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View Full Version : Making my own Notebook Cover.. Have you done this ?



earthdawn
May 29th, 2013, 12:23 AM
Well I can't seem to find what I really want. Most, like Midori, are just too much $ for a leather cover. Now don't get me wrong they are very nice and if I did not have the time, which I kind of don't, I would simply buy a Midori or Renaissance Art etc.

The main issue I have is what size to get. I just cant seem to find what I feel would be best for me.

Long story short I watched a couple of videos of how to make them and how easy it is to get creative. So besides it being less expensive it allows to make a cover that is more expressive to my style.

Lastly I can make my own notebooks to put in it... from Tomoe River to Clairefontaine to Rhodia. Plain, Lined or Graph... and I can run them through my printer if I have something I want that more exotic or a different line width etc.

http://youtu.be/Yju82AwTb_M

http://www.comfortableshoesstudio.com/2012/05/make-it-yourself-midori-traveler-notebook-knock-off.html

So has anyone else here gone this route for a Notebook cover ???

elderberry
May 29th, 2013, 01:49 AM
I have. Main reason for me was that I find the Midori format too narrow. I like A 5 better and making your own refills has all the advantages you described. Here's pictures:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2ieE04E19c/UZiG6jLpXGI/AAAAAAAAAmY/9P8nFTgjfzY/s1600/SurvivalKit1.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SAtN7IDUi3s/UHsLzTLr4DI/AAAAAAAAAJg/pxoRURxS7GM/s1600/JLschwarzblog1.jpg

More pictures and details can be found at my blog (in my signature). My boyfriend did most of the work here and it was great to have someone around who's worked with leather before.

If you can I would recommend picking the leather in person. If you haven't worked with it before it can be hard to judge online whether it will be suitable. The leather I have used is quite a bit thicker than for example Midori's which adds some extra weight but also makes it more rugged and more comfortable to write in. It's veg tanned and oiled which makes for an open surface that ages nicely but won't show every mark of your fingernails. Because it's so thick the edges needed some working on to become more rounded, not unlike wood.

If you use thinner leather (about 1.1 mm thickness or the like) you might be able to skip that step but I'd still strongly recommend to use veg tanned leather. Chrome tanned leather is made for upholstery and clothing and is too soft for the purpose. If your notebook is going to be A6 or smaller it might still do but if you're going for a larger format it probably won't be stiff enough to protect the inserts.
There are veg tanned leathers with an undyed, open surface. Those get dirty very soon but also can be drawn and written on with pens and ink. When the design is finished, carefully dab on some leather grease to fixate it against moisture. This will make the leather look darker but only for a few days or weeks until the leather has absorbed the grease. You can also use leather dye but I don't have any experience with these.

Don't forget to show some pictures please ;)

earthdawn
May 29th, 2013, 02:19 AM
WOW... Awesome !!!

Do you know what thickness your cover is?
I found this guide on ebay http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-the-Thickness-of-Leather-is-Measured/10000000000858717/g.html

I was thinking of using 4oz weight as I will probably make an B6 size to start which is a little larger all around then the A6

Thanks so much for the info... ill go check out your blog now!

banditapple
May 29th, 2013, 05:53 AM
3084

We make 3 different sizes of notebook.
Peewee 9x14 cm (same size of Fieldnote, or Pocket size of Moleskine)
Handy 11x21 cm (same size of Midori TN notebook)
Tablet 13x21 cm (same size of Large size of Moleskine)

I designed simple travel pocket for our notebooks with local leather workshop "Tanzo"
and here it is.

Photo is 'peewee' size of travel pocket

3085

You can place your phone also.

more photo?

https://plus.google.com/photos/116192552347544591271/albums/5831075368597655953?authkey=CMrQnYb6wIi4kgE

elderberry
May 29th, 2013, 09:45 AM
The thickness of the leather I used (it's water buffalo, cow and calf works also fine) is 2 mm. I have a Midori here as well and would estimate it at 0.9-1.0 mm, don't have any means to say for sure.

jor412
May 29th, 2013, 10:36 AM
I'm about to do this. I have the materials, including the leather. I just have to sit down and actually do it.

@elderberry - How many inserts do you have in there? How did you thread the elastic cord through the holes? I had an old faux leather planner which had a metal binder in the center. I yanked that out and used the holes to thread some elastic. I wanted to see if I could make the one hole system work for me but the elastic I used may have been too thick so it was clunky.

elderberry
May 29th, 2013, 11:45 AM
Mine work best with three inserts (about 40 sheets each). At the moment I've squeezed an extra Midori MD into my work journal but it's getting a bit bulky now. A lacing needle or crochet hook is useful to thread the strings.

I don't like Midori's way to gather the strings at the spine so I gather them at the bottom with a pearl or a simple knot. The one below is made of tiger's eye. Some experimenting with the strings is probably necessary. My first rubber strings were too thin and felt flimsy. I like the thicker ones much better.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecCLXnb6XxI/UH11L6iVQTI/AAAAAAAAAKU/8c0Ynfg6z5M/s1600/JLbraunblog5.jpg

jor412
May 29th, 2013, 12:03 PM
Very nice pearl. Thanks for the explanation & pic. :) I have two string thicknesses -- thin (probably flimsy, too) and thick. I'm sure there's a thickness between those two but I haven't been able to source it yet. And I do find the thin one flimsy -- especially since I plan on using at least two A5 notebooks and another insert, maybe something with pockets for miscellaneous bits.

earthdawn
June 1st, 2013, 01:34 AM
The info here is great and greatly appreciated...

My main quest now is getting the leather.

Where do find the leather to do it???

jbb
June 1st, 2013, 07:15 AM
The info here is great and greatly appreciated...
My main quest now is getting the leather.
Where do find the leather to do it???


What size piece of leather is needed? We have some scrap pieces for small projects if it's of any use. Otherwise, Tandy Leather http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspx is one source for buying leather.

subramaniyam
June 1st, 2013, 08:41 PM
How about this? This person is just outstanding... :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvfsmLMhm_Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLFixh8czhs

Regards,
Subramaniyam

jor412
June 1st, 2013, 08:58 PM
@ subramaniyam - That was excellent to watch. Quite instructive, although I'm not going to be doing anything as complicated. Also cool was the Lamy Al-star inserted into the cover at the end of the second video.

subramaniyam
June 1st, 2013, 09:24 PM
It is not complicated at all. Just try it once... at least with scrap. You will find it is extremely easy.

Regards,
Sub

subramaniyam
June 1st, 2013, 09:26 PM
Mine work best with three inserts (about 40 sheets each). At the moment I've squeezed an extra Midori MD into my work journal but it's getting a bit bulky now. A lacing needle or crochet hook is useful to thread the strings.

I don't like Midori's way to gather the strings at the spine so I gather them at the bottom with a pearl or a simple knot. The one below is made of tiger's eye. Some experimenting with the strings is probably necessary. My first rubber strings were too thin and felt flimsy. I like the thicker ones much better.



I've had problems with the midori style of using elastic bands. The bands caused my notes to tear at the spine.

elderberry
June 4th, 2013, 02:18 PM
Mine work best with three inserts (about 40 sheets each). At the moment I've squeezed an extra Midori MD into my work journal but it's getting a bit bulky now. A lacing needle or crochet hook is useful to thread the strings.

I don't like Midori's way to gather the strings at the spine so I gather them at the bottom with a pearl or a simple knot. The one below is made of tiger's eye. Some experimenting with the strings is probably necessary. My first rubber strings were too thin and felt flimsy. I like the thicker ones much better.



I've had problems with the midori style of using elastic bands. The bands caused my notes to tear at the spine.

Hmm, I have to say I've never had this problem, even with the handmade inserts which didn't have particularly strong covers. Just today I removed a Rhodia cahier from my notebook after half a year of use and the spine is still in perfect shape. Maybe using a thicker elastic or modifying the tightness the strings (they could be too tight but also too loose, allowing the inserts to move around too much and thus putting stress on the spine?) could help.