Beginner's Guide to Bookbinding Tools, Equipment & Materials

A Beginner's Guide to Bookbinding Tools, Equipment and Materials is a pdf digital document you can download and use right away. This guide outlines the 30+ professional tools, materials and equipment you could invest in, what the more affordable options are, and what you can substitute with items you may already have in your kitchen, craft stash or DIY toolbox. 

Look out for the non-negotiables you really shouldn’t compromise on if you want to make beautiful handmade books. They’re marked with an asterisk* and on the final page I explain why I think it’s worth investing in them.

Saving you from the challenges I faced

No matter where you are on your bookbinding journey, and no matter your budget, I hope this guide will help. I wrote it because I remember what it was like to get started and I want to save you from the confusion, frustration, wasted time and energy I experienced when I started making books.

Keep & print

After ordering, you'll receive two emails; the first will be an order confirmation, the second will have your Guide. To make sure you can always access your Guide, please save it to your device. You could also email it to your other devices, and print it out if you can.

Terms & Conditions

By purchasing, you agree: 

• To use this resource for your own reference, not to copy or alter it any way, and not to share it with anyone else. I own the copyright and reserve all rights. 
• No liability for any loss or damage resulting from clicking links to suppliers' websites will be accepted. 

More bookbinding resources

This is a great companion to my other resource, ‘A Directory of Bookbinding Tools, Equipment and Materials’. WIth 30+ suppliers across 9 categories you'll never not know where to go to find what you need. It’s tailored to the UK, but  has general advice on finding second-hand, vintage and free items, that will be useful wherever you live, plus a few links to bookbinding suppliers in Australia, Germany, Canada and the USA.