This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Alexandrea Ciardella. Find her on Instagram at @a6ysma1. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you’re a literary type like me, you love to have a blank chapbook around to jot down ideas. If you’re also a creative type like me, you may have considered binding a chapbook. It’s a great alternative to buying dozens of journals you may never fill, and you can feel a sense of pride when you write in something that you created. Below, I’ll discuss the three different methods you can use and detail how to make a chapbook out of household items.
The three different methods of book binding are as follows; staple, string, and glue. You don’t need a fancy binding machine to start making books! These three methods only require household items, so you can start making books at home!
Stapling is the easiest method, though if not done carefully can also be the sloppiest. It also requires the least amount of material, normally requiring only paper and a stapler. This method is great for smaller books.
What you’ll need to do is to stack the required amount of paper together (I would recommend any amount under 50 pages, depending on the strength of your stapler) and on the top, place a sturdy piece of paper to act as your cover (construction paper works fine). Fold this stack in half short ways and make sure that all sheets are creased to create a spine.
Taking the stapler, staple at one end of the spine, making sure the pronged side of the staple is on the inside of the book. Staple again at the other side of the spine, and once more in the very center. And voila! Your first chapbook is done! But there are still two more methods to try out!
The string method isn’t much more complex than the staple method, but you’ll need to be more careful as some versions require a needle. This method is also much more aesthetically pleasing and if you’re good with knots you can make your chapbook shine.
Taking a stack of paper, mark in light pencil 3-5 dots, where your holes will be. Taking a hole puncher or awl (depending on how large you want the hole to be), punch 3-5 holes along the spine. Then take your string (I would recommend anything around 1mm in size) and thread your string through the holes to bind the book together. Depending on the size of the holes, you may need to use a needle. Now, there are about as many different types of knots you can make as there are words in this article. Instead of giving you confusing descriptions, I’ll add a few photos below.
The last method is the most difficult and most time-consuming but looks the best. This is the glue method, where you bind the pages of your chapbook by gluing along the spine. Careful precision is required for this method, so only try if you’re confident in your abilities!
Taking a stack of paper, place your cover pages on the top and bottom of the stack. Dip a paintbrush in glue and cover the area of the spine in a thin layer. As it is drying, bend the spine back and forth so that the glue gets in between the pages. This will also help the flexibility of your book and will guarantee that the glue won’t crack the moment you open your chapbook for the first time. Once the first layer dries, add a second layer and wait for it to dry. You’re welcome to add a third layer if you want to.
While the glue is drying, cut out a thin strip of paper from the same material your cover is made out of (it doesn’t have to be the same color, it even looks much better when the colors contrast!). The strip should be the same length as the spine. Once the glue on your chapbook is completely dry, center the strip on your chapbook, making sure that all of the edges match up. Open up one side of the strip and paint on a layer of glue, then place the strip against the cover, smoothing it out (I recommend leaving your chapbook flat against the table so that the weight of the chapbook helps keep the strip from moving out of place). Wait for that side of the strip to dry completely, then repeat the process for the other side of the strip as well as the center, where the spine is. Again, gently bend the spine as it is drying to help with flexibility.
Enjoy writing or drawing in your new chapbook!
Did this article help teach you how to make a chapbook? Let us know in the comments below what you think!
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