Are you looking to bind some of your DnD character sheets in a tome? Do you have some artwork you’d like to compile into a scrapbook album? If you’re trying to bind single sheets of paper into a sewn book block, here are three tips you need to know!

Sewing single sheets

Individual sheets of paper are often unfolded and flat, making it hard to sew them together. People will usually choose to perfect bind these sheets, but some of us (like me) are stubborn and looking for a way to turn single sheets into a sewn book.

#1: Fold the end of each sheet

If your sheets have a blank 1 to 1-1/2″ margin on the right, you’re in luck. Instead of folding the entire sheet in half, try folding over 1/2″ to 3/4″ of the right edge. This is an easy way to create a folded edge through which to pierce and sew.

This method is perfect for:

  1. text weight paper between 60 and 90lbs
  2. art papers, such as drawing, watercolor and mixed media
  3. papers that don’t have images or text running up to the sewn edge

How to fold over one end of each sheet:

Note: be sure to press sheets afterward (my edges sat out overnight, so they’re a little wavy).

fold over one end of a single sheet of paper to create a fold through which to sew
Fold over one edge to create a fold through which to sew

#2: Wrap each sheet within a fold

If your sheets of paper are too thin to fold and sew individually, try wrapping each edge in a fold of paper. To do this, cut out enough 1″ strips of your preferred paper. You should have one folded strip per page. Apply a thin layer of acid-free or archival adhesive (PVA or double sided tape work great) to one side of the inner fold. Lay the sheet edge on top of the glue and use a bone folder to remove air bubbles. Be sure to press the sheets under weight for up to 24 hours. Sandwich waste paper between each sheet to absorb excess water.

This method is perfect for:

  1. text weight paper under 55lb
  2. delicate papers like fine art work or vellum
  3. adding alternating colors to the spine as a design element

How to wrap a sheet within a fold:

#3: Reinforce the edge of each sheet

Before folding or using the single sheet sewing method, try reinforcing the edge of each page with book tape.

Archival book tapes are clear and strong, making it easy to convert any page into a sewable sheet. I’ve seen this method used on coptic bindings as well as perfect bound books to improve the flexibility and strength of the text block. I even used it on one of my Japanese stab bindings to turn loose leaf paper into a usable notebook.

Just remember – tape will add thickness to each sheet, which can cause the spine to swell. A swollen spine (thicker at the spine than the fore edge) can reduce the lifetime of the book.

This method is perfect for:

  1. thin sheets (like the pages of a DnD guide or loose leaf paper)
  2. delicate papers like fine art work or vellum
  3. single sheet sewing, where each page is pierced & sewn individually

How to add tape to the edge of a single sheet:

Resources

Learn all about binding single sheets in my post on the topic, How to Bind Single Pages or Sheets of Paper.

New to bookbinding?

I really hope you enjoyed these tips and learned something new! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram.

Thanks for stopping by!

ALL my best,

Misty