Detective Ventriloquist

Hey everyone! I received this message a few weeks ago and thought I would do my best to describe how to make one of the more simpler of books.

This is called the Single Section Pamphlet Stitch with a Wrap-Around Cover

First start off by determining what size you want the pages to be. For this example I will use computer paper (8.5 X 11). Fold it in half (hamburger style). 

If you have a letter opener or a butter knife you will take the edge of that utensil and run it along the folded edge to crease the paper. Then take the utensil and place it in between the folded paper and cut along the folded crease (as if you were opening a letter). If you prefer to use scissors you may do that instead.

Then fold the paper in half again (hamburger style). Run the letter opener over the fold. Do NOT cut this fold.

Repeat this fold and cutting paper process 4 or 5 more times (it all depends on how many pages you would like to include in this book). 4 will be ten pages and 5 will be 12 pages. 

After completing the cutting and folding process place the pieces of paper inside of each other. 

You then need to pick your book cover. The cover can either be made of a thick or thin material. You just have to be able to fold it in half. It can be soda pop cartons, a cereal box or even scrapbook paper.

In this example I am using 12 X 12 scrapbook paper.

You will want to measure the height of the folded papers on the scrapbook paper. You can measure it by placing the paper in the corners of the scrapbook paper and mark the height or use a ruler. For the wrap around cover you will want to use the entire width of the scrapbook paper. 

After you have cut the cover dimensions, fold it in half.

Then place the folded pages in the middle of the cover.

You will then open the pages to the middle and mark three dots in the center of the crease. One dot should be in the middle of the spine and the other two should be about an inch from the edge.

Holding the cover and pages poke a hole all the way through the spine. To help hold the pages together you can use paper clips. To make the holes you can use a push pin or an “awl”. The size of the hole should match the size of the needle. You will want to keep the pages together so that the holes match up.

Bookmakers use a “Medium Linen Thread”. I haven’t been able to find any at the fabric stores near my house so I use “Fine Hemp Twine”. I found this thread at Joann Fabrics. Basically you just want a thread that is not too thin.

To determine how much thread you will need it will be the length of the spine times 3.

If the thread is easy to unravel you can use bee’s wax. You just run the thread through the wax a few times.

The type of needle that I use is an embrodery needle. It doesn’t have a sharp point on the end.

On the back of the book you will put the needle in the center hole going through all of the pages. When you pull it through leave about an inch and a half to two inches.

Turn the book over and go to one of the outer holes.

Once you pull the needle through you will then take it to the other outer hole.

Pull it through and then put it back through the middle hole.

Before you tie it off you will need to have the two ends on either side of the string that runs along the spine.

Once it is on either side you can tighten the thread by gently pulling the threads going the same direction as the spine.

Then you double knot the thread.

If you would like you can leave the thread long to add beads or anything decorative.

I cut them short and fray the ends to help keep the knot. You can fray it by placing the thread on your finger nail and then taking the needle and separating the strands.

Next you will finish the “wrap-around-cover”. Have the pages open to the middle. Place one hand on the pages and with your other hand lift the excess cover and run your fingers along the edge of the pages making a 90 degree angle crease.

Then place ONE page down against the cover.

And then fold the cover the rest of the way down. If the inner cover isn’t long enough to reach the spine you may use double stick tap or a glue stick to hold it the flap down.

And there you have it! If the pages of your book aren’t laying as flat as you would like you can place a very heavy book on top of it for a few hours.