How to bind a book

Step 6 Sew easy! (says the black kettle)

Sew up the next signature in the same way (except you'll be entering at the foot stitch), and then the third. When you're at the bottom of the third (notice the zigzagging back and forth), kettle stitch it to the second.

This means to take the needle, put it *under* the thread running between signatures 1 and 2, then put it through the loop that's formed.

From now on, you'll kettle stitch the whenever you reach a head or foot.

NOTE: It is very important to continually pull the slack out of the thread--the tighter the binding is, the stronger the book!

Continue to sew all the rest of the signature in this way, remembering the kettle stitch.

If you run out of thread, simply knot a new piece onto in inside the book (tightly) and clip off the "tails".

When you're done sewing up the pages, add the final endpages, and double kettle-stitch.

(Sorry for the lack of pictures-- my camera ran out of juice and I've just moved to a dormitory, leaving behind the charger. Hope to have them up by next week.)

Comments

[jdc187]

would realy like to see a close up of the kettle stitch but so far found the instructions very easy to follow

[542458]

I'm sure you've already completed your project, but I'll post this here for anyone else having the same troubles as jdc.
This site explains and illustrates kettle stitches pretty well.
http://www.csparks.com/Bookbinding/sewing.xhtml

[mf70]

If you tie the thread on the OUTSIDE, over the tape, the cut ends won't show after the spine is in place. So what's a good knot?

[eleraama]

Either works. It's just a little difficult to tie a knot in the tiny spaces you have peeking out of the back.