School Book Wrapper / With Pleat

The Art of the Fold

Posted by Laurence King

About

The ubiquitous school-book wrapper is known throughout the world. A non-adhesive, removable and replaceable wrapper,
it can be made out of relatively thin paper. Because of its double thickness and folded edges, it is surprisingly resilient and its simplicity makes it an enduring design. We present instructions for the original and then modify this old friend by lengthening the sheet of paper, wrapping it around the entire book and ending in a tab that tucks neatly into an integrated pleat. Both versions can be used for accordions, many of the blizzards, fishbone and tree folds.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS:
Variable

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You Will Need (10 things)

  • Paper

  • Paper on a roll

  • Tools

  • Self-healing Cutting Mat
  • Straight Edge
  • Sharp Knife
  • Paper Cutter
  • Scissors
  • Bone Folder
  • Pencil

Steps (15 steps, 120 minutes)

  1. 1

    To lay out the wrapper, cut two templates – one representing the height and width of your book, the other one the thickness of the spine. Using the templates, cut a sheet of paper following the equations given.

  2. 2

    Mark the center of the short ends and fold the long sides up and down to meet at the center.

  3. 3

    Using the spine template, transfer the thickness of the spine to both ends of the wrapper piece.

  4. 4

    Fold the left side over to the right mark and crease. Fold the right side over to the left mark and crease. A spine thickness is created at the center.

  5. 5

    A spine thickness is centered in the wrapper.

  6. 6

    Fold the covers over to line up with the spine folds and crease well at the fore-edge.

  7. 7

    Insert the first and last pages or cards attached to hinges into the covers.

  8. 8

    School-Book Wrapper with Pleat

    To lay out the wrapper, cut two templates – one representing the height and width of your book,
    the other the thickness of the spine. Using the templates, cut a sheet of paper following the equations given.

  9. 9

    Using the templates again, measure, mark and score the first four folds using both templates (three widths and one spine thickness).

  10. 10

    Bring the second fold over to meet the third fold, creating a pleat.

  11. 11

    Mark the center of the two short ends and fold the long sides up and down to meet at the center.

  12. 12

    Crease well.

  13. 13

    Bring the left side over to the first spine fold. Make diagonal folds at the corners and inside reverse fold.

  14. 14

    Insert the first and last pages of the book into the cavities in the cover.

  15. 15

    Making a soft fold, wrap the flap around the fore-edge of the book and tuck it into the pleat.