Bookbinding for Beginners: Adding a Leather Cover - step 1 (DIY Journal Part 6)

Ready to bring your handmade book to life with a real leather cover? In this step-by-step bookbinding tutorial, we move on to the exciting leather stage of binding. You’ll learn how to size, cut, and glue leather around your covers and spine—without wrinkles, bubbles, or wasted material. Using a simple off-cut of furniture leather, I’ll show you how to: Measure and trim leather for your book cover Trace your book onto leather for accurate placement Work with PVA glue and avoid wrinkles or creases Smooth leather around the spine for a professional finish Decide when to use scissors vs. razor blades for leather cutting Press and dry your book for a clean, flat result Whether you’re a beginner learning DIY bookbinding or a hobbyist looking for new techniques, this lesson will help you confidently add leather to your handmade journal or sketchbook. This is Part of my Bookbinding for Beginners series, where I walk you through each stage of the process—from folding signatures to sewing, gluing, covering, and finishing. ✨ Subscribe for more tutorials on bookbinding, journal making, and leather crafts!