Islamic Bookbinding

My recent efforts in bookbinding have been leaning toward the Islamic style, a flap of cover covering the fore edge to protect the text block from damage. This is usually made to protect the Quran from damage, of course, but other books and artist's drawing books incorporate it, too. I have only made the one book using Islamic binding, but I'm working on another. Currently thinking about the cover design. It will be a nine signature (four sheets) 184-page blank notebook using drawing paper so, hopefully, the recipient will use it as a sketch pad or doodle book. I like the idea of the Islamic binding, but I'm weak on the technique.

Here are a few photos of real Islamic books borrowed without permission from Yale University's library. They show not only the flap that closes the book but also the relatively wide margins used in early Qurans. The Quran at left is from the 18th century. The book at right is not a Quran but a book of poetry from 1749.