DIY | Easy Pocket Sized Notebooks with a Pamphlet Stitch

Instead of just showcasing new products, I wanted to share a useful tutorial and give a little more insight into how I create my journals. This technique is simple and easy to get the hang of. The stitch I use is called a pamphlet stitch. It's probably the most commonly taught binding method and it's quite sturdy. Depending on the size of your notebook, either the 3-hole or 5-hole technique would work (but we'll get into those details later).

First we'll start with what you'll need to complete your book. Some of these materials are completely necessary, while others can be modified depending on preference or availability.

Materials:

· paper

· scissors

· ruler

· pen or pencil

· awl (or another sharp tool such as an ice pick, a thumbtack, or a drafting compass)

· book thread or sturdy cord (heavy sewing threads or hemp cord could work)

· needle (bookbinding is recommended, as they are longer than sewing needles and aren't as sharp)

· clips (binder, bulldog, or paperclips)

· optional: paper trimmer/cutter or craft knife

· optional: bone folder (paper folding/creasing tool)

Preparation:

Decide how many pages you want and what types of papers you wish to include. Do you like plain writing papers ready for anything? Do you like snippets of printed text or images? Or do you enjoy seeing a mixture of both? Depending on what you wish to use your notebook for, certain types of paper may work better than others.

For these notebooks I used a mix of new and repurposed papers. Each book has 4 sheets of new, blank papers and 4 sheets of vintage book pages—including the cover, so 8 sheets total. This makes 32 usable pages front and back per journal. The new papers included kraft paper, lined notebook paper, guest book pages, ledger paper, blank sketchbook paper, and coffee stained sketchbook paper. The vintage papers were sourced from gardening books, children's story books, a field guide, a gem and mineral guide, and dictionary. The blend of typed text and colorful images looks so interesting against blank writing pages.

The best thing about junk journals is being able to use what you already have. If you have a half used notebook or a stack of copier paper lying around that you don't really need, you already have enough to make a journal with. Other easily incorporated items include junk mail envelopes, heavy wrapping papers, and magazine pages. Or you can head to your local thrift shops to find books that inspire you. I admit that bringing home stacks of cool books from secondhand stores can be the best part of the creative process.

After you select your pages, cut them down to the desired size. You may either fold first and then trim, or measure the opened length and cut before folding. For example, these pocket sized notebooks measure approximately 3 1/2” by 5 1/2” (9 x 14 cm). The overall size of each sheet (before folding) is 7” by 5 1/2” (18 x 14 cm). If most of your papers are large, you may wish to make a bigger journal.

Some common sizes of traveler's notebooks include:

· B6 — 5" x 7" (14 x 18 cm)

· Standard — 4.33" x 8.25" (11 x 21 cm)

· Wide — 5" x 8.25" (14 x 21 cm)

· A5 — 5.8" x 8.25" (15 x 21 cm)

These are the sizes that I reference for my own notebooks, and I've found that certain sizes work great for some types of journaling and can be restrictive for others. Experiment with different sizes and use whichever one works best for you.

Assembly:

Once your papers are cut to size, stack them together in whichever order you prefer. You can alternate blank and upcycled papers or separate similar types into sections. For example, you could put a few lined papers together, then a few illustrated book pages, then a few sketchbook papers. If some papers are shorter than others, you can line them up at the top, bottom, or middle of your book. Staggering the heights adds another level of interest.

Depending on the thickness and quantity of pages, you may notice that some of the papers in the middle stick out past the cover. You may trim them a little so that all of the pages line up exactly with the cover, or you can leave them all different lengths. If you are using a paper trimmer, it might be easiest to trim one page at a time, just cutting off a little bit and re-measuring inside the cover. Just keep all of your pages stacked in order during this process.

Onto the stitching! First you need to decide if you wish for the tail ends of your thread to show or not. You can start on either side, letting the ends hang out or hiding them in the center of your notebook. Starting the stitch on the INSIDE will guarantee your tie to be hidden; starting on the OUTSIDE will allow your tie to be shown. I prefer to tie my thread on the inside to reduce the risk of the knot snagging on something, but the look of the tie can add a nice aesthetic to your notebook.

Once you have decided your stitching preference it's time to punch holes. You can eyeball where you want the holes, or you can make measurements and create a jig. The easiest way to make a jig is to first cut a scrap of paper the same length as your notebook. For the pocket sized book, it would be 5 1/2”. Now fold the scrap in half and mark the center.

Next you need to figure out how far away the other holes should be. Divide the length by the number of holes that you will be punching. For example, 5 ½ divided by 3 is a little over 1 ¾. Now measure 1 3/4” from either side of your middle mark.

This process works for either the 3-hole or 5-hole method. All that changes is the math (dividing by 3 vs. by 5) and how many marks you will be making.

Make sure each of your pages are snug inside of each other. Then clip the edges to hold them together. Next, line up your jig against the inside of the pamphlet. Take your awl or sharp tool and poke holes along each mark.

The next instructions are for the stitching itself. Click through the slideshow below to view each step of the stitching process.

Once your holes are punched, thread your needle. This part is somewhat like sewing by hand but not exactly. You don't want to cut and knot the ends for bookbinding like you usually would for fabric. Instead, just pull a few inches of the thread through the needle and leave it hanging. You're welcome to measure out how much length you'll need total, but it's usually easier to just leave the end attached to the spool.

Optional: Many bookbinders wax their thread prior to stitching books. The wax can help the thread glide through a little more easily, but it is not completely necessary. I personally don't like the look or feel of waxed thread, so I don't have much experience with using it. The process is as simple as running your length of thread along a piece of beeswax. Or you can purchase bookbinding threads that are already pre-waxed. The heavy brown thread that I used for this tutorial (and many of my journals) is technically waxed, but since it is vintage it doesn't have a freshly coated feel—it's smooth and doesn't leave any residue of any kind. But at the end, the thread waxing step is entirely your preference.

Finally, it's almost together! Start by going through the middle hole in your book, either through the inside or outside. Next, go though either the upper or lower hole. Try to keep your excess thread taught while stitching—but be careful not to pull it so hard that it breaks the thread or tears your paper. Come back through the middle hole, and then to the next hole opposite of what you did before. Now loop your thread under the first stitch and cut the excess. Pull it tight and tie a knot. You are welcome to leave the tails as short or as long as you like.

If you made 5 holes instead of 3, just keep the same basic pattern in mind. The stitches loop in somewhat of an S shape up and down both sides of the spine.

And there you have it! This pamphlet stitch is so quick and easy once you get the basics down. You can modify it for simple notebooks, or use the same methods to attach them to a cover to make a simple journal. If any of the instructions are unclear or you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. And if you made your own notebook please tag or share with me on Instagram or Pinterest! I would love to see your creations.

If you are interested in any of the pocket sized notebooks shown in this tutorial, they are now available in my Etsy shop. Let me know that you visited the blog and I'll throw in a few freebie journaling supplies!