A simple, satisfying, composite structure for gratitudes or intentions or simply lists! How to: Note Thanks.
You'll need:
- A large-ish sheet of paper. I've used some A3 cartridge that's 160gsm
- A cutting knife (straight-bladed butter knife will do)
- Bone folder
- Needle
- Thread
- Scissors
- Coloured pencil or pen or graphite pencil depending on your style
Fold the sheet almost in half widthways.
For the A3 sheet, i left a gap of around 15mm.
Fold and cut the smaller of the two sheets in half. Put the cover (the larger sheet) in a safe place.
Divide into three, both sheets.
Work out where the third quarter across will be. And decorate the cover with your title.
Fold the cover in half widthways. Don't trim anything yet!
Then bring back your six rectangular bits of paper.
Fold each in half and pair them together.
Your subtitle can go on the front of these three sections.
Place them evenly along the spine. Well, I lined up the top and bottom one with the top and bottom edges.
Get ready to sew by taking a length of thread three and a half times the height of the book.
Mark three holes as shown above, through the section and the cover.
Then start to sew from the middle hole on the outside.
Head along to one hole, doesn't matter which way.
Then miss out the middle hole and form a long stitch by going in to the third hole.
Back in the middle! Go back through the central hole, being careful not to pierce the thread that's already there....
Ah! Reunited with the tail.
Tie a double knot (aka a reef knot.)
And trim the ends.
Next, using the same sewing pattern, attach the third section at the bottom of your cover.
Yay! Tie off and trim as before.
Now position the final section, evenly between the top and bottom.
Unless you have big hands, it's a bit trickier to sew this one.
It's all coming together!
Final knot to tie.
Sewing complete.
This is what the three mini books within the cover look like.
Now to mark the fore edge cover fold. I did this with my nail, allowing a little bit of wiggle room.
Then use that mark to fold the flap inwards, aligning with the top edge.
Ta da!
Repeat with the other cover. I've tried to make them the same size, so there was a slightly bigger gap here.
There we are. Reinforced covers.
Admire the stitches.
Optional: Number each page from one to seven - each of the three mini-books has seven sides after the front page.
Take a week to add three thank you's a day, from top to bottom. So if you start today, Sunday, each of the 1's will have a thank you on them.
They can big big gratitudes or small reliefs, green traffic lights or a lottery win, finding a pebble, getting a letter from an old friend, a smile across the street, the prospect of bed. After seven days your book will be full. Make another one?! Or, if you have tiny writing, go back to the beginning and add more thank you's to each page.
Of course you can have more than three, but there's a satisfying symmetry to that number.
Daily gratitudes help you feel better, and you've made a cute book. Win win.
Would LOVE to see your Thanks Notes books! Please e-mail or tag @thetravellingbookbinder with pics.
Thank YOU dear readers and makers, e-coursers and workshoppers XXX
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