Bookbinding Resources

A little note before you explore: I don’t currently offer bookbinding tutorials, DIYs, courses, or supply lists - and I’m not planning to anytime soon! Instead, I’ve put together a little collection of the wonderful people, small businesses, and resources I personally use, love, and recommend.

Bookbinding tools

Beautifully Bound

If you’re looking for bookbinding tools, whether you’re picking up your first bone folder or you’ve been binding for years, Sophie at Beautifully Bound is my girl. She designs and 3D prints tools for beginners and experienced binders alike - and if you can dream up a tool, she can probably make it. Her designs are clever, practical, and made by someone who actually understands bookbinding.

Use code SKETCHY for 10% off your order. 

Shop Beautifully Bound tools here!

And I want to make one thing very clear: Sophie is the original creator of her designs. Unfortunately, some of her tools have been copied and are now being sold by Amazon sellers and other businesses. If you see one of her designs elsewhere, please consider supporting the person who actually put the time, thought and creativity into making it in the first place.

beginners bookbinding course

Spark & Spine

If you’re completely new to bookbinding, Kate at Spark & Spine is who I wish I’d had when I started. She spent months pouring her time, knowledge, and love into creating an unbelievably comprehensive and thoughtful beginner’s course, with every detail intentionally designed to set you up for success. She also offers a beginner’s bookbinding kit to follow along with the course, filled with genuinely high-quality tools and materials. It’s affordable, incredibly thorough, and made with pure love and genuine care for the person learning.

Use code SKETCHY for 10% off your order.

Learn more about the course here!

More of my favourite small businesses (New Zealand based)

  • Lakeview Publishing

    Lakeview offers the best bookboard on the market. Hands down, no contest. Please don't sell them out - I'll scream and cry. I really want to gatekeep this one.

    Shop here 

  • Lightbox art supplies

    A very local small business run by the lovely Toni, who is dedicated to finding for you exactly what you need. Here, I buy my paper, stationery, and gilding supplies.

    Shop here 

  • The Binding Studio

    You would have to pry The Binding Studio mull out of my cold, dead hands. A great shop for glue, endbands, cloth - literally everything you could ever need.

    Shop here 

Get to know your local bookshop and library!

When you’re sourcing books for your projects, ask your local independent bookseller first — they may be able to order exactly what you need, help you track down editions, or point you towards something you wouldn’t have found yourself. And while you’re there, ask if they have any spare packing paper if you plan on shipping out orders! Bookshops go through mountains of it, and they may be more than happy to let you take some off their hands.

Your local library is an incredible resource too. They may have a makerspace where you can access a Cricut or similar equipment, or they may know of another local space that can help. Libraries often offer far more than books, so ask what’s available and make the most of the resources in your community. Get involved locally and support the small businesses and shared spaces around you; you’d be amazed how much people will help when you take the time to become part of the community too.

A little note about copying

I’m incredibly flattered that people love my designs enough to be inspired by them - but inspiration and imitation are not the same thing. Please don’t directly copy, slightly alter, or recreate my designs to sell as your own. You can take inspiration from another artist’s work, but please put the time into making it yours. My designs are a huge part of my business, and copying them to sell directly hurts the person who created them. Be inspired, don’t be a copycat. And if you do copy my work… I’ll hire an Etsy witch. The cheapest, angriest one I can find