Today we will show you how to make a simple sewn pamphlet. This single set of folded pages is called a signature. Later, you could make books with three or more signatures.
Collect the paper for the pages. I have picked out six sheets, all the same size, all plain paper. I chose white paper and two sheets of purple. Fold each sheet in half. Fold the sheets individually so that you get a nice sharp fold. Slot all the folded sheets together, one inside the other.
Choose slightly heavier paper for the cover. I chose a page from a glossy magazine for this booklet. You could use heavy brown wrapping paper or thin card cut from packaging or decorative paper of some kind. Cut the cover very slightly larger than the pages [you could cut it the same size, if you like]. Fold it. Slip it around the set of pages.
Using an awl or a thick needle, make three holes through all the pages and the cover along the length of the central fold. Begin by making a hole in the middle and then the holes on either side.
Now you will take some thread to sew the pages together. Ideally you should use waxed thread. It is unlikely that you have that so find the thickest thread you have, maybe crochet or embroidery thread. Some people use dental floss. It is strong and firm but can tear the paper if you pull on it too hard. Prepare a large needle with a good length of thread. Do NOT put a knot at the end of the thread.
Starting from the outside of the booklet, push the needle and thread through the middle hole, leaving a long tail of thread [1] Bring the needle and thread out through one of the outer holes [2]. Pull the thread taut and put the needle back into the book through the hole at the other side of the central hole [3]. Now come up and out again through the middle hole. Now you have the two ends of thread in the middle at the back of the spine. Tie them firmly together using a reef knot. [Right thread over left thread and under, left tread over right and under.]
You can trim the thread, but don’t cut it too short. You don’t want the knot to be cut or to unravel. And there you are. You have a book which can hold your story. If you would like, you can include different sized pages. You could even have a fold out page where you could draw your story map.
Writing Box 