How to make a refillable lay-flat sketchbook with reusable hardcover ⟡ TALAS bookbinding kit

Get the TALAS x Bitter Melon Sketchbook Kit here: https://www.talasonline.com/TALAS-x-Bitter-Melon-Sketchbook-Kit
Toolkit: https://www.talasonline.com/TALAS-x-Bitter-Melon-Tool-Kit

After experimenting with lots of different sketchbook structures, I’m excited to share this design you can make at home! It’s a modified Swiss Binding where a removable book block is protected by a hardcover case with an elastic closure. You can adapt the size to the paper you have on hand, and I encourage you to add your own creative twists. I’d love to see what you make!

This has been a dream collaboration with TALAS. We created an all-in-one kit with everything pre-measured and cut for you, so you can start binding right away. Inside you’ll find:

⟡ Carta Pura 100% cotton paper, 140 gsm
⟡ Tsumugi lightweight cardstock
⟡ Cialux bookcloth
⟡ Printed marbled papers
⟡ Davey board
⟡ Knitted elastic (for the closure)
⟡ Japanese tissue
⟡ French Linen thread

The finished sketchbook measures 6.5 x 9 inches (landscape) with 64 pages. TALAS is trusted by the bookbinding community for their high-quality materials, and I’m excited for you to try them out in this project.
TUTORIAL NOTES

Suggested sheets per signature
⟡ writing and sketch papers: 4–6 sheets per sig
⟡ mix media paper: 2–4 sheets per sig
⟡ watercolor paper: 1–2 sheets per sig
These are guidelines from my own experience. The goal is to minimize spine swell, which means that the sewn spine should be close in thickness to the fore-edge (outer edge). A lot of swell makes the book look wedge-shaped. You can minimize swell by using thinner thread and more sheets per signature. But too many sheets will add swell, so finding the right balance comes with practice.
LINKS
Website: https://www.bittermelonbindery.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/bittermelonbindery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bittermelonbindery/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bittermelonbindery
0:00 Intro
1:11 Fold and press signatures
3:37 Tools and materials
6:42 Summary of steps
6:59 Cut and fold soft covers
7:47 Punching guide
8:25 Punch holes into signatures
9:09 Sew book block
14:38 Glue spine
15:51 Cut and glue bookcloth spine piece
18:08 Cut cover and spine boards
19:50 Cut bookcloth for covers
20:19 Assemble hardcover case
21:23 Back pocket preparation
21:56 Turn-ins
23:38 Make back pocket
25:42 Install elastic closure
29:34 Cut and glue decorative paper linings
32:09 Install back pocket
33:23 Closeups
34:24 Outro

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