Learn how to make your own books with our Japanese stab binding box! Our kit makes two lovely little notebooks with different stitch designs – perfect for scrapbooking, journalling or sketching. But the best bit is that you can go on to create your own books afterwards, and it’s a great way to save children’s artwork, or upcycle packaging and scrap paper!
This kit has been exclusively designed for Cosy Craft Club by Calamity Katy Designs.
What is Japanese Stab Binding?
Japanese stab binding or four-hole binding (Yotsume Toji) is an ancient Japanese skill used to stitch together single sheets of paper to make a book. It’s a great way of making your own sketchbooks and notebooks and can be customised by using decorative papers for covers and with different stitch patterns.
What you’ll make
This kit makes two A5 sized stitch-bound books, each with 16 pages. You’ll gather your blank pages and colourful cover pages together, punch holes for the stitches using an awl, and then stitch your binding following the instructions.
This kit contains the instructions for two stitch patterns, Noble binding and Hemp Leaf binding. Once you have tried these stitches, it is easy to see how you could come up with your own variations on the stitch patterns!
The perfect mindful gift
This kit is a gift for a crafting-loving friend or family member who would enjoy trying something new and exploring how to make notebooks. It’s great for slowing down and also providing you with a couple of beautiful notebooks. Plus the skills to make many more.
Rachel says:
“This is one of the most practical crafts we’ve done! You can make books to give as gifts or to use yourself. And you can have fun coming up with your own stitch designs once you’ve mastered the ones in the box!”
What’s included
Everything you need to create two A5 notebooks:
Bookbinding needle
Waxed linen thread
Bone folder
Awl
2 binding clips
Paper for pages
4 sheets of decorative paper for covers
2 stitch templates
Pens to write in your books with
From home, you will need:
A self-healing cutting mat or chopping board
A piece of corrugated card from your recycling
Scissors
Time to make
Each book will take less than an hour to create.
No experience needed
No prior experience is needed. This is a simple craft, and the kit comes with instructions and information to guide you through the technique.
Finished size
This kit makes two A5 sized notebooks with beautiful covers and 16 pages each. This kit comes in a letterbox-friendly box measuring 24 x 16.5 x 2cm.
Why choose Cosy Craft Club?
Carefully curated kits, designed to introduce you to beautiful new crafts
Always beginner-friendly
High-quality materials chosen with care
Unique, unusual projects you won’t find everywhere
A warm, supportive approach that helps you feel confident
See our other Paper Craft Kits