Best books making & binding books according to redditors

I do bookbinding as a hobby. Some great introductory books are:

• Manly Banister - The Craft of Bookbinding
  
• A.W. Lewis - Basic Bookbinding
  
• Aldren A. Watson - Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction
  
  Two good resources to order bookbinding supplies online are:
  
  
• Hollander's
  
• Volcano Arts
  
  If you're having trouble finding Davey board (the most common material used to make the "hard covers") you can also look in craft, art, and hardware stores for millboard/chipboard. It's much better if you can find somewhere local to purchase it -- shipping is a pain, and large sheets are out of the question. Personally, I buy millboard from an art supply store called Opus.
  
  --
  
  In terms of tools, you'll want a lying press and plow, and some sort of book press. You'll quickly find that prices for these items from sellers of bookbinding equipment can be exorbitant. Thankfully they're obtainable or reproducible through other methods -- you could sub in a cloth-wrapped board with some weights on it instead of a screw press, for example.
  
  --
  
  A sewing frame is definitely something you'll need to look into purchasing or making. If you can't afford either option, here's a great tutorial on turning a chair into one:
  Evilrooster Bookweb: Chair Sewing Frame
  
  Some slightly more vague instructions on making one out of an encyclopedia:
  papergail: sewing frame and cradle in one
  
  Further, this seller on eBay has some on the cheap:
  sq12tk | eBay

Was it American Girls Handy Book, possibly with a different color on the cover?

Check out Keith Smith's book - Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol.1: Books without Paste or Glue. His book has a variety of different types of book bindings that don't use glue.

Good luck!

Here's a fairly simple walkthrough of the process I've watched before on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4t4nktOwc

​

There are some non-obvious tips here, especially regarding temperature:

http://cool.conservation-us.org/don/dt/dt0366.html

​

But if the goal is simply to work with stamps and impress designs, it's a matter of planning out your design on paper, building up a good collection of stamps. For example, in this video he uses only five stamps and a fillet (the rolling tool which creates a line).

​

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/special/exhibitions/cover-to-cover/hand-tooling/

This website is also a good introduction to the art.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Bookbinding-Classic-Arts-Crafts-Manual/dp/0486440397

This book has a fair amount of instruction.

​

I'd say that this is something that with a few stamps and a stove, the only real issue is practice.

I'm older than you, so as a kid I really liked this book

The American Girl's Handy Book (1994)

Edit: I just found my copy, its mostly about arts and crafts and stuff. The newer one is probably more in line with what I would want for my daughter.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0879236663/ref=aw_1st_sims_2?pi=SL500_SY115

Girl's version.

Maybe doing some volunteer work with them would help give them some perspective? Even something like donating cans to a food bank, or giving away clothes or toys they no longer need.

Giving them responsibilities around the house is a good way to empower them and give them some real-life skills - things like learning to do laundry, helping with cooking, taking care of pets, etc. If you give them an allowance or opportunities to earn money, it can also be a lesson about being responsible with money. You might check out a book such as Do I Need It or Do I Want It? (for the younger two) and Not Your Parents' Money Book (for the teen).

I like this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Handmade-Books-Bindings-Structures/dp/1600595871/

It has a lot of good inspiration and directions. Other than that just read a bunch of stuff online. If you can't find the motivation I think there are a lot of community ed type things that will teach you.

Needlework: knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross stitch, sewing, quilting. If you are really hardcore you can do tatting or learn how to make needle (not crochet) lace. I think needlework in general is very important culturally and skill-wise, and as human beings we shouldn't let those traditions die out.

Or you can indulge in some holiday baking. Or you could always try making candy.

My mom got me this book when I was a kid that sounds like something you'd be into: http://www.amazon.com/American-Girls-Handy-Book-Nonpareil/dp/0879236663/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top It's supposedly for younger girls but I don't think it would make a difference.

Looks really good for a first try! My first book was not nearly as nice! If you have a little extra money try waxed thread. At my Hobby Lobby it was by the jewelry making stuff. It's like $4 and a spool lasts for at least 5 books. It's easier to sew with and and gives a neater look once you start experimenting with sewn bindings. If you have interest in sewn bindings this book is like the holy grail of bindings. It's expensive to buy new but I borrowed it from the library and simply copied out the bindings I wanted to try at work.