Workshops & Art

Zine Making for Beginners: Fold an Eight-Page Zine From One Sheet

A zine is a small self-made booklet. Learn what zines are, how to fold an eight-page zine from a single sheet of paper, and what to put in your first.

A zine (say "zeen") is a small booklet you make and copy yourself. No publisher, no permission. It can be about anything: your street, your lola's recipes, six bad coffees, how to care for a pothos.

Fold an eight-page zine from one sheet

You need one sheet of bond paper and scissors.

1. Fold the paper in half lengthwise, like a hotdog bun. Unfold.
2. Fold it in half widthwise, like a sandwich. Unfold.
3. Fold each short edge in to meet the centre crease. Unfold. You now have eight rectangles.
4. Fold in half widthwise again, and from the folded edge, cut along the centre crease only as far as the next crease.
5. Unfold, then fold lengthwise. Hold both ends and push toward the middle. The cut opens into a diamond, then a plus shape.
6. Flatten the plus into a booklet and crease the spine.

You have a front cover, six pages and a back cover.

What to put in it

• A map of your five favourite places in Marikina
• A list: things I learned this month
• A comic with stick figures
• One recipe, illustrated
• A review of every drink you had this week

Write and draw in pen. When you unfold the sheet, everything is on one side, so you can photocopy it and make as many as you like.

Why we like zines

They are finished in an afternoon, cheap to share, and completely yours. Our Marikina Field Notes grew out of the same urge: make a small thing by hand, put it in someone's pocket.

Zine supplies are always out at the studio. If you would like a small zine-making session for you or your friends, ask us.