A5 SINGLE CASE SKETCHBOOK
  
(With Snowdon130gsm cartridge paper)
Greyboard – 2 pieces A5.
Cover paper at least 36 x 29cm.
 End papers   2 X A4 size.
 

1. MAKING THE COVER.

Lay your cover paper face down and position your 2 pieces of greyboard centrally on it. Rule a horizontal line along the length of your paper, 3cm from the bottom edge. Line the narrow edges of the greyboard on this line, leaving a gap of 1cm between the 2 boards. Draw around each board. Measure 3cm all around the outside of the 2 boards. ie. Along top and bottom, and both sides, so that the line goes completely around both boards. At top and bottom left corner of left board (A) measure 1cm out from corner, make a mark, and draw a diagonal line from the two side lines to pass through these marks. At top and bottom right corner repeat from (A) above. Cut around outside lines and diagonal corners.
Take each piece of greyboard in turn, lay on the glue paper, and  cover one side  completely with glue (PVA), starting in the middle and working over the edges, making sure not to leave any gaps as this will create air bubbles. Next turn each one over and place on the cover paper, making sure they align with the outlines you have drawn. Press hard, turn over and smooth down firmly using a bone folder. Place back on dry glue paper, with inside facing up. Glue along the 2 long edges, again making sure to take the glue over the edges without leaving any gaps. Fold the paper over the greyboard edge using the bone folder, and lay down on inside of cover. Again firm with the bone folder.
TUCK CORNERS: push the folded edge against the downward edge of greyboard and pinch in the corners using the bone folder.
Finally glue the head and tail edges in the same way, pressing firmly and smoothly over the corners. Place under weights. (24 hours).
MAKING THE PAGES.

1. Fold each A4 page in half exactly and crease using a bone folder. Do not try folding the pages altogether as this will lead to inaccuracy when you start to stitch. Once all the pages are folded, collate one inside the other.
2. There will now be an overlap at the front ( fore) edge of the pages. With the bottom edges all in alignment, line the folded edge (spine) with a vertical line on the cutting mat. Place safety ruler along inner most page edge and horizontal line on the cutting mat. Press down firmly on safety ruler and cut the protruding edges with a sharp scalpel. Trim top in the same way, if necessary.
3. Using a thin strip of paper the length of your pages, fold in half, and half again, and again, so that when it opens out it has 7 creases. Disregard the top and bottom crease. Mark all the others with a small pencil line. These will be your guide for making the sewing holes.

ALWAYS USE AN ODD NUMBER OF HOLES. The smaller the book, the fewer the holes. The larger the book the more you need to hold it firmly, but always an odd number, so 3, 5, 7, 9 etc.

1. Open the pages to the centre, being careful to keep them aligned. Place the strip of paper along the centre crease of your folded case (sometimes called ‘section’). Hold firmly against the crease and pierce holes where the pencil marks occur using an awl or a strong needle. Work carefully so that each hole is in the crease of each page and the needle appears in the crease at the back. Pierce all the holes in this way.
2. Take a length (90cm approx.) of linen thread and thread a strong needle, so that the thread is double. Tie a knot at the end. Begin sewing the case from the outside centre hole.

The sewing should form two figures of 8, one each side from the centre hole. Make sure you are pulling the thread tight after each hole. Coming out of the last hole, loop the thread through the link at left of central hole, pull really tight and tie a knot to finish off. Left over right, and right over left. Cut excess thread.
ATTACHING THE END PAPERS.
Fold each A4 sheet in half, so that the coloured sides face each other.(A) Place glue paper inside the last page of your case and glue the back of that page. Covering completely and over the edges. Line the folded end paper exactly to the glued page with the fold aligned to the spine. Press down hard. Open and smooth out with a bone folder.
Turn the single case over and repeat from (A) above. Place under weights (24 hours.)
ATTACHING THE COVERS.
Place a piece of glue paper between folded end paper at back of the book. Glue the entire back of the end paper, leaving no gaps. Remove the glue paper, lift the case and lay it glue side down on right hand greyboard with the spine aligned to central space. Press down hard. Open case to end paper. Smooth from spine to fore edge with bone folder.
Close the case. Place a piece of dry glue paper between folded end paper on top of case. Glue entire back of end paper, leaving no gaps. Remove glue paper and carefully fold the left hand greyboard over the end paper, taking care to align it with the back cover. Press down firmly and hold for a few minutes. Open the book and smooth the front end from spine to fore edge with a bone folder. Place under weights. (24 hours.)
 
Your book will then be ready to use and enjoy.
Pauline Pearce.