How to Make a Watercolour Sketchbook - A Bookbinding Tutorial Part One

Learn bookbinding - make a professional-quality sketchbook with Fabriano Artistico hot-press watercolour paper. Watch Part Two for updated instruction here: • How to Make a Watercol... . Or buy one from my online shop: www.willjbaile....
Part Two details my refined process, having been making sketchbooks professionally over the year between videos. Updates and link to materials below:
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UPDATES:
I don't cut my board with a scalpel anymore, I use a Rotatrim Pro 24 Rotary Cutter. It cuts 2.5mm greyboard but only just, putting a lot of strain on it. Cutting with a scalpel then sanding works fine too, it’s just not quite as neat.
Note that costs have gone up since the first video. Realistically it will cost at least £30 for the materials alone, excluding tools, for a large Fabriano Artistico book.
For the spine, I now use the same Bockingford paper as for the endpapers. I cut them short grain to make the spine stiff. Works well.
Also for the head and tail bands you can use black string instead of white and then dyeing it! I use 3mm black makrame cord, which I bought on Amazon.
Turns out I'm allergic to nitrile gloves - they make my hands sore and blotchy. Apparently this is quite common due to 'accelerants' used in their manufacture. I now use Unigloves Zero Nitrile GM005 Accelerator-Free Gloves which stop this from happening.
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MATERIALS
(Some of these are affiliate links, which cost you no extra, but earn me a small commission which helps support the channel)
Fabriano Artistico Hot Press Extra White 300gsm:
USA: tidd.ly/3Wfq6Ca
UK: tidd.ly/3W9fW68
Bockingford Hot Press 300gsm (for end papers and spine)
USA: tidd.ly/4hczQ8n
UK: tidd.ly/3WdIUSk
Awl:
amzn.to/40bUWN7
Bone Folder:
amzn.to/3WdIMlz
Waxed Linen Thread:
I highly recommend Coats Barbour No 18 Cord 3, but it can be tricky to source. Other wax-coated thread I’ve tried - specifically Crawford 18/3 - is way too waxy, and be aware it’s sometimes sold (ie by Jacksons’ Art) as being the same product as Coats Barbour, but it is not.
store.bookbind...
Bookbinding Needles (Size 18):
USA: amzn.to/40pNyPs
UK: store.bookbind...
Adhesive
In this video I use EVA glue, but I’ve long since stopped using it for PVA M289 from J Hewit, which is a brilliant archival / conservation grade bookbinding adhesive. But you can use EVA, or other PVA adhesives (but not the type designed for sizing) - ideally they should be PH neutral.
PVA USA: tidd.ly/4aePPAc
PVA UK: tidd.ly/3PuijMT
PVA M289 UK: www.hewitonlin...
Unbleached Linen Sewing Tape 13mm:
The type below is designed for bookbinding, but you can use linen tape designed for clothing, it’s very similar. So if you’re struggling to source it, check local or online haberdasheries.
www.hewitonlin...
Mull:
www.hewitonlin...
Buckram:
I currently use Hewit’s Archival Buckram, which is amazing and worth the cost. But before that I used Aberlave Library Buckram which is also really good and a bit cheaper. You can use other covering materials too - buckram is just particularly well-suited and hard wearing
Aberlave Library Buckram: www.hewitonlin...
Hewit Archival Buckram: www.hewitonlin...
Greyboard 2.5mm
www.hewitonlin...
Makrame Cord, 4 strand, 3mm (for head and tail bands)
amzn.to/3WdiShS
Scalpel, Swann Morton 10A:
Handle US: tidd.ly/40eQOfg
Blades US: tidd.ly/4a9Lwq5
Handle UK: tidd.ly/3PzWpaY
Blades UK: tidd.ly/4fTf6kE
Cutting Mat A2:
USA: tidd.ly/4fNQREI
UK: tidd.ly/3PzWUSo
Nitrile Gloves, Accelerator-Free
amzn.to/4fRkxRk