Handmade Books at Home: A Beginner's Guide to Binding Journals, Sketchbooks, Photo Albums and More

As a keen paper lover and bookbinding newbie, Chanel Ly's handbook is simply the best book I've come across. Its clear instructions and numerous photographs have helped me progress in my bookbinding learning and encouraged me to move onward. Possibly the only thing to make it "better" would be to have it hand-bound by Miss Ly herself, but that is not its purpose. And one can easily purchase her handmade works of art online and view her many beautifully done videos. Projects are described in detail, step-by-step, assuming no previous depth of knowledge. Softcover and hardcover books, flat-back, round-back books and case bindings, well-known and loved stitches are all described in easily understood instructions. There is also a good section about designing your own book which includes up cycling a paperback book, how to make closures, adding pockets to books, and how to make your own book press. In addition to the usual sections on tools and papers, it covers paper types and sizes, spine swell, gluing techniques, and troubleshooting common errors. The resources and references section includes full URLs for avid readers.

Very nice book for beginners. The materials and techniques are clearly explained. Nice pictures and easy to follow step by step instructions.

This is at a good pace for me as I start out. I’m a visual artist and painter and writer; so I care about beauty and precision. I want that in my books I will be making. I am binding an 80-page novella to start. It is thin, of course. So I need enough detail to be able to replicate important steps in hard back cases. Ms Ly has taken great care in her steps, language, and photographs, each of those being distinct challenges in teaching manuals. The same is true of her YouTube videos on this subject. I think it will be fun in the future to have this physical keepsake (her book) reminding me and my family of how I started out in this beautiful craft. Anyway, we all love books, don’t we! So of course, get the book!

This is a fabulous book that expands on the lessons of a highly regarded YouTube channel. Skip the YouTube, there is far more info in the Book. High quality printing, binding and images. Great buy.

Fantastic book to have. Sure, you can watch her wonderful videos but it’s nice to have something that you can quickly refer to rather than to stop and have to find that segment of one of her many tutorials. The book is high quality and very easy to understand. I am glad I picked it up and was happy to support this amazing creator that has taught me so much.

Too much text, and the explanation is a bit confusing.

Beautifully done! Pictures clearly demonstrating what is being taught. Very informative. A must-have. My only regret is that I didn’t buy it sooner. It would have saved me some frustration.

I follow this creator on youtube and her work is so neat and so relaxing to watch. It's good to have a step-by-step guide for multiple projects and these ones are nicely laid out. Plus, the book is physically pretty to look at. I don't know why - it just is. Would recommend for beginners or even experienced bookbinders.