{Fun DIY} How to Make a Zine

I am so excited to share this new tutorial with you - some of you might even be wondering what exactly a zine is!  Well, a zine is a self-published book that is made on a photocopier and distributed by the person who made it (or sometimes a zine library like this one).   Some zines are hand drawn, some are collaged, and some are like comic books. Zines are a really fun project because they are low-tech and can be made in a million different styles - I think they would be a great summer project for kids, too!  

I have made three zines in the past (with more to come!) and each one was a great experience.  I'm going to show you how I make my Busy Knitter zine because it is a cute 1/4 size (meaning that each page is 1/4 of a piece of paper).  

First, you'll need a few sheets of white paper that are divided into fourths.  Draw your designs in each section, keeping in mind that the final product will be double sided when printed.  I usually draw everything single sided, then have the copy shop near my house convert it to double sided with their fancy copier (it's only 5 cents per copy, so it's worth it to save me the trouble!).  It helps keep everything organized if you include page numbers.

And don't forget to include designs for your front and back cover : )

Once you've visited the copy shop and had your photocopies made, cut apart  your pages and arrange them in order.

Fold your little booklet in half and make a crisp crease.

There are several easy ways to bind your pages (staples, hole punch & string, brass fasteners) but my favorite way is to sew a simple stitch with my sewing machine.  Make sure to sew slowly so the paper doesn't tear.

And then your zine is finished!  You can also check out suggestions for folding zines here and for binding them with pamphlet stitch here.  I hope you have fun making zines!