Japanese Stab-Bound Notebook
Hand-bind a notebook with exposed decorative stitching. Covers signature prep, hole punching, and the four-hole binding.
Instructions
1. Cut two pieces of book board to 5.5 x 8.5 inches for the covers.
2. Cut 10 sheets of text weight paper to 5.5 x 8.5 inches for the pages.
3. Stack the text weight paper and align the edges neatly.
4. Use a ruler to mark four holes along the spine, spaced 1 inch apart, starting 1 inch from the top and bottom.
5. Punch holes through the marked spots using a 1/8 inch hole punch.
6. Cut a length of waxed thread to 5 times the height of the notebook (approximately 42.5 inches).
7. Thread a needle with the waxed thread and knot the end.
8. Start stitching from the inside of the first hole, pulling the thread through until the knot is secure.
9. Sew through the second hole from the outside to the inside, then back out through the third hole, creating a decorative stitch pattern.
10. Continue to the fourth hole, then back through the third hole to the second, and finally back to the first hole to secure the binding.
11. Tie off the thread on the inside of the notebook and trim any excess thread.
12. Fold the covers around the text weight paper and press to ensure a tight fit.
What you'll need
decorative stitching threadbuy → pencilbuy → bookbinding needlebuy → hole punchbuy → cover material (cardstock or decorative paper)buy → Japanese stab-bound notebook kitbuy → rulerbuy → binding awlbuy → 2 sheetsbook boardbuy → 10 sheetstext weight paperbuy → 1 spoolwaxed threadbuy → 1needlebuy →This list may contain affiliate links. Prices and availability can change.