CEG Class 5

Coptic Binding  - Class notes as signatures:  multiple signature book with chain stitch

Paper Preparation

1.      This has been done for you.  You will be given a set of class notes prepared in signature format.

Punching Holes in Signatures

1.      Open your phonebook to the middle to use as your 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” wide strip of paper that is the same height as your paper.  Fold the strip in half lengthwise and mark the stitching holes on the inside of the fold line.

·         From the top of the template, mark a hole at least  ½ “ from the top.  

·         Mark a hole in the centre.

·         Mark a hole between the top and centre holes.

·         Mark a hole the same distance below the centre hole.

·         Mark the final stitch hole at least ½ “ from the bottom of the template.

4.      Place the template into the centre fold of your pages in the cradle.  Align the 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 letter H to mark the top or head of the signatures.  This will make sure that the holes on the signatures line up when you begin to sew.

Cover Preparation

1.      This book has an open spine so you will be making a separate front and back cover.

2.      Determine the dimensions of your front and back covers.  Your covers will be ¼ “ taller and about 1/8 “ wider than the pages.  The covers will align, on the left, with the folds of the signatures.

3.      Decide how you will edge your cover.  e.g. wrapped edges or decorative stitching on the edges.  This will determine the dimensions of your fabric.  Refer to the General Rules of Thumb in the overview section to determine the measurements of your fabric.

4.      Decorate the cover as you wish.  Keep embellishments away from the area ½ “ from the spine side of the cover.  You will be punching holes in that area

Punching Holes in the Covers

1.      Align the spine side of the front and back covers.

2.      Align the stitching template to the spine side of the covers.  Centre it between the top and bottom edges.

3.      Use your piercing tool to punch holes through the template and the cover.  You may need to pierce the front and back covers separately, depending upon the thickness of the cover.

4.      Placing your pages on a foam pad or piece of corrugated cardboard will make the holes easier to punch.

Stitching the Signatures and Cover

1.      Determine the thread length needed by measuring the height of the book once for each signature and once for the looped stitches between each signature and tying off the ends.

2.      Use binder clips to hold the pages of the signature together for sewing.

3.      Align the front cover (face down) and the first signature.

4.      Using a circular needle, enter the top hole from inside signature and leave a 3” tail of thread.

5.      Wrap the thread around the edge of the cover and come up through the first hole from the bottom.

6.      Loop around the thread that attaches the cover and signature together and re-enter the first hole in the signature.

7.      Exit the second hole in the signature, wrap the thread around the edge of the cover and come up through the second hole in the cover, from the bottom.

8.      Loop around the thread that attached the cover and signature together and re-enter the second hole.

9.      Repeat steps 7 & 8 for the remaining holes in the signature.

10.  When you reach the last hole in the signature, do not re-enter the same hole after you have looped your thread, but align the second signature and enter the bottom hole of the second signature.

11.  Exit the next hole in the second signature and loop thread around the stitch made between the cover and the first signature and re-enter the signature hole.

12.  Repeat that step for each of the holes in the second signature.

13.  When you reach the top hole of the second signature do not re-enter the same hole but align the third signature and enter the top hole.

14.  When you exit the next hole in the third signature make a kettle stitch around the stitch made between the first and second signatures at the bottom hole.

·      A kettle stitch is a half hitch knot.

·       Use your needle to go under the thread that attaches the first and second signatures together at the bottom hole.

·       Don’t tighten the thread all the way at this point but leave a loop.

·       Cross over the thread and pull the needle through the loop.

·       Pull the knot firmly and vertically to tighten without ripping your pages.

15.  Repeat this for the remaining holes of the signature.

16.  Repeat step 14 for the remaining signatures, always making a kettle stitch around the previous signatures stitch.

17.  When you reach the last signature, you are going to sew the signature and remaining cover at the same time.

18.  Wrap your thread over the edge of the cover and enter the hole from the top.

19.  Make a kettle stitch around the stitch from the previous two signatures and enter first hole in the final signature

20.  Exit the next hole in the signature, make a kettle stitch around the stitch from the previous two signatures and then wrap thread over the edge of the cover and enter the cover hole from the top.

21.  Loop around the stitch that you just made between the final signature and the cover and re-enter the signature hole.

22.  Repeat steps 20 &21 until you reach the last hole in the signature.

23.  When you repeat the steps for the last hole, you will tie a knot in the inside of the signature when you re-enter the last hole.  Trim the tail of the thread.