Soft Cover French Link Stitch Bookmaking

Service Description

Mondays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm February 16 & 23 $33 Learn how to make a Soft Cover French Link Stitch book with ribbons and ribbon closure with bookmaker Claudia Fuller. This book opens and lays flat so is suitable for journaling, sketching, or water color painting, depending upon the type of paper used for the pages (signatures). SUPPLIES: Students MUST bring the following supplies for constructing their books: Paper for pages - enough to make 8 signatures with each signature having at least 2 sheets of paper. The sample book was made with 8 sheets from a tablet of 11x15 Strathmore 140 lb cold press water color paper. Sheets were cut in half to measure 5-1/2” high by 15” wide (when folded in half the page measurement is 5-1/2” high, 7-1/2” wide.) Finished book has 8 signatures with two sheets of paper in each signature (a total of 16 sheets of paper). If using lighter weight paper such as drawing paper, signatures should have at least 3 or 4 pages for a total of 24 or 32 sheets of paper. Cover Paper - 2 sheets of decorative paper for covers. This paper should be heavy like cardstock, scrapbook paper, watercolor paper or handmade paper. The sheets will be folded in half to create the front and back covers and need to be the same height as the page and 1/4” longer. Sample book covers were made with 2 sheets of handmade paper that measured 5-1/2” high and 15-1/4” wide. Reinforcers for Covers - 2 sheets of card stock or Bristol board that measure the same as one of the folded sheets of paper in a signature. Ribbon - Approximately 1-1/2 yards of tightly woven ribbon or tape such as grosgrain or twill tape. Do not use a silky or loosely woven ribbon, such as seam binding. Ribbon should be between 1/2” and 1” wide. Thread - 2 ply waxed Irish linen thread, 30/3 or 25/3 unwaxed linen thread or #8 or #12 pearl cotton thread. Instructor has heavier waxed thread that is NOT 2 ply. She also has #8 pearl cotton thread that students may use for their books. Helpful tools Bone folder or butter knife Bookbinding or blunt needle with eye large enough to accept pearl cotton. Carpenters square, triangle or quilting ruler Scissors Craft knife with new blade Instructor will have needles, craft knives, beeswax, and glue availa Claudia Fuller is a mixed media artist who has always enjoyed creating artful items. Ten years ago, she made her first book and hasn’t stopped since. She makes books for gifts and she makes books to fill with her art making. She uses watercolor pa