When trying book folding for the first time it is best to follow a pre-made pattern in order to fully understand how it works before trying to create your own design.
Therefore, the first thing to do is pick a pattern. There are plenty of simple, free, patterns available online. There are also more elaborate patterns available for purchase. (Etsy has some great options). To make things fun and easy I’ve also included a couple patterns in this post. Be aware there are book folding patterns (patterns that only involve folding pages) and there are book cutting patterns (a different category of book art that involves cutting the pages of the book, but can sometimes still be referred to as a folding pattern). This post covers the basics of pure book folding.
Once you have a pattern make sure the book you’ve chosen to fold has enough pages for that pattern. Keep in mind books are numbered on both sides of the page (front and back). Patterns on the other hand count each page as a single unit. For instance, if a book says it has 100 pages it really only has 50 individual pages which can be used for the pattern.
How to Fold the Book’s Pages:
Overview:
Every page will have two marks followed by two corresponding folds, a top down fold and a bottom up fold. So, for each page you’ll first measure your marks and then you’ll make your folds.
Step One: Measure your Marks
A pattern has a measured mark 1 and mark 2 for every page. Starting with the first page using the centimeter side of a ruler (unless the pattern calls for inches) measure from the top of the page down. Then with a pencil make the first mark by drawing a small horizontal line.
Continue measuring the specified number of centimeters downward and make the second mark.
Step Two: Make your Folds
Bring the outer, top, corner of the page downward and inward (creating a triangle) to your first horizontal mark and fold the page. Try to make the fold as straight as you can, using the lines of words on the page as a helpful guide.
Next bring the bottom, outer, corner of the page up and inward (again creating a triangle) until you reach the second mark and make your second fold.
Step Three: Repeat
Turn to the next page and repeat steps one and two… continue repeating until you’re done. 🙂 !
Useful Tips:
- It helps to use a large rubber band to keep the pages out of the way as you go. Wrap the rubber band vertically around the front cover of the book and tuck each folded page under as you go.
- It helps to cross off each step on your pattern as you go so you don’t lose your place and accidentally repeat the same measurements or skip over any.
Foot Print Patterns:
Left Foot
| Page # | Mark# 1 | Mark#2 | Page# | Mark#1 | Mark#2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 30 | 7.2 | 8.0 |
| 2 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 31 | 8.4 | 13.3 |
| 3 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 32 | 7.2 | 8.1 |
| 4 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 33 | 8.3 | 13.5 |
| 5 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 34 | 7.2 | 8.1 |
| 6 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 35 | 8.3 | 13.6 |
| 7 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 36 | 7.2 | 8.0 |
| 8 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 37 | 8.4 | 13.6 |
| 9 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 38 | 7.5 | 7.8 |
| 10 | 9.9 | 10.5 | 39 | 11.5 | 13.7 |
| 11 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 40 | 8.4 | 10.8 |
| 12 | 9.4 | 11.1 | 41 | 11.8 | 13.7 |
| 13 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 42 | 8.5 | 10.6 |
| 14 | 9.2 | 11.5 | 43 | 7.3 | 8.3 |
| 15 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 44 | 12.0 | 13.7 |
| 16 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 45 | 8.7 | 10.4 |
| 17 | 8.9 | 12.0 | 46 | 7.1 | 8.4 |
| 18 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 47 | 12.2 | 13.7 |
| 19 | 8.8 | 12.2 | 48 | 8.9 | 10.2 |
| 20 | 7.6 | 8.5 | 49 | 7.1 | 8.5 |
| 21 | 8.7 | 12.5 | 50 | 12.4 | 13.6 |
| 22 | 7.6 | 8.5 | 51 | 9.4 | 9.9 |
| 23 | 8.6 | 12.7 | 52 | 7.1 | 8.4 |
| 24 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 53 | 12.6 | 13.4 |
| 25 | 8.5 | 12.9 | 54 | 7.1 | 8.3 |
| 26 | 8.5 | 12.9 | 55 | 12.8 | 13.1 |
| 27 | 8.4 | 13.0 | 56 | 7.3 | 8.2 |
| 28 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 57 | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| 29 | 8.4 | 13.2 |
Right Foot
| Page # | Mark# 1 | Mark# 2 | Page # | Mark# 1 | Mark# 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 30 | 7.4 | 7.9 |
| 2 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 31 | 8.4 | 13.0 |
| 3 | 12.8 | 13.1 | 32 | 8.5 | 12.9 |
| 4 | 7.1 | 8.3 | 33 | 8.5 | 12.9 |
| 5 | 12.6 | 13.4 | 34 | 7.7 | 8.4 |
| 6 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 35 | 8.6 | 12.7 |
| 7 | 9.4 | 9.9 | 36 | 7.6 | 8.5 |
| 8 | 12.4 | 13.6 | 37 | 8.7 | 12.5 |
| 9 | 7.1 | 8.5 | 38 | 7.6 | 8.5 |
| 10 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 39 | 8.8 | 12.2 |
| 11 | 12.2 | 13.7 | 40 | 7.6 | 8.4 |
| 12 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 41 | 8.9 | 12.0 |
| 13 | 8.7 | 10.4 | 42 | 7.7 | 8.2 |
| 14 | 12.0 | 13.7 | 43 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| 15 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 44 | 9.2 | 11.5 |
| 16 | 8.5 | 10.6 | 45 | 8.3 | 9.0 |
| 17 | 11.8 | 13.7 | 46 | 9.4 | 11.1 |
| 18 | 8.4 | 10.8 | 47 | 8.3 | 9.1 |
| 19 | 11.5 | 13.7 | 48 | 9.9 | 10.5 |
| 20 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 49 | 8.3 | 9.0 |
| 21 | 8.4 | 13.6 | 50 | 9.2 | 9.8 |
| 22 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 51 | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| 23 | 8.3 | 13.6 | 52 | 9.2 | 9.8 |
| 24 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 53 | 9.2 | 9.8 |
| 25 | 8.3 | 13.5 | 54 | 9.1 | 9.8 |
| 26 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 55 | 9.2 | 9.8 |
| 27 | 8.4 | 13.3 | 56 | 9.2 | 9.7 |
| 28 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 57 | 9.2 | 9.7 |
| 29 | 8.4 | 13.2 |
~ Stay tuned for more book art posts, including how to create your own design ~
