Make Stuff with Your Kid

First, lets gather up the things we need to get started.

We have the started book (still clipped together), some heavy thread, and a heavy duty needle. For this tutorial, I am using red thread and a curved needle because I think they are easy to see. You do not need a curved needle. I would probably use a large straight needle if I was doing this any other day.

Start the first stitch in the top hole. I go in from the face of the book first, but it really doesn’t matter. You can adjust the last stitch at the end.

I probably pulled out 2-3 feet of thread or so to get started. That should give us plenty of extra.

Pass the thread around the spine of the book once, then around the top. It should look something like this picture.

After you have gone around the spine once, and across the top, come down the front of the book into the next hole. Take the thread through the second hole and around the back.

Continue down the book until the front looks like this.

The back should look something like this picture.

Work your way back up to the top hole, filling in all the spaces where there is no thread. After one good pass, the book spine should look something like this.

Follow your exact path back down the spine of the book until there are two strands of the binding string everywhere and you are almost done!

When you get back to the top hole in the last pass (last pass meaning you have two strands of the string everywhere), flip the book over and pull the last strand of thread to the back of the book. Pull the strand from the front under and around the threads coming out of the top hole and tie a square knot.

You are in the money!!!! You own a custom hand-made book!

Bust out your pen and get to it! Tape in some pictures. Draw a picture of your foot. Write a letter in it and mail it to me. Whatever makes you happy.

This is a great project because the pages can be blank, or anything special you already have.

Click on any of the pictures to make them larger and clearer. If you have any questions, email me at jim@makestuffwithyourkid.com.

Happy making!