How to make a journal
Learn how to make a journal with Matilda Smith's step by step guide!
Published:
Create two precious booklets using the simple Asian stab binding technique, and our beautiful papers illustrated by Matilda Smith and Brittany Molineux.
What will you hold in yours? Wishes or stories? A journal of events, or a record of things seen and found? They might even be the start of your very own handmade library.
Download the printable papers to make your own journal.
Read on to learn how to make a journal step by step…
Looking for more journalling inspiration? If you don’t have time to make your own journals, check out our guide to the best mindfulness journals. Get into journalling with our what is bullet journalling? guide or stock up on notebooks with our pick of the best bullet journals.
You Will Need
- Metal ruler
- Scalpel or craft knife
- Awl
- Strong thread such as waxed thread
- Needle
- Printable papers, download the PDF above
Step 1
Tear apart the two booklets. Fold along the creases as a concertina, with the cover facing outwards, and lining up the left-hand edges. With a ruler and scalpel, trim the right-hand edges, 5mm from the edge. Get a piece of paper 140mm tall to make a template for the holes.
Step 2
Draw a line 12mm from the left. Make a dot 12mm from the top and bottom, at 70mm (the middle) and halfway between the middle and top and bottom dots. Place on the folded pages, lining up the left-hand edges. Use an awl to make holes, straight down through the pages.
Step 3
Open the book to the centre. Sew through centre hole from here to front, leaving a tail to tie at the end. Pass needle through the hole above, going through all the pages, coming out at the back. Bring the thread around the side of the spine and through the same hole again.
Step 4
Come up through the top hole from the back, bring the thread around the side, and back through again as before. Then do the same around the top edge, coming up through the front. Take the thread back down the next hole, then up through the middle hole.
Step 5
Go down through the next hole down, up around the edge and back down through the same hole. Come up through the bottom hole and take the thread around the side and back up through the same hole, and the same again around the bottom edge.
Step 6
Work your way back up to the middle by going down through the next hole up and coming up again through the middle hole. Take the thread around the side, open book to the middle where the tail is and come up with the needle and out through here. Tie ends in a knot and trim.
You’ve finished! Now you know how to make a journal at home. Why not try making your own papers for a truly personal journal?
About Project Calm Magazine
This article was first published in Project Calm Magazine issue 9. Unfortunately Project Calm is no longer available in print, but many Project Calm back issues are available on Readly.