add 6mm to the length of the spine, the width is the same as the text block for the cover boards
@@bittermelonbindery 3:10 it looks like you made the spine the width of the textblock AND the two coverboards in the video?
I was taught that you always need to remove the foreedge size from the cover board width... as well as add the same to the head and tail measurement. Why don't you subtract from the board width?
I consistently mess up doing this for some reason, so I prefer to trim to size at the test fitting stage to make sure I've got the right fore-edge overhang.
Where can I get this cover material???
It’s book cloth that I made myself, I have a video about it linked in the description
How do you know the spacer is 6mm ?
I made the spacers myself, and 6mm is pretty common, so I start there and then play around with it based on the book design. Generally the space should accommodate the thickness of the spine and cover boards, plus a couple more mm for movement.
looks beautiful but there are no sewing instructions for the signatures.Thats the element of the book
I'm so happy to be here. 📚🧵🪡💙
Great tips ❤. I want to learn how to make my own sketchbooks because in my country I can only find really expensive ones 🥲
The square back Bradel binding method - DAS BOOKBINDING, is better. The fore edge of the boards are measured and cut AFTER the basic case is assembled. Much more accurate.