Level 5 Induction 3 : Hard Cover Multi-Section with Embossed Design.
This is the most conventional book structure of the three that we look at in L5 inductions so why not jazz it up a bit with some textured artwork on the cover. The embossing is optional though. You can just make the book without it.
We are going to sew four sections with the French link stitch, add coloured endpapers and make a cloth covered (embossed) cover to finish. The hardest part is at the end when you stick the cover to the pages.
You should have all the materials and equipment that you need for this on your desk. If anything is missing please see the technician.
Start by folding paper into sections:
Take four sheets of paper, gather them into a tidy pile and fold in half all together. Press the fold by hand and then with a bone folder.
This makes a section of 16 pages. You will need four sections all together so fold another three in the same way.
2. Make a template for the sewing holes:
Fold one more sheet of paper in half and lay your ruler along the fold. Mark up in pencil, on the fold, the position of six holes at the following measurements: 1 cm, 6.5cm, 7.5cm, 13.5cm,14.5cm, 20cm.
3. Make the sewing holes in each section:
Use the cradle and the hole-making tool: open up one section to the centre fold and drop into the cradle. Place the guide on top and push the hole making tool down and through the whole section to make the six holes. Repeat for each section.Gather the sections together and check that the holes align across the spine of the book.
4. Sew the pages together: you will need 100cm of thread and a needle. Sew with single thread. See video of sewing – French link stitch.
5. Press the pages in the nipping press:
Place the pages between two pressing boards and squeeze for a few minutes in a press.
6. Glue the spine: Take the book and boards out of the press and back to your workspace. You will also need PVA glue, a small brush and a heavy weight. These should all be on your workbench. See video:
7. Whilst the glue is drying, prepare two endpapers:
Use the two coloured sheets of paper on your bench – fold them each in half and press the fold with a bone folder. (They should be about the same size as your pages) See video below- attaching endpapers.
8. Cut the edges of the pages – take your book and piece of grey board to the technician at the guillotine for cutting.
9. Make the spine stronger with a piece of mull(open weave fabric a bit like bandage material):
Cut the fabric to 5cm by 19.8 cm. Glue it up with PVA on a piece of scrap paper then wrap it around the spine of the book and over the endpapers. Press it down well. Leave to dry.
10. Art work the cover(s)
Cut out some shapes from thin card and stick to the front/back cover boards. Use 300gsm card for this as the bookcloth will NOT stretch over thicker board. Letters and simple shapes work well.
11. Stick boards to cover cloth:
You will need: PVA and decorators roller tray, bookcloth, foam, thin non stick (silicone paper), heavy non stick paper, pencil, pressing boards, press.
Pour a small amount of PVA into the tray.
Video: embossing process for front cover:
Put the boards etc into the MIDDLE of the nipping press. Squeeze the press as tight as you can and leave for 3 mins. Then remove from press and admire your work!
12. Measure a gap of 8mm then stick the spine in place.
13. If you have embossing on the back cover repeat the process with the foam. Otherwise, stick the board in place, again with a 8mm gap from the spine.
14. Trim out borders of bookcloth to the width of a ruler. Trim corners with a corner cutter.
15. Video – finish the cover in the same way as the Swiss binding:
16. Shape the cover at the spine by pressing the bookcloth along the edge of the spine board.
17. Video – Casing In. Glueing the pages to the cover with PVA. Watch the video first and rehearse the moves as this can be quite tricky.
18. Press the book with foam to protect the embossing. Leave to dry in the press for as long as possible.
Tidy up your workspace. Put your rubbish in the bin.
