5 minute bookbinding

photography by Trisha Zemp

I’m attending 2 conferences this week and I needed some last minute notebooks for my note taking so my stellar intern, Trisha Zemp, came up with this genius notebook idea from a brown paper bag that will take you 5 minutes. You probably already have everything you need to do it.

Materials:

brown bag
scissors
white office paper
thread (embroidery or book binding)
awl (or safety pin)
watercolors to decorate
ruler

Step 1: Take 5 pieces of white office paper.
Step 2: Rip it in half with a ruler.
Step 3: Fold those in half.
Step 4: Cut out a piece of brown paper bag to fit the exact shape of the folded paper.

Step 5: Fit the office paper in the brown bag.
Step 6: Measure 5 holes evenly across the middle crease of the paper.
Step 7: Poke it with an awl or safety pin.
Step 8: Thread a needle and start binding by entering from the inside to outside of the middle hole. Leave about 2″ extra in the inside cover. There’s a larger picture below to show you more details of the pattern of the threading.

Step 9: I hope these drawings make sense below. The dotted lines mean the thread goes on the outside of the book and the solid lines show from the inside. The numbers indicate the sequence.
Step 10: When you get back to one, cut it off leaving about 2″ and then tie the first thread to the end thread.

To add some flourish, add some drawings or watercolor. I decided to add small lines of colors with watercolors.

concept and photography by Trisha Zemp

styling and crafting by Brittany Jepsen

9 COMMENTS

Pansy dickson August 26, 2018 At 10:02 am

This is a great idea. so very simple to follow.
I really want to try this. thanks! Pansy

annie December 2, 2019 At 9:11 am

merciiiii !

- A June 25, 2020 At 9:24 am
  
  bonjour!
  
Nisa December 3, 2019 At 5:53 pm

what a brilliant idea!

Allison December 21, 2019 At 3:34 pm

I tried it and it turned out great!

- nona February 23, 2021 At 2:06 pm
  
  yaaa i made a lot of them
  
Lucília Santos February 6, 2020 At 1:33 am

Great idea! Will definitely follow!

khursheed June 21, 2021 At 12:37 am

：v sweet！fast easy n cheap too！thk.u！

Carole December 9, 2022 At 8:49 am

To follow the stitch, from 1-2, then 2-3, these are both shown to be outdide the book, but I cannot imagine that. Wouldn’t one of those have to be inside? Thx!