How to Fold an 8-page "Instabook" from a Single Sheet of Paper

February 9, 2025

This is the single most versatile bookbinding technique I've ever encountered. It's ubiquitous in zine-making circles because of its simplicity. You get strong book-vibes for very little effort. I have a finishing technique I came up with that adds some polish by creating a squared-off spine (you can add text there that will be visible on a shelf!). These instructions are for when you have content already printed on your sheet of paper (an edition of Penrose Periodical, for example) but if you're starting with a blank sheet, it'll work just fine.

Also! Spy this format in The Comfort House Project Zine.

Firstly, you need to fold your paper in half 3 times creating creases that delineate 8 sections (your 8 pages). Unfold again.
Fold the page in half, text-side-out, hamburger fold.
Make a tear or cut from the middle of the folded edge (this is important) to the centre of the folded page. In the diagram, I've marked the cut/tear path with a bold line. Stop at the perpendicular fold.
Pull the two corners of the cut/torn edge away from each other to make a cross shape.
Find the front cover page and separate it from the other three sections. If you're working on a blank sheet, pick one of the pages with a fold at the fore-edge, not an opening.
This last step is a bit fussy and can be skipped if you like! Just fold the cover over and you're done. However, what I've been doing is modifying the pointed spine into a square one. I wrap the cover page gently around the other three and create a little bubble or bump with the topmost sheet near the spine. I then push the bump towards the spine until it makes a new crease, about 1/8" away from the original spine crease. I fiddle with it until it's square, then I press the inconsistencies out towards the fore-edge of the book, creating an additional crease there, and causing the cover to sit slightly back from the other pages.