If you’ve ever wanted to try bookbinding but weren’t sure where to begin, this mini project book is a wonderful first project.
If you enjoy the free craft projects we create please consider using our affiliate links if you are making purchases as it supports us greatly to continue. As an affiliate we may earn money from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Influencer/ Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. Please see affiliate link and disclaimer page for more information. Thanks so much for your support!
Rather than making a notebook that sits on a shelf, this little handmade book has a real purpose. I designed it to be the perfect size for taking on day trips, holidays, museum visits and nature walks. It’s somewhere to jot down ideas, sketch inspiration, collect craft ideas or simply record little memories while you’re out and about.
The binding uses a simple chain stitch, making it an ideal introduction to hand bookbinding while still producing a beautiful finished result that feels special enough to keep or gift. Don’t worry if you’ve never done chain stitch before. I’ll go through step by step to show you have.
Why I Love This Mini Project Book
One of my favourite things about this design is how practical it is and that the internal pouches don’t require any glue!
The finished book is small enough to slip into a handbag, backpack or travel bag, yet large enough to write comfortably. It’s just over A6 in size but you can easily make the mini project book smaller or larger if you’d prefer.
I also designed the cover with handy front and back pockets. These are perfect for storing:
- tickets
- postcards
- nature finds
- small photos
- inspiration cards
- receipts
- tiny sketches
It becomes part notebook, part keepsake folder.
Why Bookbinding is Such a Rewarding Hobby
Bookbinding is one of those crafts that looks far more complicated than it actually is. Once you understand the basics, you can create journals, sketchbooks, notebooks, planners and handmade gifts in endless styles.
I particularly enjoy that there isn’t a huge amount of equipment needed to get started, and every finished book feels completely unique. It’s also wonderfully mindful. Sitting and stitching together is surprisingly relaxing.
The Book That Inspired Me
If you’re interested in exploring bookbinding further, I highly recommend Bound: 15 Beautiful Bookbinding Projects by Rachel Hazell.
It’s one of those books that I keep returning to whenever I want to try something new. The projects range from beginner-friendly ideas through to more decorative bindings, and the photography is beautiful throughout.
My own mini project book is my own design, but books like Bound are wonderful for building confidence and learning different binding styles. I also go into much greater depth on instructions with images for every stage.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Most are inexpensive craft basics, and you may already have many of them at home.
Essential Materials
You’ll need:
- A4 piece of card (for the cover)
- 3 sheets of A4 plain paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Awl
- Cutting mat or a bookbinding kit with cradle (some kits come with waxed threads and needles, awl etc. so check what your kit includes before buying extras).
- Tapestry needle
- Waxed thread
- Binder clips or bulldog clips
Optional Materials
These aren’t essential but can make the project easier and help you achieve a more professional finish.
- Guillotine or paper trimmer
- Scoring board – I use a Hunkydory Adorable Scorable Board but I’ve heard good reports about this one which is a paper trimmer and scoreboard in one.
- Ruler – if you’re not using a kit
- Bone folder (bone scoring tool)
- Thimble
Top Tip: If you’d prefer to make a simple notebook rather than a project book with storage pockets, simply skip Steps 3–7 below. You’ll still create a beautiful chain stitch bound notebook using a folded card cover.
How to Make a Mini Project Book: Step-by-Step Instructions
Below you will find step by step instructions. There is also a printable pdf that you can download below. Even if you print the pdf it’s worth reading through the instructions on the website as I’ve given extra information and tips in this post.
Free PDF Download
Download: Book Binding: Mini Project Book here ⬇️Downloaded 0 times
Video Tutorial
If you prefer to see what to do then check out my YouTube video on how to create the mini project book with instructions that you can follow along with.
Instructions & Tips
Step 1
Take three sheets of A4 paper and cut each one in half to create six A5 sheets. These will become the pages of your mini project book. A guillotine or paper trimmer will give the neatest results, but scissors work perfectly well too. You can always tear the sheets to give a unique, rustic look.
Step 2
Fold each A5 sheet neatly in half to create your booklet pages. If you have a bone folder, run it along each fold to create crisp creases, although this is completely optional.
Step 3
Prepare your cover using an A4 sheet of card placed in landscape orientation.
If you have a scoring board, use this to score the fold lines. If not, a ruler and pencil will work just as well.
Score:
- one line down the centre
- one line 3.5cm in from each short edge
- one line 4.5cm up from the bottom edge
These score lines will create the folds needed for the front and back storage pockets. See images in the instruction download to help.
TIP: if using a scoreboard take care not to go through your card when you score – especially as you approach the edges of the paper.
Step 4
Cut away the two small rectangles from the bottom left and bottom right corners. These are created by your score lines and removing them allows the pockets to fold neatly later.
Step 5
Fold the card in half along the centre score line to begin forming your book cover.
Step 6
Round off the top corner using scissors.
Then round off both bottom corners. This softens the appearance of the finished book and makes it more comfortable to carry in a bag or pocket. You could use a corner trimmer or draw around a circular object if you want a more uniform look. I just cut by hand.
Step 7
Open the card out again.
Fold both side flaps in along the score lines before folding the bottom section upwards to create the front and back pockets. It is important to do it this way around.
If you’d prefer a simpler notebook without pockets, you can skip Steps 3–7 and simply use a folded piece of card as your cover instead.
Step 8
You’ll now need to make the sewing holes.
I prefer using an awl with a bookbinding cradle as I find it both easier and safer, but an awl and cutting mat work perfectly well too. Always work carefully and keep your fingers well away from the point of the awl. Check out this video to find out different ways to make the holes with things you will have at home.
Step 9
Place your folded pages inside the cover and secure everything with binder clips.
Take a moment to check that all the pages sit snugly inside the centre fold and aren’t bunched or sticking out unevenly. Getting everything lined up now will make the finished binding much neater.
Step 10
If you’re using a bookbinding cradle, place the booklet into the cradle and position the hole guide over the fold.
Hold the awl perpendicular (90°) to the surface you ware working on and make holes approximately 1cm apart, using every other guide hole.
Make one hole above the top of the paper so the stitching continues into the cover itself. This will allow you to make a simple page marker from the waxed thread.
Step 11
If you don’t have a bookbinding cradle, simply mark hole positions about 1cm apart down the centre fold. If you don’t have a ruler use a finger width as a guide.
Using the awl at approximately a 45° angle, carefully pierce through both the paper and cover making sure there is a cutting mat underneath. Work slowly and always keep your fingers safely out of the way.
Depending upon the depth of your book you may be able to use a drawing pin to make your holes. If using this method protect your surface and put a blog of plasticine or blue tack in a large ball to put underneath your book to push the pin into.
Step 12
Cut a length of waxed thread approximately five times the height of your booklet.
Thread your tapestry needle but don’t tie a knot yet – you’ll do that shortly once you’ve begun stitching.
If you don’t have waxed thread you can drag a piece of yarn or embroidery floss through a waxed candle to wax your thread.
Step 13
Before you begin stitching, it helps to understand the terminology used throughout the binding process.
- Inside refers to the inside pages of the booklet.
- Outside refers to the spine.
- Hole numbering starts with Hole 1 at the bottom of the booklet.
A thimble can also make pushing the needle through multiple layers much easier.
TIP: push the needle through as far as it will go then place the booklet on a flat surface. Gently, hold the booklet onto the surface and wiggly the needle carefully and it should ease through.
Step 14
Starting from the inside of the booklet, push your needle through Hole 2 and out to the spine. Leave approximately 8cm of thread inside the booklet – you’ll use this to tie your knot shortly.
Step 15
From the outside of the spine, bring the needle back through Hole 1 into the inside of the booklet.
Step 16
Tie the two thread ends together with a secure double knot.
This anchors your stitching ready for the chain binding.
Step 17
From inside the booklet, pass the needle through Hole 3 so it comes out to the spine.
Step 18
Slide the needle underneath the stitch already sitting on the spine before taking it back through Hole 3.
This begins forming your decorative chain stitch.
Step 19
Congratulations – you’ve created your first chain stitch!
As you continue sewing, regularly check that the stitches running inside the booklet remain taut. This helps keep the pages securely bound.
Step 20
Push the needle from inside the booklet through Hole 4 so it comes out to the spine.
Pass the needle underneath the previous chain stitch before continuing.
Step 21
Push the needle back through Hole 4 to return to the inside of the booklet.
Step 22
Repeat this chain stitch pattern all the way to the final hole.
As you work, keep checking that the stitches inside the booklet remain evenly tensioned without being overly tight.
Step 23
Once you reach the final hole, you’ll finish on the inside of the booklet.
Pass the needle back underneath the final stitch.
Step 24
Take the needle through the loop you’ve just created.
Step 25
Gently pull the thread to create a half hitch knot which secures the stitching.
The remaining thread now becomes your built-in page marker. If you’d like to personalise your book even further, you could thread a few beads onto the end before trimming.
Remove the binder clips, trim the starting thread neatly, and your chain stitch binding is complete.
If you’d like your finished project book to sit flatter, place it underneath a stack of heavy books overnight before using or gifting it.
Ways to Personalise Your Mini Project Book
Once you’ve mastered the basic design, you can easily make every project book unique.
Ideas include:
- patterned scrapbook papers
- handmade papers
- watercolour card
- rubber stamped covers
- embossed card
- fabric covers
- leather-effect papers
- decorative waxed thread
- coloured pages
- kraft paper
- recycled maps
- vintage sheet music
- ribbon or bead page markers
What Can You Use a Mini Project Book For?
Here are some ideas:
- Holiday journal
- Travel sketchbook
- Nature spotting book
- Bird watching notes
- Craft inspiration book
- Museum visits
- National Trust days out
- Camping journal
- Children’s discovery journal
- Garden planning
- Gratitude journal
- Reading notes
- Gift idea
- Memory book
- Bucket list notebook
Common Beginner Bookbinding Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Paper slipping before sewing
Use binder clips to keep everything aligned.
Holes aren’t straight
Take your time when marking and piercing the holes.
Thread becoming tangled
Go slow, form each stitch fully before moving onto the next stitch.
Loose chain stitches
Check the tension after each stitch rather than waiting until the end. Do check the inside of the mini project book after each stitch. You can easily use your needle to tighten up each stitch working from earlier stitches through to your last stitch.
Cover won’t lie flat
Press the finished book beneath a stack of heavy books overnight. Make sure to use a bone tool to score your booklet to get crisp lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If you can thread a needle and fold paper accurately, you’ll be able to make this project.
No. I find using a cradle makes piercing holes easier and safer, but you can simply use an awl and cutting mat instead.
Older children and teenagers with adult supervision can certainly have a go. Adults should always handle the awl and any sharp tools.
Absolutely. Recycled printer paper, old maps, scrapbook papers and leftover card all work well.
Waxed thread is stronger, glides through the paper more easily and helps keep the stitches neat.
Final Thoughts
I love projects that are both enjoyable to make and genuinely useful afterwards, and this mini project book ticks both boxes.
Whether you use yours to collect travel memories, sketch ideas, record nature discoveries or simply keep creative inspiration close at hand, it’s a lovely introduction to bookbinding that you’ll find yourself making again and again.
If this is your first step into bookbinding, I’d also recommend exploring Bound: 15 Beautiful Bookbinding Projects. It’s one of my favourite resources for learning new techniques and discovering just how many beautiful books you can make by hand.
If you’ve enjoyed this project why not try my watercolour negative stencilling bookmarks. You can find full instructions here.
As always, I would recommend adult supervision with activities and take care to ensure the items you are using are suitable for your child in both age and development. The views expressed are my own. If I have been sent a product for review then I will state this is the case; my review will be my honest opinion.