Sewn Bookmaking Bindings
These are a few of the wide variety of bookmaking techniques that require some kind of sewing during their construction. You will find traditional sewn bookmaking bindings (like case binding), decorative methods (like the fabulous Caterpillar Stitch) and new and unique methods (like the Secret Belgian Binding), just to name a few!
Long Stitch
This clean and simple (unless you decide to dress it up :)) binding stitch is easy to master and has the advantage of allowing your book to lie flat when it is open. This technique allows for lots of creative ways to add bling to your books!
Leather Wrapped Journal
You will need to create a sewn textblock for this journal and use a bit of glue, but the binding is very simple and organic. You can use leather, or faux leather (see below), to create the cover.
Faux Leather Wrapped Journal
Just like the leather wrapped journal, but you can make this out of lots of different fun fake leathers lined with decorative material.
Coptic Binding
There are many versions of the Coptic binding, or Coptic stitch. This is an ancient binding technique used by the Copts in Egypt as early as the 2nd century AD and is characterized by sections or signatures attached to each other with a series of linked chain stitches across the spine. One of its many advantages is that it allows the book to lie flat when opened. Find more about Coptic binding and how to create a book using this technique here.
Simple French Link Stitch Binding
Like the Coptic stitch, the French Link Stitch is another exposed spine binding. This book is created without a cover but once all of the signatures are combined a cover can be added.
French Link Stitch with Tape Cover
Use this binding when you want to add a fun twist to the traditional French Link stitch shown above. This includes a hardcover joined with tapes that are sewn in as part of the binding.
Secret Belgian Binding
This lovely and intricate-looking binding technique is actually quite simple. The book cover is woven together first and then the signatures are attached one at a time. An added bonus is that this book will lie flat when open.
Traditional Case Binding
This is the most common type of bookbinding, the type of binding that you would see on most hardbound commercial books. The pages consist of folded pieces of paper, sewn together into signatures. Groups of signatures are glued together to create a text block. This text block is then attached to, or encased in, a cardboard covering or ‘case’ that has been covered with decorative cloth, paper or leather. Case bound books do not lie completely flat when opened.
Caterpillar Stitch
You can use this unique and fun stitch in a purely decorative way or as the actual binding structure. This stitch is always an attention grabber.
