When selecting the perfect paper for a creative or conservation project, two factors shape your results more than anything else: paper weight and paper surface. Though often discussed together, each property influences materials in its own way—from how a sheet feels in the hand to how pigment behaves on the page.

This guide, adapted from Bitter Melon Bindery's video tutorial, walks you step by step through the assembly process using the TALAS × Bitter Melon Bindery Sketchbook Kit. The kit includes everything pre-cut and measured, with carefully selected high-quality materials. You’ll also find notes for adapting the process if you’re making your own custom version from scratch.

Hanji, the traditional handmade paper of Korea, is more than just a surface for writing or art. It is a material steeped in history, tied to the rhythms of the natural world, and cherished for its beauty, resilience, and versatility. Crafted from the inner bark of mulberry trees, Hanji has been an essential part of Korean culture for over a millennium, used in everything from Buddhist sutras to clothing, household objects, and contemporary design. Today, Hanji continues to br