TIME: 4 hours.
MATERIALS: For the inside, any of the paper so listed.
For the cover, any of the paper so listed.
For stitching, any material so listed.
The simplest form of a book consists of a cover and inside sheets in a
single fold, sewed through the center. Choose materials from the lists
given.
Three definite methods of working out this problem are here outlined,
arranged in the order of their difficulty. Other combinations will
suggest themselves.
METHOD A. First determine the purpose for which the booklet is to be
used, and decide on shape and size of page best suited to this purpose.
If for spelling or pocket memoranda, it may be long and narrow; if for
language a larger page is desirable; or if for map work, the size and
shape of the maps should be considered. Take any sheet of paper and
experiment in folding to obtain satisfactory size and proportions.
A single sheet of paper folded through the center is called a folio.
This sheet will be twice the width of a page and of the same length.
(Commercially, a folio is made from paper varying from 22 × 16 to 44
× 32. Therefore, books to which this term is applied are generally of
large size.)
With pencil and rule draw a plan of the open folio and properly
dimension the drawing. (See Plate I.)
If there has been no previous training in simple mechanical drawing,
the use of extension and dimension lines, arrow heads, and the proper
placing of figures should be explained. If some proficiency in this
kind of drawing has been acquired, a freehand sketch may take the place
of an accurate drawing. Plate II shows some of the line conventions
used in making a working drawing.
[Illustration: PLATE I. Accurate working drawings and freehand sketches
such as children should produce before making the booklet.]
[Illustration: PLATE II. Line Conventions.]
In the same manner as for the pages, draw a plan of the cover, which
should project beyond the pages from ⅛ to ¼ of an inch. Lay out and
cut the cover and one sheet for the inside, keeping carefully on the
lines.
Having cut one sheet of the inside, lay the sheet on as many pieces
of the paper as are needed, (from three to seven make a booklet of
desirable thickness); then make a hole with a pin or needle at each
corner, piercing all at one time. On each sheet draw the four sides,
using rule and pencil. This is easier than to measure each one. The
folded sheets should be placed one inside the other to form the inside
of the booklet, and the whole placed inside the folded cover, with the
edges of the cover projecting slightly.
[Illustration: PLATE III. Sketches illustrating a simple method of
stitching a booklet.]
With a needle make a hole through the center of the fold, and another
near each end of the fold (from one-half an inch to an inch and a half
from the end) according to the size of the booklet, as shown in Plate
III. With thread or raffia sew through the center hole, from the inside
out, back to the inside through an end hole, outside through the center
hole, inside through the other end hole, and tie the ends in a square
knot (see illustration, Plate IV) near the center of the fold. Other
equally satisfactory methods of sewing may be worked out.
B. Determine the purpose of the booklet first and then its size and
shape. As in A draw plans of the inside and cover. With rule and
pencil lay out parts on materials to be used. Cut and sew as in A.
[Illustration: PLATE IV. The position of the threads in tying a square
knot.]
Simple lettering on the cover adds much to the appearance of the
booklet. Choose a title appropriate to its contemplated use, as
“NOTES,” “SKETCHES,” etc., which should be executed in rather large
Roman capitals. On a separate sheet, mark out an oblong of height and
width desired for the title and practise on this. If title is long,
make letters narrow, if short, letters may be broadened, to fill up
more space. When satisfactory results are obtained, cut out and place
on the cover, moving up and down to determine its best position. The
base line of the title should be placed below the top at one-fifth
to one-quarter of the entire distance from the top to the bottom of
the cover. After the position is determined, the title should be
transferred either by tracing or copying. The pupil’s name in much
smaller capitals should be worked out in the same manner and placed
below the center with a somewhat wider margin at the base than at the
top. Do not enclose the title in an oblong or other figure. A single or
double line as a border around the cover looks well, if carefully done.
(See illustration, Plate V.)
C. For the cover use gray drawing paper, tinted, other materials as
desired.
Draw plans as in A and B. A larger surface than required for the cover
should be tinted before it is marked out, so that any streaking along
the edge may be cut off. To mix a wash of the color selected, put two
or three tablespoonfuls of water in the water-cup and add a little
paint until the desired tone is produced, being quite sure to have
enough to cover the whole surface. Try to have the wash clean, not
muddy, and beware of too much paint! The colors should be soft, not
crude, and somewhat neutralized by the addition of the complementary
color. The best results are produced by the use of green, pale yellow,
brown, dull orange, and red. Blue is very likely to streak and is
seldom satisfactory.
[Illustration: PLATE V. The simplest possible designs for book covers,
involving good spacing and careful lettering.]
When ready to apply the wash, place the paper on an inclined
surface--45° or more from the horizontal. A sheet of heavy cardboard
or a book answers this purpose admirably. With a full brush make a
horizontal stroke across the top of the paper. The second stroke should
be just below this leaving no dry spots between. Being careful to keep
the brush full of paint, continue in this manner until the entire
surface is covered. The surplus amount of paint which will settle along
the lower edge should be taken up with the brush, which has first been
squeezed dry between the thumb and finger. When the paper is dry, mark
out the cover and cut. Cut out the leaves and sew as in A. The cover
may be lettered as in B.