How To Bind A Book
Nothing beats the winter blues like curling up with a good book. Our readers are all about keeping crafty in the new year so we've teamed up with acclaimed bookmaker Rachel Hazell to teach you how to bind your own. For instructions, just click the link below after reading this quick catch up we had with Rachel herself for Selvedge issue 76...
Why books?
I believe that everyone has some kind of book inside them and my courses are about getting those books out, even if it’s just a one-liner or focussing purely on texture or colour. Leading bookart courses I can share the connective, self-expressive power of books in all sorts of incredible places.
How do you choose your locations?
I seek out spaces with stunning views and thought-provoking surroundings. Island workshops have become a speciality. The most transformative ones take place far from our usual existence; on an island, in a field, on a boat… the mix of being away from routine combined with having stimulating things to do is a powerful way to harness creativity.
What’s the relationship between the two?
I’m inspired by landscape. Strata lines look like the deckle edges of handmade paper, cracks in a crevasse field could be lines on a white page, a row of window panes might remind me of opened-out concertina pages...
Tell us about your process.
I relish the sequence of actions to follow in bookmaking, from folding to marking, measuring to stitching, glueing to pressing. It’s meditative. I usually come up with ideas while repeating each step; cutting paper down to size, pricking holes and threading a needle with waxed linen yarn. Once the books are all bound and in the press, I feel calmer and clearer.
What’s been your favourite project?
Love Letters in Paris in November is a wonderful place to bind unique books using ink and papers from boutiques and markets. I come home laden with perfect presents, supplies and most importantly, topped up with joy.
For instructions on how to bind your own book, click here.
To find about more about Rachel Hazell, visit www.rachelhazell.com