Grain direction
April 2026
Paper folds and bends best along its grain. Check it before cutting, or the book will never close flat.
Covers
February 2026
Book cloth is easy to glue and hard to tear. Old maps and wrapping paper make beautiful covers too.
Simple stitch
January 2026
A pamphlet stitch with three holes is enough for a first notebook. It takes ten minutes and a needle.
Cheap tools
October 2026
A bone folder, an awl and a sharp knife cover most of the work. Special presses can wait.
Repairing books
July 2026
A loose page can be tipped back in with a thin line of paste. Old books deserve a second life.