I've always loved buying and using notebooks, so discovering how easy it is to make my own has been an absolute joy. I'll blog about that in a few moments, but firstly, it's Wednesday so it's craft book review day. I've neglected this for a week (or two?) so want to get back in the habit.
Today's review is 'Knit Knit - Profiles & Projects from Knitting's New Wave', initially published back in 2007. It's had a place on my bookshelf for years, and though I'm not much of a knitter it's an inspiring book for any crafty minded person. The book's by Sabrina Gschwandtner, and features over two dozen knitters, some more traditional, others really 'out there'.
There's an introductory piece on each knitter featured, and each knitter presents a pattern for the reader to make, with full instructions given. The patterns include various jumpers, a hobo bag, a stylish Esther Williams style swimsuit, boxing gloves (no, really!) and a rather revealing tube dress.
It's a book about a supposedly staid subject like knitting which challenges the preconceptions around the craft.
A book that shows knitting can be provocative, odd, unsettling, as well as beautiful and comforting.
Even if, like me, you never follow any of the patterns given in the book, or if you're only a plain and purl/no fancy stitches knitter, it's still a book to get your creative juices flowing, and I'd highly recommend it.
Okay, book review done. Now let's move on to making simple art journals, notebooks and sketchbooks, which is my current obsession. I've begun making concertina style mini books, and they're so very easy. You need - guess what? - a sheet of paper. I used an A3 page from a sketchpad, and cut strips from that. Your book can be any size you want, and I made a couple that're about 6 and a bit inches x 4 and a smidgeon. (Yup, I'm that precise.)
Cut your strip of paper as wide and long as you want it. If you need to join a couple of strips together to make it long enough, just use masking tape. If applied neatly to the join, you hardly see it once it's done. You could use sellotape, but I think the masking tape looks neater. Once you've got your length of paper, you fold it in half, then quarters and so on until you've got a zig zag of same sized pages.
To make your cover, just cut out two pieces of cardboard that're slightly larger than your page size. I used Amazon book packaging, which works perfectly. Not too thick, not too thin.
Right, here's where I make my error. I wanted to add a ribbon to fasten the book, but applied it in the wrong place. Glued it to the cardboard back cover instead of the back page. Doh!
Here I'm using a glue stick to add Gelli printed paper to each cardboard cover, and any second now I discover my error. By the way, when you trim the corners of your pretty paper (or fabric, if you'd prefer), leave a few milimeters at each pointy corner of the cardboard covers. Don't cut right to the very edge, or when you fold your cover over the cardboard you'll have a bit of brown board poking out and it'll irritate you.
Here I've realised my mistake, snipped the ribbon off the cardboard and applied ribbon to the back page of my zig zag of paper. I've also used a glue stick to firmly stick down the Gelli papers. Let your glue dry thoroughly, and it's a good idea to place a heavy book on them for a while, weighing them down.
Then it's simply a case of wielding the glue stick again, attaching the back and front pages to the covers, making sure they line up perfectly.
Once more, it's a good idea to lay the whole thing underneath a hefty book to flatten it and ensure the glue does its job. Finally, enjoy your handmade book!
In fact, I ended up making four concertina notebooks in all. I think Santa might be adding a few to peoples Christmas stockings, don't you?
The photo above shows the back cover of the books, and below you'll see the front covers. Hope you like 'em and make your own versions. Have fun!
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