Basic Papermaking

Basic Materials for Making Handmade Paper

Many people making handmade paper begin with a desire to use up the pile of junk mail which quickly accumulates in most homes these days. Combined with the pleasure of forming lovely sheets of handmade paper to use for personal stationery, the transformation of garbage paper to a new and usable form is the perfect hobby for both home and classroom. The quality of the finished handmade paper will be determined by the quality of the paper used to form the pulp. Avoid using newspaper, if possible. The chemicals in newspaper and the ink form a foamy sludge in the papermaking vat and the resulting handmade paper is a muddy -looking sheet of poor quality. For strong, lasting handmade paper, combine a recycled base with equal amounts of abaca or cotton pulp. This can be purchased in semi-processed form for use in a household blender.

Adding Color to Handmade Paper

When making handmade paper, adding color is part of the fun! If you're using recycled pulp, use colored paper such as tissue paper or construction paper to add color to the handmade paper. Blend the pulp thoroughly for an even-colored handmade paper. Or blend lightly to create a chunky effect in the handmade paper.

For a pure handmade paper pulp which will accept fabric dye or pigments created for handmade paper, use 100% cotton pulp available in dry pressed form from Botanical PaperWorks, For best results when pigmenting cotton and abaca pulp, use handmade paper pigments which are specially suited for hand papermaking. Retention agent is helpful in preparing the handmade paper fibers to retain the maximum amount of pigment. Use a small amount each time you pigment handmade paper pulp. When the handmade paper pulp has absorbed the pigment, add liquid sizing to seal the fibres. Beat this in well and your handmade paper pulp is ready to make beautiful sheets of handmade paper. Experiment with various handmade papers and keep a sample book with a list of ingredients in case you want to make it again.

Equipment for Making Handmade Paper

Here is a basic list of equipment needed to make handmade paper:
· household blender
· washbasin or laundry tub
· handmade paper mould and deckle
· bucket of recycled paper or cotton pulp torn into 1inch pieces
· J-cloths or sheeting; newspaper or absorbent towels for a couching pad

Mould and deckle sets are available from Botanical PaperWorks in several sizes. If you wish to make your own, stretch fine screening over a wooden frame and staple. Seal with waterproof glue and coat with water-resistant varnish. For the deckle, you need a wooden frame the same size as the mould, without the screening. This helps to define the edges of the sheet of paper and it allows you to control the actual size of the finished product. Sometimes this is not important but if you are planning to have coressponding envelopes, you will want to be sure that the paper will fit well into the size of envelope you have selected. You can make matching handmade envelopes by cutting the form from a sheet of overhead acetate and placing it directly on the screen with the deckle frame on top to hold it in place.

Starting to Make Handmade Paper

Before you begin to form a sheet of paper. prepare a "couching" pad with layers of newspaper or towelling. As each sheet is formed, cover it with two J-cloths or pieces of sheeting before couching the next sheet. Repeat this until you have formed a stack of 20-30 sheets.

Forming a Sheet of Handmade Paper

Fill the washbasin to the 3/4 full level. Grip the mold and deckle with the deckle on top. Reaching to the back of the vat. pull the mold and deckle through the water, bottom end first, then lifting to the surface in a continuous motion.

Pressing a Sheet of Handmade Paper

Press the stack of couched sheets and J-cloths between two boards which have been coated with sealer to resist warping. Clamp tightly using large C-clamps, increasing the pressure as the water runs out. Press about 10 minutes more once the water is no longer running out.

Drying a Sheet of Handmade Paper

Undo the clamps on the press. Remove the boards. Lift each sheet of paper on its J_cloth or sheeting and hang it on a line to dry. For a smooth sheet, press the handmade paper while still slightly damp or spray lightly with water and press between towelling.

Final Ideas for Handmade Paper

A few words of encouragement before you get started: Making handmade paper is fun for all ages, whether you are making handmade paper with a class of preschoolers or making handmade paper for your wedding. So enjoy the process, and relax - even mistake sheets of handmade paper can make wonderful, one-of-a-kind cards or handmade papers for scrapbooking.

All the equipment and supplies for making handmade paper are available from Botanical PaperWorks. Click on the menu at left for books on making handmade paper, papermaking moulds and deckles, and all the pulp and pigments for making handmade paper. Have fun!