How I make bookcloth from any fabric, by bitter melon bindery on YouTube. 4 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Cut a piece of fabric a few centimetres larger than the cover you plan to make. Cut Heat n Bond lite and tissue paper to the same size.
Set your iron to a dry medium heat with no steam. Press the fabric flat to remove creases before you add any adhesive.
Lay the Heat n Bond lite on the wrong side of the fabric with its paper backing facing up. Press the iron over it until the sheet sticks to the fabric.
Let the piece cool, then peel away the paper backing. The fabric now has a shiny glue layer on the back.
Place the tissue paper over the glue side and press again with the iron so the paper bonds to the fabric.
Work slowly across the whole sheet, lifting and replacing the iron. Check for bubbles or loose corners and press them down again.
Let the bookcloth cool completely under a flat weight or heavy book so it dries flat and does not curl.
Trim the edges square with scissors or a rotary cutter. Store it flat until you are ready to glue it to your book boards.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the iron dry and at medium heat, since steam can make the tissue wrinkle and lift.
Test on a scrap of your fabric first to check the heat does not scorch it.
Press the iron rather than dragging it so the tissue does not tear or shift.
Use a pressing cloth or scrap paper to protect your iron from stray glue.
Questions
Can I use any fabric for bookcloth?
Cotton and linen blends work best because they take glue and heat well. Very stretchy or synthetic fabrics can melt or wrinkle under the iron.
Do I have to use tissue paper?
The thin tissue backs the fabric and stops glue soaking through. Unryu at around 20g is light enough to stay flexible while adding strength.
How do I attach the finished bookcloth to a book?
Glue it to your cover boards with a thin, even layer of bookbinding glue or paste. Work from the centre out to avoid trapped air.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
