What's in my Toolbox? Tools I Use for Bookbinding

If you don’t know, bookbinding requires a ton of tools.  Yes, a ton.  Well, I guess it depends on what kind of books your binding, but I have a lot of tools that I use regularly in my business.  Some are things you may have laying around your house already, especially if you’re a regular crafter.  But others might be new to you!  Here are some of my favorite bookbinding tools (not including paper, that’s a given).

First things first, you have to have a bone folder!  Mine is small, only about 4 inches long.  I also use a 12 inch metal ruler, and a small awl with a round wooden handle.  This is used for pre-punching holes in my paper or leather so that my stitches are straight.

Sometimes I need to glue pretty papers or bookcloth onto bookboard.  I use a standard bookboard, along with my glue brush & PVA bookbinders glue.  I usually use my paper cutter to cut my cover papers.  It creates nice straight lines.  I’m also currently using it to cut pages for a new project that will have sturdier pages with straight edges.

I have another different cutter for bookboard.  My Zutter Cutter works wonders & makes cutting bookboard so easy.  I love that it has a little ruler at the bottom that holds my bookboard at the correct spot for cutting.  It’s so easy to use too once you figure it out.

There are a few options for the type of thread you can use to sew a book together.  I use waxed linen thread.  You can also use unwaxed thread, and wax it yourself, or use it unwaxed.  The purpose of have waxed thread is that it bunches & knots much less if it’s waxed.  I like to buy mine pre-waxed so that it’s nice & evenly distributed.  I really like the Crawford brand thread, it comes in tons of different colors!

There are a bunch of other things that I use only once in a while, depending on the book.  I have a roll of cord to make my quarter leather journals, lots of ribbon, bookcloth, headbands, and “super” used for spine reinforcement.  I buy the majority of my supplies locally, at Hollanders. They do ship their products, so if you’re interested in learning about bookbinding, check out what they have!!