Non-adhesive binding

I’ve learned a lot about binding and creating hinges, but none of my classes did any non-adhesive binding. All of my instructors highly recommended the books by Kevin A. Smith as good examples of binding styles, and I’ll be purchasing some of them soon. I did, however, come across a kit book at Quietfire Designs that featured a sewn binding. Intrigued, I bought one of the kits and created the book over several nights.

It used simple 8 1/2 x 11 paper, so this is something that could easily be done again at home without purchasing any special papers, except for the cover that is. The kit included most of the pieces, I needed to purchase an eyelet setter and a punch. I had a punch that was unfortunately too big. I’m not entirely happy with the punch I bought either. It worked, but I think it’s better for paper than for bookboard. If I were to do another of these books, I would purchase a different punch.

Anyway, the instructions said to mark the settings to be punched with a marker. I thought that would mar the bookcloth, so instead I used my awl. I went with one of the handmade papers for this project. I had never worked with handmade paper before, and I found it difficult to paste out. The leaves and petals wanted to work free. Perhaps I should have used watered down PVA instead of paste on this. Or used a less thick paste.

I did the punching and eyelet setting out in my garage on the floor after my son went to bed. It was a very glamorous and comfortable place to work.   I had a lot of problems setting the eyelets.  I would say that I need tons more experience in eyelet setting before I gain any confidence in my abilities with it.  But, I think they’ll hold.

Making these things at home without a specific place to work has been challenging. I don’t know if you can tell from the picture of not, but I actually laid out the pieces to begin sewing them together on my son’s Aquadoodle mat.

I found the sewing to be difficult. Basically, it’s a weaving stitch that goes over and under the spine. It was hard to figure out how much slack to leave. The book block is added after the first few passes and is held in place by the sewing through the running stitch on the book block.

After I completed the sewing, I went back to tighten the entire thing. I’m not sure how well the book block will remain in place. It’s only attached to the covers in two places. The tyvek tape is kept in place to help with the sewing and is removed when the sewing is finished.

The completed project is very pretty, but I’m not sure I’ll do another of these.  I might try it again.  I think one of the problems I had was that the thread used for binding was waxed, and I know wax can ease the sewing, but I really hate the feel of it.  Before doing another, I’ll wait awhile to see how well the book block stays in place as well as the spine.  I do like the pattern that is made on the spine and covers.  That is what really grabbed my attention in the first place and got me to buy the kit.

Now, what should I do with all of these books I’ve created?  I keep creating blank books and never filling them.  I’ve never been much of a journal writer; I’m finding this blog difficult to write – but I’m enjoying it.  So, what do I do with all of these books?  Just put them on my shelf and enjoy them?  I find them hard to give away too.  Looking back at ones I’ve made helps me figure out what I’m doing.  Of course, all the photos I have now and the notes I’ve written in this blog should help with that.  I guess I need to make a ton more and then I’ll be more comfortable giving them away.

Now to purchase some books and learn more about non-adhesive binding.

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