Instructions: Sewn Leporello

April 12, 2024

Here we have a slightly modified form of the Leporello with a window , which we combine wonderfully with our new collection, sewn together and bound in book cloth. The different layers of the flower meadow that appear here not only create the optical illusion of a colorful little world in this bound little wonder.

material

Design paper A (front layer) 6 x 30.5 x 7.5 cm
Design paper B (back layer) 6 x 30.5 x 10 cm
Design paper C (base card/background) 8 x 30.5 x 14 cm
Book linen 2 x 13.5 x 17 cm
Grey cardboard or screen-printed cardboard 1mm 2 x 10.5 x 14 cm
Yarn 10 x 30cm
Paper 14 x 6 cm for stencil

Tools

Folding and cutting board
Pencil and eraser
Ruler or set square
Bone folder
Bookbinding glue and some water
Brush or glue roller
Folding roller
Scissors
Double-sided adhesive tape
Awl and needle
Optional: Cutter for the cardboard

Determine the direction and pattern:

When cutting book cloth, cardboard and paper, please make sure that the grain is the same so that the finished project is not distorted. The bending test can be used to determine the grain: the paper is easier to bend if it is parallel to the grain. When cutting the paper, do not forget the pattern, which can play a major role in this project.

Cutting, folding and gluing design paper:

DESIGN PAPER A

First, you can cut the design paper A into 6 strips, each measuring 7.5 x 20.5 cm . These form the front layer of the leporello and therefore the narrowest part. You then fold the strips every 5 cm and leave 5 mm over as an adhesive tab. The 6 strips will stick together at the adhesive tab, with the adhesive tabs on the back.

DESIGN PAPER B

From design paper B, cut 6 strips, each 10 x 30.5 cm , and then fold them every 7.3 cm . Leave 1.5 cm for the adhesive tab and, as with the other papers, glue the 6 strips together again using the adhesive tab. These 6 strips form the middle part of the layered leporello.

With design paper A and B, it is important to ensure that the first fold faces forward or outward. This is the only way to glue it later.

DESIGN PAPER C

Finally, cut 8 strips of 14 x 30.5 cm each from the design paper C. Fold the strips every 9.9 cm and leave 8 mm over here as an adhesive tab. The 8 strips are then glued together using the adhesive tab.

These 8 strips together form your base card/background for your layered leporello.

Make a template for holes:

You can cut a 6 x 14 cm piece out of plain white paper. You can fold the long side in the middle and draw a line on the short side 2 cm and 3.25 cm from the edge. The leporello strips are placed along the lines for punching. You mark the holes in the middle 4 cm from the edge and then make them with an awl.

All Leporello strips are punched in the mountain folds. If you don't have a puncher, you can place the strips in an open book with the punching aid or, better yet, punch holes into the fold from the back of the paper. The first and last mountain folds are not punched and are glued to the cardboard later.

Sewing leporellos together:

Sew all 3 strips together fold by fold with the yarn. You can knot the threads on the back and leave them hanging or shorten them as desired.

Cover grey board or screen-printed board with book linen:

Please pay attention to the direction of the grain here again! Mix the glue with a little water and apply it evenly and thinly to the book linen, ideally with a roller. Then you can place the cardboard in the middle and press it down with a rubber roller. The book linen corners are cut 3 mm away from the cardboard, at an angle. Start with the short protruding sides and fold them around the edge, for example by straightening the cardboard. After you have folded the corners to the long side with the bone folder, you can fold the long side over. If you want to use ribbons for closing, you can stick them 2 cm deep in the middle on the back of the cardboard. As with all glue projects, it is important here too to give it enough time to dry and press, e.g. overnight. It is also important to use screen printing board instead of grey board for light book linen!

Glue the Leporello ends:

The ends of the smaller leporello strips are now glued to the large strip with double-sided adhesive tape. You can now cut off the adhesive strip at one end of the base card. Place a piece of scratch paper under the last leporello page, glue it in place, remove the scratch paper and stick the leporello in the middle of the cardboard. Do this with both sides and give it enough time to dry.