Take the buckle strap and insert it in the two slits in the leather cover. Make sure the smooth sides of the buckle strap and cover are facing the same direction.

Thread your needle with the provided linen.

Put your needle through the first hole between the buckle strap and the cover. Leave 2-3 inches of linen exposed.

Pull the needle and linen through the adjacent hole to the back side of the leather. Be sure to go through both the buckle strap and cover.

Pull the needle through the first hole and then back through the second. Thread the needle through the first hole but only through the buckle strap piece and not the cover. Keep the linen taught.

Tie the two exposed ends in a square knot. Trim the ends and tuck the remaining ends inbetween the buckle strap and the cover.

Repeat steps 3 through 6 for the bottom two holes of the buckle strap.

Flip over the cover to the smooth side and position the buckle to the appropriate holes.

Similar to step 3 insert the needle between the buckle and the cover through hole 1. Leave 2-3 inches of linen exposed.

Thread the needle through both pieces of leather in hole 2 and then through the hole directly below (hole 3). Pull the linen taught.

Thread the needle through the lateral top (hole 4) and then back through the lateral bottom (hole 1).

Repeat steps 9 and 11, but on the last step have the needle only pass through the cover and not the buckle.
Tip: At this point, both ends of linen should be at the same place.

Tie the two exposed ends in a square not. Trim the two ends of the knot and tuck the remaining ends between the buckle and the cover.

Locate the five bundles of folded paper.

Thread your needle with the remaining linen.

Flip cover to expose the rough side. Put the end sheet in place making sure it’s centered with the five holes in the cover.
Tip: It’s helpful to place a small amount of double-sided tape to secure the end sheet. While sewing the pages it’ll help keep your 5 paper bundles and end sheet aligned with the cover.

Flip cover to expose the smooth side. Take your recently threaded needle and poke through Column 1’s holes.
Tip: This gives you landmarks to base the placement of your paper bundles. This technique can be used for all 5 columns.

Take a bundle of paper and center it vertically on the inside of the cover. Take your threaded needle and go through the bottom hole that you made in the previous step. Go through the crease in the paper bundle.

Pull the linen through the hole leaving around 3 inches on the outside of the cover.

Insert the needle in and out of the far left group of holes as demontrated in the above illustration.

Pull the linen taught, making sure to leave 3 inches hanging from the first hole.
Tip: The tighter the linen, the more secure your finished journal will be.

If you flip your cover over to the smooth side, it should look like the above illustration.

Flip your cover over to the rough side. Take another bundle of paper and place it next to the one you have just sewn.
Tip: Use the technique outlined in step 17 to provide guide holes.

Starting with the hole adjacent where your needle last exited, weave the linen through the corresponding holes.

Pull the linen taught.

If you flip your cover over to the smooth side, it should look like the above illustration.

Repeat step 23 through 25 for the remaining 3 columns of holes.

The front cover should look like the above illustration.

Return to column 1 and begin the process again.

Flip your cover back to the rough side. Insert the needle in and out of the holes in column 1 as demonstrated in the above illustration.

Pull the linen taught.

Repeat steps 30 and 31 for the remaining 4 columns of holes.

Take the two exposed ends of linen and tie a square knot. Make it as tight as you can.

Thread the needle through the bottom hole of column 5.

Make sure the needle goes between the inside of the cover and the outside of the end sheet.

Unthread the needle and poke it midway through the hole in column 1. Thread the linen and pull the remaining linen through the hole.

Trim both ends of the linen so only 3/4 of an inch is remining on each side.

Tuck the ends of linen up the spine of the journal, between the end sheet and the cover.

Close both sides of leather around the end sheet and close buckle.

Congratulations! You know have your very own, custom-made, leather journal.