Fabric Covered Books
Class 3 Long Stitch Binding --
fold over flap
Paper Preparation
1. Determine the size of the paper you
plan to use. e.g. 8 ½ x 11” or 8 ½ x 5 ½
“ (standard sheet cut in half).
2. Determine the number of pages in the
signature.
3. Ideally, the grain should run
parallel to the spine of the book.
4. Fold the paper in half.
5. Nest the papers inside each other
and align the folds.
6. Create the desired number of
signatures.
Punching Holes in Signature
1. Open your phone book to the middle
to use as your punching cradle.
2. Place the first signature, opened to
the middle, into the fold of the phone book.
3. Make a stitching template using a 2”
strip of paper that is the same height as your pages. Fold the strip in half lengthwise and mark
the stitching holes (4 in this case) on the inside of the fold line. The top and bottom holes should be at least
½ “ from the edge of the paper.
4. Place the template into the centre
fold of your pages in the cradle. Align
edges carefully.
5. Use your awl or piercing tool to
punch the holes indicated on the stitching template. Hold your piercing tool perpendicular to the
paper to make sure the holes go through the folds of the signature.
6. Repeat for all signatures. Use an
arrow or the letter H to mark the top or head of the signatures. This will make sure the holes on the
signatures line up when you begin to sew.
note that paper strip is folded in half
lengthwise and the holes are in the fold
Cover Preparation
1. Determine the dimensions of your
cover. Remember the rule of thumb: Your cover should be at least ¼” wider and
taller than your pages -- be sure to add in the width of the spine for your
final measurement. Add additional length
for your flap.
2. Decide how you will edge your
cover. i.e. wrapped edges or decorative stitching on the
edges. This will determine the
dimensions of your fabric. Refer back
the General Rules of Thumb in the overview section to determine the measurements
of your fabric.
3. Decorate your cover as you
wish. Keep embellishments away from the
spine area. You will need space for
stitching the signatures to the spine.
4. Determine the closure that you would
like for your book. If you are going to
use a button and loop, you will need to determine the placement of the loop or
tie before you finish the edges of your cover.
Punching Holes in Cover
1. Using a 2” strip of paper, the same
height as your pages, make a template to indicate where the holes should be
punched on the spine. You will need one
column of holes for each signature. The columns will be about 1/8" apart from each other.
2. Find the spine area of your cover
and centre the template between the top and bottom edges of the cover.
3. Tape or clip the template into
place.
4. Place your cover on a cutting mat or
piece of card board and use the awl to punch holes in the spine fabric.
Stitching the Signatures
1. Determine the thread length needed
by measuring the height of the book once for each signature and once for the
loops between signatures and tying off of the ends.
2. Use binder clips to hold pages of signature
together for sewing.
3. Line the first signature up with the
holes punched into the spine of the cover.
Make sure the head of the signature is at the top of the cover.
4. Enter the top hole from the outside
and leave about a 3” tail.
5. From the inside of the signature, go
out the second hole (this will begin the long stitch). You can add beads at this point, but make
sure they will lie snugly along the spine between the second and third
holes.
6. Enter the third hole from the
outside of the cover.
7. Enter the last hole from the inside
of the signature.
8. Place the next signature on top of
the one just sewn and prepare to use the second column of holes punched into
the spine.
9. From the exterior of the spine,
enter the bottom hole in the second signature.
10. From inside the signature, go out
the next hole (this is the long stitch).
Beads can be added at each long stitch if desired.
11. From the exterior enter the next
stitch.
12. From the interior enter the top
stitch.
13. Use the tail from the first
signature to tie a square knot. The tail
can be left long and beaded or trimmed.
14. Line up the third signature.
15. From the exterior enter the top hole
of the third signature and continue to work your way in and out, down the
spine.
16. When exiting the bottom hole of the
third signature, loop your needle under the thread that attaches the first and
second signatures together.
17. Line up the fourth signature and
from the exterior, enter the bottom hole.
18. Continue the stitches up to the head
of the book.
19. When exiting the top hole of the
fourth signature, loop your needle under the thread that attaches the second
and third signatures together.
20. Line up the fifth signature and
enter the top hole from the exterior of the spine.
21. Continue the stitches to the bottom
of the book.
22. When you exit the final hole in
signature five, loop your needle around the thread that attaches the third and
fourth signature together.
23. Re-enter the last hole of the fifth
signature and tie a square knot around the inside stitch. Trim the tails.
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