How I Make My Handmade Sketchbooks (Easy Artist Bookbinding)

♥ Learn how to make a simple but stylish handmade sketchbook using traditional bookbinding techniques. ♥

In this *beginner-friendly sketchbook tutorial*, I walk you step by step through the full process—from folding handmade paper and preparing sections, to stitching the binding and creating a beautiful leather wrap cover.

This method is perfect for artists, illustrators, and sketchbook lovers who want to create their own custom sketchbooks using high-quality materials like handmade paper, leather, or recycled fabrics. No specialist equipment is required, and the technique can be adapted for different paper weights and sizes.

In this video you’ll learn:

What tools and materials you need to make a handmade sketchbook
Basic bookbinding terms explained simply
How to fold paper into sections (folios & leaves)
How to mark and punch holes for stitching
How to sew a stitched sketchbook binding
How to add a leather wrap and finishing details

I’m using *handmade paper from the Amalfi Coast in Italy*, famous for its historic paper-making tradition, which gives this sketchbook a beautifully rough, tactile edge—perfect for drawing and sketching.

This tutorial is ideal if you:

Want to make your own sketchbooks for drawing or painting
Feel precious about “ruining” store-bought sketchbooks
Enjoy slow, mindful, handmade art processes
Are interested in bookbinding for artists and illustrators

🕒 Chapters / timeline are included to help you revisit specific steps easily.

In this episode:
00:00 Start
00:07 What you will need
00:57 My handmade paper from Italy01:43 Decide on the size of your sketchbook
02:13 Folding your sketchbook paper
02:28 Bookbinding terms
03:16 Organising your sections
04:31 Cutting your cover to size
06:12 Marking out the spine of your sketchbook
06:32 Book spine template
07:40 Marking your sections
08:40 Punching holes in your book spine and sections ready for sewing
09:45 Sewing your binding
10:30 Stitching in a section
16:01 The finished binding
16:30 Adding a tie wrap to your finished sketchbook
17:42 Final thoughts

If you enjoyed this video, please consider *liking, subscribing, and sharing*. I post regular *art tutorials, illustration projects, and behind-the-scenes insights into my life as an artist and illustrator*—all aimed at helping creatives grow their practice and confidence.

Thanks so much for watching ♥


✏️*Additional notes and terms* from this video below: ✏️

Leaf
A single sheet of paper or half a folded sheet of paper.

Folio
A sheet of paper folded once to create two leaves (four pages of a book).

Section
Two or more sheets or folios stacked and folded as a group. Also called a signature.

End paper
Often a coloured or patterned sheet folded with one half pasted against the inside cover and the other serving as the first free (or flyleaf) page in a book. In this tutorial the end paper is just referred to in terms of a colourful or patterned sheet pasted to the inside cover of your sketch book. With no free page or flyleaf.

📚*Top Tips*📚

The charity shop is an excellent place to hunt down and recycle leather or vinyl to use for your sketch books covers. Look for old handbags/leather jackets or trousers.

Paste a coloured or patterned sheet to your inside cover to add a fun and vibrant accent and first page to your sketchbook.

Run beeswax along your cotton thread to strengthen and reinforce it to prevent it breaking so easily when you stitch and pull at your binding.


Long Night
Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-musicArtist: Aventure
License code: NAKP15HWZUAYBMXU


#SketchbookTutorial #Bookbinding #HandmadeSketchbook #ArtistSketchbook #DIYSketchbook #BookbindingForArtists #SketchbookIdeas #ArtTutorial #IllustrationProcess #HandmadeBooks