Long Stitch Book Binding for Rapid Journals, Sketchbooks, Etc. (No Fancy Stuff!)

This step-by-step instruction shows how to bind signatures into a cover using the simplest of sewn bindings, the long stitch.

The cover I am using here is three pieces of chipboard with a self-adhesive linen fabric patch used to make a hinge.

The signatures forming the text block are a combination of design vellum, drawing paper, grid paper, and iso paper, a nice collection for design ideation.

The thread is unwaxed dyed linen. For larger or more ambitious bindings, I would wax the thread. (if it tangles, you should have waxed it - otherwise, no worries.)

This project may take a bit over an hour the first time you do it, but with practice it runs 20-30 minutes, depending on the number of signatures.

Relaxing, yet speedy! Have fun with it.

Supplies

Cover:

Three pieces of chipboard, (2) A4 size, (1) 8.3" x 1/2"
3" x 15" strip of self-adhesive linen

Text block:

(5) signatures of various papers, including
Design vellum
White 80 lb. drawing paper
Grid/graph paper, 8 squares per inch
Iso grid paper
Each signature of 7-10 sheets, depending on paper thickness.
Each sheet folded and creased individually (or a few at a time).

Binding:

Unwaxed dyed linen thread, 14x the length of the binding (~84")
The calculation is: (length of binding) x [(# of signatures)(x2)(+4)]

Helpful extras

Several small pieces of corrugated cardboard
Wax (for the thread)
A drawing triangle

Step 1: Test Fit

Make sure your signatures neatly fill the cover.

Step 2: Measure for Binding Location and Mark the Cover on the Inside

Open the cover to the inside.

Measure 1" (plus or minus) from the top of the cover

Mark the location with a bold horizontal line in pencil or marker - whatever shows clearly on your cover material. For dark covers, use a silver sharpie or similar.

This will be covered by your signatures.

Step 3: Punch Holes With an Awl

Place 3 or more small (~3"x5") scraps of corrugated cardboard under your cover.

Using an awl, press firmly down at one end of your marked line to make a hole.

If you are using heavy board, it can help to rotate your hand in small circles.

Next, make a second hole at the opposite end of the line.

Evenly divide the remainder of the line, making the same number of holes as you have signatures.

Step 4: Check to Make Sure Your Holes Go All the Way Through Your Cover

Hold your cover up to the light to check quantity and spacing.

This is much harder to fix after you begin stitching.

Step 5: Mark the Location to Punch Holes in the Signatures

Open the cover on your desk.

Set your signatures where they will be bound.

If you have a drawing triangle, use it to draw a vertical line up from the line of holes you punched in the cover. You can use a ruler, book, or just eyeball it, if you don't have a triangle.

Make sure your pencil makes a mark on the back of each of your signatures.

Step 6: Punch the Holes in the Signatures

Using your awl, punch the holes you marked in the signatures.

Make sure your pages stay aligned with each other.

Use the scrap cardboard under your signatures to protect your desk.

Step 7: Begin Stitching With the Bottom of the Book

Set aside your signatures, in a stack, upside-down and away from you.

Set the cover open on your desk, with the back of the book close to you.

Take the bottom signature from your stack, and place it on top of the front cover.

Thread your needle. You do not need to knot the string, but may choose to if it comes loose easily.

Begin stitching by passing the needle out through the hole in the signature.

Then pass it through the bottom-most hole in the spine.

Step 8: Send the Needle Back Through the Cover at the Top of the Book

After passing out through the signature and spine at the bottom, pass it back in through the outside of the cover at the top of the spine.

Step 9: Pass the Needle in Through the First Signature

You've now made a loop of string, and your needle is back outside the cover.

Step 10: Then Down and Back Out Through Your Starting Hole

Pull the extra thread all the way through your book, so there's only 4" or so left sticking out of the first hole.

Step 11: Knot the String

Pass the needle under the tightened thread, then through the loop.

Important! Check to make sure the thread around the signature is tight before you tighten the knot.

Pull down toward the first hole.

The knot will snug down into that hole.

Step 12: Go From the First Hole on the Bottom - Where Your String Came Out - to the Second Hole on the Top

Pass the thread back in through the spine at the second hole in the top of the book.

Step 13: Continue Passing the Thread in Through the Top and Out Through the Bottom Until You Reach the Last Hole and Signature

You do not need to knot the thread for any of the middle signatures.

Step 14: Final Signature

Pass the thread in through the last hole in the top of the book.

Pass the thread in through the top of the last signature.

Pass the the thread down and back out the bottom of the signature.

Step 15: Final Signature - the Tricky Part

Pass the thread back into the same hole as before - the last one at the top of the book.

Step 16: Tighten the Thread in All the Signatures

Important - before you tie the final knot, tighten the thread in all the signatures, so that they suck back to the spine.

Holding the book spine up, pluck each length of thread on the outside of the spine near the bottom of the book. Pull firmly, and you will see the slack in the thread disappear.

Work your way from the first signature to the last one until all the slack is out of the binding.