42 Awesome Bookbinding Signature Designs and Stitching Ideas to get your creative juices flowing... Enjoy!
A blog with a love of vintage, Victorian, shabby, French, country decorating and detail along with altered arts, fine art, crafts and a love for God.
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I'll present several ways to bind single pages & sheets of paper into a book or portfolio for artists, photographers, hobbyists and more.
(with apologies to Benjamin Elbel.) I have been playing with little squares of paper again, making components for paper ‘quilts’. Some of the designs come from Tomoko Fuse, though the b…
Benjamin Elbel runs elbel libro bookbinding, a London-based business offering bookbinding services, stationery products and products for bookbinders. Benjamin is a busy bookbinding instructor in the UK, Europe (also Holland at Boekbinderij Wilgenkamp) and the USA.
After doing further research during my City project, my ideas have somewhat coalesced into something increasingly forward moving and something I can really get my teeth into. I have several ideas …
I’ve had a lot of interest in my bookmaking hobby so I figured I’d share an easy guide on how to get started! Like most hobbies there’s a small upfront investment to gather all of your supplies and materials. Fortunately, bookmaking is a relatively affordable hobby so there’s not too much that you have to […]
Ok, so the title might be a little misleading… we’ve actually crammed in 18 of the best Coptic Stitch (also known as the Chain Stitch or Coptic Sewing) book binding instructions and tutorials we could find on the web, along with a collection of video tutorials and many coptic-stitch related resources (PDF’s, Stitching Patterns, Photo Galleries etc) for you to get stuck in to – it took us a while to put this together but we hope it serves as a good resource for some of you out there. If you’ve got any suggestions for additional sites/resources we can include on this page then please leave a comment at the bottom of this page. We have also prepared several other collections for you: Top 15 Japanese Stab Binding Tutorials Top 10 Long Stitch Bookbinding Tutorials Top 10 Secret Belgian Binding Tutorials Top 10 Endband Tutorials Top 10 Box Making Tutorials For those a little unsure about what a the Coptic Stitch style actually is, we’ll give you a little intro: Coptic Binding by Henry Hebert Originally the coptic binding process was used by early Christians in Egypt (the Copts) some 2000 years ago and hence its name. A coptic stitch style binding (also often referred to as a Chain Stitch binding) is one that doesn’t use any glues and where the signature stitchings are generally exposed or left completely open thus allowing flexibility without sacrificing strength. Coptic stitched books generally allow the book to be opened up flat without weakening the spine or signatures. Modern glue based binding techniques are often prone to damage when opened flat and weaken with use, much quicker than books that are sewn in a coptic style fashion. Because the signature designs are normally left exposed on a chain stitch binding, many book binders decide to inject their own personal flare into the spine designs which can result in some very attractive looking books. People will often follow this style of binding for use on their journals or art sketch books. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to make a coptic stitch book using traditional bookbinding techniques then continue reading… all of the tutorials below are different in some way or another and I would strongly advise going through at least a few of them to get the best understanding of the binding processes. Enjoy 😀 #1 – Coptic Stitch Bookbinding Tutorial In this coptic stitch bookbinding tutorial, Linda Tieu takes you through how to make your own hard back book journal using very clear and concise photographs. A perfect tutorial for beginners and people looking to do a quick project. View Tutorial on favecrafts.com Tutorial Contents Materials Covering the boards Punching holes in the board Punching holes in signatures Sewing Signatures onto board Chain Stitching Signatures Stitching the board Get the Equipment You Need to do the Job Properly! (Click image for more product details) Xacto Knife Set Silk Thread Curved Needles Leather Punch See More Related Materials & Equipment #2 – The Coptic Bound Book Tutorial A personal blog tutorial by Ashley @ No Big Dill. A very detailed tutorial with high quality photographs and good descriptions of each steps from selecting the paper and folding the signatures right up to chain stitching the bindings. View Tutorial on nobigdill.com #3 – Create a Stunning Combination Coptic Long-stitch Archival Book Perhaps one of the most comprehensive coptic long-stitch bookbinding tutorials we could find on the net. 80+ high quality photographs guide the user through the process of making a hard-backed coptic long-stitch book. View Tutorial on TutsPlus.com Tutorial Contents Supplies & Materials Paper Grain Identification Cutting and gluing the cover material Preparing your signatures Making a hole-punch guide Punching holes in your signatures Punching holes in your coverboard Sewing the Signatures to the Back Cover Sewing the Remaining Signatures using the Kettle Stitch Sewing on the Front Cover Tying Square Knots on the Long Stitches #4 – The Exposed Tape Binding in 140 (ish) easy steps As the name might suggest, this tutorial from Molly Brooks is a very comprehensive photo tutorial (+ descriptions) on how to make an exposed tape bound hardback book from scratch. Whilst not technically a coptic style bound book it does cover many of the same processes so I thought I would include it within this list. Similar in many ways to a French Link Stitch bound book. ~ Thank you Molly! View Tutorial on mollybrooks.com Tutorial Contents preface tools/materials prep cut covers to size mark tape stations on the inside of each cover cut graves into boards cut slot to feed tape through cut tapes to length rough-cut cover papers / trim end papers glue cover paper to board attach tapes to front cover glue end paper to front cover press the cover under weight punch holes through signatures sew bookblock glue cover paper to back cover board attach tapes to back cover glue end paper to back cover press book under weight #5 – How to Make a Sketchbook Using Coptic Stitch Binding Isabel Moseley posted this tutorial on the The Canada Arts Connect Magazine website on how to make a Coptic Stitch-bound sketchbook with bookbinding board covers – it’s very good and well worth reading. High quality photographs depict the entire book making process from creating a piercing guide (hole punching guide) to fixing the boards and stitching the bindings (it’s assumed you’ve already selected your paper and made them into signatures). View Tutorial on canadaartsconnect.com #6 – Coptic Binding Instructions 21 instructional photographs are used with accompanying descriptions in this tutorial by Making Mini Scrapbooks on how to bind your own mini scrapbook using the traditional coptic chain stitch style. A quick tutorial for a sunday afternoon. View this tutorial on making-mini-scrapbooks.com #7 – Single Needle Chain Stitch A very informative tutorial on the entire bookbinding process with details about selecting your paper type, identifying paper grain, types of cover material you can use, punching holes, waxing your thread, sewing the signatures, finishing the book etc… you get the picture, it’s very good. 😀 View tutorial on cat-sidh.net #8 – 4-part Coptic Book Binding Tutorial Put your old cereal cartons to good use and make your very own coptic bound journal. In this 4 part book binding tutorial you’ll learn everything from making your book covers to punching holes and stitching the signatures. A great tutorial. View tutorial on hydecodesigns.com #9 – Chain or Coptic Stitch Bookbinding Tutorial On her website ‘torta gaialla’, Linda Tieu takes you through the entire coptic stitch binding process. With high quality photographs and step-by-step instructions, assuming you have the correct tools and materials, you’ll have absolutely no problems following through her tutorial. Many people who have followed the tutorial have asked questions to Linda in the comments section at the bottom, so anything that hasn’t already been clarified on the process is likely to be there. Make sure to check her site out. Thanks Linda! View Tutorial on tortagialla.com #10 – Life Abloom Journal and Coptic Stitch Tutorial MiMi Dibble’s first attempt at making a coptic bound book out of paper scraps and cardboard. Her full tutorial can be found at Tsunami Rose Designs here. A very basis, quick and dirty approach to making a coptic stitch book – perfect for children. View Tutorial on thescrapinator5000.weebly.com (take a break) Watch Our Video Playlist Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! #11 – Coptic Binding // A Tutorial A short tutorial on making coptic bound books by Eleanor McComb. Eleanor hosts bookbinding workshops and sells her stuff on her store at Etsy.com, she is very talented and always there to answer any questions, so if you have one feel free to leave a comment on her post and she’ll offer some advice. Thanks for sharing Eleanor! View Tutorial on eleanormccomb.com (oringal post on her old blog here) #12 – Single Sheet Coptic Stitch Tutorial For those confused as to why you might need to use a single sheet coptic stitch on any of your projects: This sewing is suited to books with board pages or other materials where you cannot fold a section. It makes a good structure for making pages out of flat objects like Perspex, metal or wood. View tutorial on boundarypress.com.au #13 – Coptic Book Binding For The Persistently Crafty A simple tutorial on coptic book binding. It’s lacking some photographs on the more detailed parts of the binding process so instead Laura uploaded a video on the entire stitching process, it’s well worth a watch. View Tutorial on autostraddle.com #14 – Directions for making a soft-covered Coptic Book A detailed tutorial on how to make a soft, leather covered coptic book. Slightly different than most of the other tutorials you can find on this page also using slightly different techniques that you might want to learn or educate yourself on. View Tutorial on Katarina Meisterin blog #15 – Bookbinding tutorial: make a coptic bound notebook Shout outs to the PaperCrafter editor, Ella Johnston, for putting together this beautifully descriptive tutorial on how to make a coptic bound notebook. You might find that her instructions will help to clarify some of the processes depicted on photographs found throughout other tutorials on this page. This tutorial itself is lacking photographs of the process. View Tutorial on papercraftermagazine.co.uk Have another break! We’ve got some more videos… Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! #16 – DIY: How to Coptic Bind a Chapbook This tutorial was an unusual find and the only one of its kind I could find on the internet. The process talks you through how to coptic bind printed documents into a printed book. Clear and concise diagrams really help to visualise what you’re doing. There’s also a video of the process here. View Tutorial on pw.org #17 – Binding a Metal Book with a Coptic Stitch Something a little different than using binding board for the end-boards; in this slighted dated tutorial you will be shown how to use metal sheets for the book covers. It’s a short tutorial with limited (but enough) photos. View tutorial on volcanoarts.com #18 – Make an Altered Book with Coptic Binding A text-only tutorial on how to chain-stitch a book. There are better tutorials than this one but it might have some information you’ve not found on other sites. View Tutorial on altered-book.com Additional Resources Coptic Binding on Wikipedia Coptic Stitch Gallery Coptic Binding Examples, Tutorials and Stitching Patterns on Pinterest! Coptic Stitch Lesson Plan for Teachers & Students (with diagrams) – PDF Simple Coptic Binding Tutorial by Emma Jane Hogbin – PDF 10-Page Book Scan (with diagrams) of the Coptic Stitch Binding process by CMU – PDF Coptic Stitch Simple Tutorial with Diagrams – PDF French Link Stitch / Coptic Binding Gallery by Ruth Bleakley Learn how to Coptic Stitch with Paula Tew – Workshop (UK) Kettle Stitch vs Coptic Stitch by Little Syam 1-Needle Coptic vs 2-Needle Coptic Photo Comparison by Cai Lun A Little History of the Chain Stitch by the Bookbinding Team The History of Coptic Bookbinding by Erica Crane Calculating Thread Length for Coptic Stitch Bindings by Agate Further reading Coptic binding is one of many methods of non-adhesive binding. Keith A. Smith is an author well-known for his non-adhesive bindings tutorials. We would highly recommend that you have at least one of his books in your collection: Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 1: Books without Paste or Glue Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 2: 1- 2- & 3-Section Sewings Keith A. Smith, Non Adhesive Binding, Vol. 3: Exposed Spine Sewings Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 4: Smith’s Sewing Single Sheets Keith A. Smith, Books without Paste or Glue Please Support us on Patreon! The minimum level of contribution is only $1 per month. Pledges received from our patrons cover the editing services for our bookish podcast! Moreover, starting with the pledge level of $3, you will get a digitized vintage book about bookbinding, book history, or book arts each month from us! These pledges help iBookBinding to continue its work and bring more information about bookbinding and book arts to you! Share this page:
What??? Tutorials! Tutorials are everywhere! Artists in Blogland has a monthly "Techniques on Tuesday" tutorial going on. The challenge over at Inspiration Avenue this week is to share a tutorial. Every Tuesday, Kristin Dudish has been doing a tutorial try-out and inviting others to try it too and link up. Carolyn Dube's Gelli Plate class is up and running with lots of great tutorials. So, I decided to do one as well. I love books! As you know, lately I've been loving altering old books. Recently I got a this book: and decided to try the simplest one - the X Book! This was so much fun, and easy to make. The instructions in Alisa's book are very clear and easy to follow, although I do recommend folding and cutting a blank sheet of paper before doing your project. To give you a sense of how user-friendly the book is, here is how Alisa portrays the folding and instructions: Best of all, the book is on sale right now at Amazon! You can see more on Alisa Golden's website and blog. (Here's another You Tube tutorial on the folding process, if you need some more guidance, and a "hands free" one with a slightly different take.) Of course, I had to add my own spin to it -- adding in journaling cards, inclusions and tags... Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can. Linking to Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Everyday at Balzer Designs, and Creative Everyday. Hope to get around to visiting everyone this weekend!
Easy technique to bind a book or a journal without ay sewing or stitching! Easy to follow video tutorial to master this technique
Click to discover 10 junk journal binding ideas and example tutorials. Most of these methods are suited to both beginners and intermediates.
If you want to make high quality hand crafted books, then this is the DVD for you. By the time you are done watching this instructional video, you will
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Amy Tan's new Signature Series book is a smashing success! Every page is eye candy and filled with inspiration from corner to corner. I had the opportunity to include a layout and a "PaigeBook" in Amy's book. I used only supplies from Amy's Ready Set Go line, naturally! HOME IS WHEREVER YOU 3 ARE Journaling says: No matter where we are in the world, whether near or far, as long as I am surrounded by my family, that is where I call "home." It's true - "home is where the heart is" and there's nowhere else I'd rather be! I love you all! How to: Start with a cream floral background. Trim squares from patterned papers, trim them into triangles, then cascade them down the top of the layout; stitch a line through each row using a matching color of thread. Tear a house page from a Daybook, back the heart and door with patterned paper and a "love" die cut, and hand stitch around the heart die cut with yellow floss. Place the house on the bottom of the page and add a photo on either side. Create a title above the photos, embellish with stickers, an accordion paper flower, journaling spot, and more. Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, stickers (ampersand, arrows, hearts, houses, letters, number), accordion paper flower, die cuts (arrow, flower, sentiment), date stamp, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Floss: DMC; Ink: StazOn; Square punch: Fiskars; Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark ********************************************************************** REMEMBER & SHARE THE LOVE PAIGEBOOK DAYBOOK This is a 5x7" handmade book with a copic style binding so it lays nice and flat when opened. Every signature is made with Ready Set Go patterned papers and colorful matching cardstock. I incorporated charms, knick-knacks, doodads, and Ready Set Go matte puffy stickers turned into charms into the binding. The front is embellished with a bunch of Ready Set Go stickers and embellishments. I stuck these on with major super glue to ensure they'll stay put forever and a day. I have a tendency to make books and not fill them up with anything, but perhaps I can use this book for a form of "project life" or make my own version of a "smash" book. Check out these projects and DOZENS more in Amy's book! Since I want to be Amy when I grow up, maybe one of these years I can have a Signature Series book :) A girl can dream right?!
DIY Journals, Ideas For Making A Handmade Journal with Cover Art Tutorial, Binding Tips, Easy Craft Ideas With Step By Step Instructions for Making From Scratch
Erin Zamrzla has the vision to take everyday objects and transform them into book art that’s pure genius. See some of her handmade books here.
Buttonhole Binded Books by Bari Zaki.
Following one of our most popular posts Top 10 Coptic Stitch Binding Tutorials on the Internet we have decided to do a post on the top 15 of the best Japanese Stab Binding instructions and tutorials we could find on the web (also known as the Traditional Chinese Binding Method though there are noticeable differences between the two). On this page you’ll also find a collection of video tutorials and many Japanese stab binding related resources. We hope it serves as a good resource for some of you out there. Our other tutorial collections: Top 10 Coptic Stitch Binding Tutorials Top 10 Secret Belgian Binding Tutorials Top 10 Long Stitch Bookbinding Tutorials Top 10 Endband Tutorials Top 10 Box Making Tutorials For those looking for a little background info on the Japanese Stab Binding Technique: Japanese Stab Binding – Tortoise Stitch by Ffion, mindflight.me The method of stab binding a paper together has been around since the conception of the book some 2000 years back and was primarily used in China, Japan and other Asian countries. Even today it remains the binding of choice of many Asian countries due to its simplicity, effectiveness and cost. There is also the added benefit of being able to bind the book with ease after the content has been written; this is due to the fact that single sheets are used for the binding and no folding of the paper is required. This is an important factor to consider when choosing an appropriate binding method. In the modern world, Japanese stab binding is perfect for group projects where people submit their own work. No glues are used in the process of making a stab bound book and whilst the traditional method speaks only of using soft materials for the front and back covers the stab bound process does lend itself well to modifications and variations. It is possible to use hard covers with the integration of a flexible cloth hinge near where the book is bound. Good results can be had using this technique but it is a little more complex and perhaps not overly suitable for the beginner. More information on the history of Japanese Stab Binding. #1 Japanese 4-Hole Binding (Yotsume Toji) (Soft Cover) – Basic A classic 4-hole Japanese binding tutorial by Grace Bonney @ Design Sponge. A good little tutorial of the basic stab binding technique with many photographs documenting the whole process. No special equipment needed. View Tutorial on Design Sponge Tutorial Contents Intro Tools Materials Stitching Patterns & Techniques Additional Resources #2 Hardcover, Hinged Japanese Stab Binding Tutorial, Great Photos – Intermediate Big thanks to Caroline @ Coloresque for putting together this great tutorial on a hinged Japanese stab binding with stiff cover boards, in this case, made with cardboard. Detailed photographs document the entire process. View Tutorial on Coloresque Tutorial Contents Equipment list Cutting the boards to size Decorating the boards Covering the insides of the boards Cutting the paper to size Punching the holes Sewing You’re Finished! #3 Advanced Japanese Stab Bound Journal by Kris @ howdidyoumakethis.com Kris Degraeve has put together a fantastic hinged Japanese Style Stab Bound book tutorial on howdidyoumakethis.com. Using boards, decorative covering paper, clamps and a drill to make beautiful books suitable for any size. Perhaps one of the most comprehensive Japanese Stab Binding tutorials on the internet. Great stuff! View tutorial on How Do You Make This Tutorial Contents Supplies and Equipment Cutting the board and cover papers Cutting and fraying hinge material (optional) Pasting board to cover material Folding cover material over edges and corners Gluing endsheets Cutting down your book block Clamping and Drilling the book stack Stitching together and tying off (take a break) Watch Our Video Playlist Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! #4 Soft Cover Japanese Stab Binding (Pic-tutorial) – beginner A very basic, but excellently documented, Japanese Stab Binding tutorial. Suitable for the beginners out there. This is a soft cover tutorial with a traditional binding (one that you’ll see all over Japan). Has a great intro on how to identify paper grain in your paper before starting. View tutorial on Crafts @ Tuts Plus #5 Portrait Party Booklet Sewing Demonstration: Japanese Stab Binding – beginner An interesting video tutorial on how to make a Japanese stab bound book from start to finish. The accompanying write up also provides some good information about the usage and suitability of the stab bound book over other binding methods. Watch tutorial and read notes on http://rozwoundup.typepad.com/ Get the Equipment You Need to do the Job Properly! (Click image for more product details) Xacto Knife Set Silk Thread Curved Needles Leather Punch See More Related Materials & Equipment #6 Japanese Stab Binding Designs (Props to Becca a very good resource) If you’re looking to spice up your stitching designs then look no further. On her site, Becca, has put together the most comprehensive collection of different stitching designs with accompanying hole patterns, sewing patterns and written instructions. Probably around 50 stitching patterns to date. View stitching designs on Becca Making Faces #7 Hemp Leaf (Japanese Stab Binding – Asa-No-Ha Toji) Design Stitching Guide An interesting online hemp leaf binding spacing calculator and instructional diagram. Great for beginners and advanced bookbinders alike. View Stab Tutorial here on Amphian.com #8 Tortoise Shell Stitching Pattern for Japanese Stab Binding – Beginner A very basic Japanese stab binding tutorial with links to a couple of other tutorials. Suitable for beginners. View tutorial on lbforgues.blogspot.co.uk here #9 Hard Backed, Hinged Japanese Stab Binding (PDF) – Intermediate A great printable PDF document of how to make a hinged Japanese stab bound book by Bley Hack. View Tutorial on Vintage Indie #10 Simple Stab Stitching Tutorial – Basic Another very basic Japanese stab bound bookbinding tutorial suitable for beginners. View tutorial on Louche Lab #11 Japanese Stab Bound Sandwich – For the Hungry What about a stab-bound sandwich? Well, if you thought you’d seen it all on the internet, you’re wrong… a tasty tutorial! View Tutorial at West Dean Conservation #12 Japanese Stab Binding Tutorials and Stitching Diagrams on Pinterest If you’re in need of some inspiration for your stab binding projects then you might want to check out the ‘pins’ on Pinterest! A hand picked collection of some unique, weird, wacky and beautiful looking books. Some are simply photographs, others are links to other Japanese stab binding tutorials. You can also find our own Pinterest! channel here. View more Tutorials and Photos on Pinterest! #13 – 4 Japanese Stab Binding Videos on Vimeo – Intermediate A number of Japanese stab binding videos which you can’t find on YouTube. A good introduction to the following common stitching patterns: Japanese Stab Binding 4-hole Japanese Stab Binding Heapleaf Japanese Stab Binding Noble Stitch Japanese Stab Binding Tortoise Stitch …& how to tie off View Japanese Stab Binding Videos on Rose Newton’s Site Here. #14 Japanese Stab Binding – Printable PDF instructions The writers at Lineco have done a fantastic job at creating a printable Japanese stab bound brochure. Hand-drawn diagrams and clear explanations makes this a perfect hand-out at the end of any bookbinding classes. Download PDF from Lineco HERE #15 Quick and Messy Japanese Stab Binding (PDF) The last resource in our list of best stab binding tutorials. This is a ‘Quick and Messy guide to Japanese Stab Binding’, great for all those looking for all instructions on one page. View PDF from Melissa Esplin HERE Additional Resources The Theory of Japanese Stab Binding by Becca Making Faces Traditional Chinese Bookbinding Japanese Stab Binding PDF (2 page printout) Japanese Side Stitch Japanese Stab Binding on Making Mini Scrapbooks Japanese Stab Binding (Book Scan) Further reading Japanese binding is one of many methods of non-adhesive binding. Keith A. Smith is an author well-known for his non-adhesive bindings tutorials. We would highly recommend that you have at least one of his books in your collection: Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 1: Books without Paste or Glue Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 2: 1- 2- & 3-Section Sewings Keith A. Smith, Non Adhesive Binding, Vol. 3: Exposed Spine Sewings Keith A. Smith, Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 4: Smith’s Sewing Single Sheets Keith A. Smith, Books without Paste or Glue Please Support us on Patreon! The minimum level of contribution is only $1 per month. Pledges received from our patrons cover the editing services for our bookish podcast! Moreover, starting with the pledge level of $3, you will get a digitized vintage book about bookbinding, book history, or book arts each month from us! These pledges help iBookBinding to continue its work and bring more information about bookbinding and book arts to you! Share this page:
photography by Trisha Zemp I’m attending 2 conferences this week and I needed some last minute notebooks for my note taking so my stellar intern, Trisha Zemp, came up with this genius notebook idea from a brown paper bag that will take you 5 minutes. You probably already have everything you need to do […]
Collections of 5 handmade notebooks using japanese stab binding on the spine, the technique that has a long history in Japanese bookmaking. (x)
Nowadays, when thinking of traditional Japanese bindings, stab bindings are the ones that come to mind. Originally coming from China, this binding style flourished during the Edo period (1603-1868)…
