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Make a hardcover book

Make a hardcover book
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Make a small hardcover book using paper, cardboard, glue, and fabric; measure, fold, bind pages, and design a personalized cover.

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Step-by-step guide to make a small hardcover book

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Step-by-step case binding tutorial

What you need
Adult supervision required, binder clips, brush or popsicle stick for glue, colouring materials, fabric for cover, paper for pages, pencil, ruler, scissors, thin cardboard for front back and spine, white glue or pva glue

Step 1

Pick 8 to 16 sheets of paper to be your book pages.

Step 2

Stack the sheets neatly and fold the entire stack in half to make the book block.

Step 3

Run a ruler along the folded edge to make a sharp crease.

Step 4

Use binder clips to clamp the folded book block along the spine so the pages stay aligned.

Step 5

Use a brush or popsicle stick to spread a thin even layer of glue along the clamped spine.

Step 6

Apply a second thin coat of glue along the spine and leave the book clamped until the glue is dry.

Step 7

Measure the height and width of the closed book block and add 5 millimetres to each side for the cover size.

Step 8

Cut two rectangles from the thin cardboard for the front and back covers using your measurements.

Step 9

Cut a cardboard strip for the spine that matches the height of the covers and the thickness of the book block.

Step 10

Lay your fabric face down and place the two covers and the spine on it with a small gap between spine and covers.

Step 11

Trace around the cardboard pieces leaving a 1 centimetre fabric border and cut the fabric roughly to size.

Step 12

Spread glue on the top side of the cardboard pieces and press them onto the fabric in the traced positions.

Step 13

Fold the fabric edges over the cardboard and glue them on the inside so the cover is neatly wrapped.

Step 14

Glue the inside of the fabric-covered cover where the spine will sit and press the dried book block into place aligning the spine; clamp until secure.

Step 15

Decorate your cover with colouring materials and share a photo of your finished hardcover book on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can I use instead of thin cardboard or fabric if I can't find them?

Use flattened cereal or shipping boxes cut to the cover measurements instead of thin cardboard, and replace fabric with an old T‑shirt or sturdy wrapping paper when following the step to lay your fabric face down and press the cardboard pieces onto it.

My pages are coming loose or the glue is clumping on the spine — how can I fix that?

Make sure the pages are tightly clamped with binder clips, spread a thin even layer of glue using the brush or popsicle stick as instructed, apply the second thin coat only after the first tack dries, and wipe any excess glue off the spine before clamping until fully dry.

How can I adapt this hardcover book project for different age groups?

For younger children (4–6) use 8 sheets, pre-cut the cardboard and fabric and have an adult handle the glue and clamping steps, while older kids (10+) can use 12–16 sheets, measure and cut their own spine strip, or sew simple signatures before gluing for a stronger book block.

What are some ways to enhance or personalize our finished hardcover book?

After cutting the cover to size and wrapping the fabric as directed, glue a small pocket to the inside cover for keepsakes, add coloured endpapers to the first and last pages, and decorate the front and spine with embossed letters, stickers, or fabric paint before sharing a photo on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to make a small hardcover book

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CREATE Your Own HARD COVER Book from Scratch! - BACK TO SCHOOL SERIES

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Facts about bookbinding for kids

✂️ Folding a single sheet into folios or signatures is how many handmade books get their pages—one sheet can become 4, 8, or more pages depending on the fold.

📚 Bookbinding began over 2,000 years ago when the codex replaced scrolls, making books easier to open and read.

🧵 Case binding (hardcover) usually combines glued boards with a cloth or paper cover and sometimes sewn signatures for extra strength.

🎨 Endpapers are the sheets glued to the inside covers; artists often decorate them with patterns, maps, or secret drawings.

🧮 Even a 1 mm measuring mistake can cause a cover or spine to not fit right—careful measuring makes a book look neat and professional.

How do you make a small hardcover book?

Start by deciding the book size and cutting interior pages to match. Fold groups of pages into signatures (2–8 sheets each) and nest them. Glue or sew the signatures along the spine: for glue, apply flexible PVA to the folds; for sewn, stitch through the center fold. Cut two cardboard boards and a spine strip, cover with fabric or decorative paper, attach endpapers to join text block to boards, clamp to dry, then decorate.

What materials do I need to make a hardcover book?

You’ll need interior paper (printer or specialty 80–120 gsm), heavier cardstock or chipboard for covers, fabric or decorative paper for the cover, PVA/bookbinding glue, a bone folder or ruler for creasing, scissors or craft knife with cutting mat, brush for glue, binder clips or clothespins to clamp, pencil, and optional needle and waxed thread for sewn binding, plus stickers or paints for decorating.

What ages is making a hardcover book suitable for?

This craft suits children in different ways: ages 6–7 can help fold pages, choose paper, and glue with close adult supervision; ages 8–12 can measure, cut (with safe tools) and assemble simpler bindings independently; teens can handle precise measuring, sewing signatures, and complex covers. Adapt with pre-cut parts or larger tools for younger kids, and always supervise sharp tools and wet glue.

What are the benefits and safe variations of making a hardcover book?

Benefits include improving fine motor skills, planning and measuring practice, storytelling confidence, and a treasured keepsake. For safety, supervise cutting and sewing, use child-safe scissors, and choose non-toxic glue. Variations: make an accordion book, use recycled cereal boxes for covers, try decorative exposed spine stitching, or create themed books (photo album, comic strip, nature journal). Personalize with pressed leaves, photos, or stamps.
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