Kwick Books: The Pamphlet

Look at me, all avoiding copyright infringement and whatnot...

Alright, so one of the most versatile and easy little books is the pamphlet.  It does not require any gluing and it is perfect for joining just a few pages.  I use this binding for programs, menus, a long card (you need multiple pages in your note), and invitations.

1. paper interior:  you need your pages folded and you will be sewing along the fold.  While you should always keep your grain running parallel to the spine, you can get away with not doing that here because this is a glue-less binding.
2. cover material:  could be just about anything...cloth, paper, whatever.  I am using yellow paper and then a paper doilie.
4. binding string:  again, you can play around here and use thread, yarn, ribbon, or just anything that can hold a knot.  I am using some bamboo yarn. 
5. sewing needle
6. bone folder
7. awl
8. paper knife or scissors
9.  self healing mat (or some surface that you doing mind poking holes in)

Use the bone folder to fold your paper and assemble the spreads (your folded sheets) with the interior spreads on the bottom and your cover on top.

Use your awl to poke holes through all paper layers along the spine fold.  You will need three holes total, one in the center and then one towards both the top and the bottom.  There is no set rule for where these need to be, so use the placement as part of your design.

Thread your needle with your yarn/thread/ribbon and go in through the center hole (cover towards interior).  Leave a tail of at least a few inches.  This tail will be part of a knot or a bow, so leave as much as you need for your knot.  After you have gone through the first hole, bring your needle to the top hole and pass through back towards the cover.

Now bring your needle down along the exterior of the spine and enter in the bottom hole, towards the interior pages.  Now that you are back on the inside, go back up to the center hole.  Go through the center hole, back towards the exterior cover of the book. 

 

You will want to have the tails of your thread running out perpendicular from the long piece of thread that runs the length of the spine, but you want those tails to be running out on opposite sides, away from the spine.  It will look like you made quadrants.  The reason for this is you will want to tie these tails together, making a knot that is on top of the spine thread and this will anchor everything in place.

Just make a pretty bow and you're done!

You could also do everything in reverse, making your tie on the interior of the book.  Normally when you do this, you don't want the bulk of a bow in there, so you would make a little knot and then trim down your tails.