Coptic sewing book binding

A tutorial by sea lemon on how to bind single sheets with thread. Dec 23, 2014 japanese binding this is useful for binding single sheets of paper. Once sewn in, fabric backing and various adhesives reinforce the pages, ensuring a lasting hold. Coptic binding is a great introduction to aspiring bookbinders and anyone who is curious about handmade books. Since i used french sewing, the book, doesnt have real raised bands, so i had to make a fake raised bands with pressed paperboard. For those who bind loose sheets by manual sewing, commonly employed methods include chinese or japanese stab binding. I am currently doing a single sheet a5size coptic with 21 stations and previously a 5x3cm single sheet coptic using 8 stations, both using sewing thread, and they have been about as sturdy as i would expect coptic stitch to be. Making simple bookbinding equipment 6 the sewing frame a sewing frame is used in bookbinding to keep the signatures from moving around, and to keep them aligned, while you sew them up. Once done sewing a group, make sure to tie the thread. Bookmaking and bookbinding supplies blick art materials. A signature is a compilation of two or more loose folios. In some surviving examples of coptic bindings, the sewing was also used to attach the textblock to the front and back boards as well as to sew the sections of the textblock together middleton 9. Jul 29, 2014 headbanding is the process of strengthening the head of a book.

Still, i think stability is crucial, and im happy to spend that extra time to create a more durable book. The basic coptic binding works as a great introduction to the basics of sewing in bookbinding for people who are new to bookbinding. The simplest method of binding a single signature codex, or a book bound on one edge, is with a pamphlet stitch. It makes no difference whether its an even or odd number of holes for this binding. Jan 25, 2007 sewing a multineedle coptic binding can be a frustration if you find youre running out of thread. The number of paper in a signature varies, there might be one or more than one, depending on the thickness and size of the paper and the content of the book. Structurally i find more sewing stations better book. I have a formula for calculating how much thread you need.

Starting off with too much can result in loops and tangles too. Coptic stitching is one of the easier forms of stitched bindings, making it a great way to start learning, and it is one of the most intriguing with an. The result is a stronger binding construction, and even the backbone can be prevented from damage. Coptic bind a book book binding diy, diy book, book making. The coptic stitch bookbinding method is another way to bind your. Square, kettle, weavers knotstrimming a text block with a knifeopening a new bookprotecting a dust jacket with. The sewing frame described here is quite simple, and is designed for the kind of books. Then we could more easily distinguish between the contemporary exposed spine chain stitch, and an actual coptic binding. If youre lefthanded or have a southpaw who you hold close to your heart, you know. Coptic binding or coptic sewing comprises methods of bookbinding employed by early christians in egypt, the copts, and used from as early as the 2nd century ad to the 11th century.

Sewing the pages together increases the durability of the book. There are three basic variations of the pamphlet stitch. Sometimes its also called chain stitch in bookbinding, but more often its called coptic stitch binding. In the binding of single sheets or loose leaves, a plurality of methods is available to both the amateur and professional bookbinder alike. Coptic binding tutorial bookbinding workshop singapore.

Nov 29, 2017 smyth sewn binding is a technique that involves sewing the pages into the book physically with binding thread. It also showcases a clear view of the spine and the colorful threads holding the signatures page groupings together. In the first session of this class, participants will learn paper tearing and gluing techniques to create a block of pages and a hard book. With this easy to follow coptic stitch bookbinding tutorial, binding your own book is easy and fun. Types of binding back to basics student bookbinding. You can have either a soft back or hard back cover which attaches to the text block with decorative stitching along the spine. Signatures are sewn through their folds, and attached to one another. Coptic binding part 2 sewing it all together handmade. Sadly, with multineedle coptic binding doubling the number of sewing stations also means the time spent on sewing doubles. The coptic stitch bookbinding method is another way to bind your book with a spine that opens up completely, so you can lay your book flat.

Ideal for bookbinding, these curved steel needles are great for sewing a classic coptic stitch, which allows for a tighter bind with no glue or adhesive required. This technique is popular with books of all types because they lay completely flat and can endure years of wear and tear. I usually measure the length of the book times the number of signatures, plus 2. The curve allows the artist to easily hook around the stitch during the sewing. Nov 14, 2015 the frenchlink and coptic stitch combination is a beautiful exposed spine binding that is much quicker than a strictly coptic binding and also uses less thread as it uses one needle rather than. Online is a wonderful place to learn new skills, including bookbinding but it can be hard to sort through the different options and the quality of tutorials is variable. Stack book covers and text block, spine away from you, in the order they will be sewn. Used in egypt as early as the 2nd century ad, coptic bindings feature chain stitch links across the spine to attach sections of folded paper to a hard cover. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Aug 16, 2010 the coptic stitch bookbinding method is another way to bind your book with a spine that opens up completely, so you can lay your book flat. It has the appearance of a chain stitch once its finished. Coptic stitching is the most popular form of book binding. Apr 19, 2017 watch part 1 creating the cover here coptic stitch part 2.

Because it was made as a wedding gift, i wanted it to open flat the way a coptic opens, but because the bride and groom had both spent time in japan, i wanted to style it as a japanese binding. One poetry book that i wrote, illustrated, printed and bound utilized a stab binding. Coptic binding of this is how you lose the time war. When using the coptic binding method to bind your book, you may use as many holes as you like for stitching. Coptic bindings, the first true codices, are characterized by one or more sections of parchment, papyrus, or paper sewn through their folds. Heres another method of binding your book with an open spinea chain stitch or also called coptic stitch binding. Nov 03, 2016 coptic binding part 1 creating the cover. It also showcases a clear view of the spine and the colorful threads holding the. A fellow printer loaned me a copy of keith smiths nonadhesive binding. Bookbinding part 3 sewing the coptic binding the finished product.

All the paper of a book are divided into several signatures and then sewn together. The next step is to create the signatures and then sew. In the context of bookbinding, a signature refers to a section of paper. Functionalitywise, coptic binding doesnt use any special glues and results in a book that can open flat. Note that the dimensions have been calculated so that you can easily hold paper of a or a4 size, folded once folio. Sewing a french link and coptic stitch book youtube.

Diy coptic stitch bookbinding tutorial sea lemon youtube. Coptic stitch bookbinding tutorial the easy way tortagialla. Coptic binding or coptic stitch can be done using many different sewing patterns. Top 10 coptic stitch binding tutorials on the internet ibookbinding. Sewn with an ethiopian sewn boards method using four needles.

This method uses a coptic sewing variation new book binding tutorial stitches sewing 58 ideas how to bind single sheets e. Stitching copticbound books washington university in st. Students will become familiar with bookbinding tools, materials, and terminology, as well as sewing skills that will allow students to complete a coptic bound book from start to. Coptic weave binding tutorial bookbinding tutorial the. Use a bookbinding needle or an awl to punch a hole at each mark. Headbanding is the process of strengthening the head of a book. Learn coptic weave binding with pairedneedle sewing today and make your own hardcover book, album, guest book, journal, planner or recipe book. Japanese stab binding as the name suggests, this form of bookbinding requires you to. Students will become familiar with bookbinding tools, materials, and terminology, as well as sewing skills that will allow students to complete a coptic bound book. These bindings have chain stitch sewing that laces through the board. This technique can tricky, but its great for homemade journals and sketchbooks because the pages lay totally flat when its opened.

When youre finished with each group, youll attach them with more thread and use glue and adhesives to seal them to the spine. Bookbinding techniques bookbinding workshop singapore. I typically punch holes on a selfhealing cutting mat, but an old wooden cutting board will serve as well. I think its a great method for when you have book covers that. Coptic binding workshop book binding diy, sewing binding. I had to use my glue bottle to keep it from sliding out. Using this sewing frame, you can sew your signatures onto either tapes or cords. At this point you will have created the covers for your book. Getting started how to print sections or signatures from a pdf file for bookbindingmaking bookbinding pastemaking bookbinding paste in the microwavewhat is paper grain and how to identify the directionbookbinding knots. Pages are intaglio, reliefrolled intaglio and letterpress printed on somerset book heavyweight. As the various art books on display highlighted, the chain stitch that allows the book.

This is one of the workshops i run on a regular basis. Coptic stitching is one of the easier forms of stitched bindings, making it a great way to start learning, and it is one of the most intriguing with an exposed spine and intricate, visible stitching pattern. Watch part 1 creating the cover here coptic stitch part 2. If you already have your holes punched, go directly to the coptic stitch tutorial. The classic arts and crafts manual by douglas cockerell is a classic work. Diy kettle stitch bookbinding tutorial sea lemon youtube. Making simple bookbinding equipment 16 using the sewing frame your sewing frame is now ready for use. This makes it easier for you to sew the signatures, prevents the thread from knotting and increases its life. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.

Making bookbinding headbands tutorial ibookbinding. I wanted to take a live class but couldnt find one locally, so i turned to the internet. As the various art books on display highlighted, the chain stitch that allows the book to lie completely flat makes it ideal for journals, sketchbooks, and art projects. Handmade journals handmade books bookbinding tutorial bookbinding ideas book projects book journal garden journal smash book altered books. Online is a wonderful place to learn new skills, including bookbinding. Bookbinding tape by gaffer power, white cloth book repair tape safe cloth library book 4. Abc of bookbinding by jane greenfield is an illustrated glossary covering terms related to bookbinding and the book. The sewing method used in coptic binding is the basic method that is also used in other bookbinding techniques. See more ideas about stitch book, book binding and stitch. The coptic binding that is so widespread now, with exposed spine and paper boards etc, should be given a new name. Instructions on creating the coptic binding stitch. Before stitching, you will need to punch holes in the covers and signatures of your book.

Smiths sewing single sheets is his fourth book on nonadhesive binding. Coptic binding a nonadhesive form of binding that stems from bookbinding methods employed by ancient egyptians. Because of covid19 restrictions, we are currently only offering digital products. Art professor demos coptic stitch bookbinding youtube. This is a great method for when you have book covers that are individual boards instead of completely wrapped around the entire journal. The coptic stitch is a decorative stitch, so its something that you would do only for a book with an open spine. This will focus on just the stitching alone and you can then apply it to any case binding projects. As one of the oldest known forms of the codex, it is fitting that we started with coptic style bindings. Coptic binding is favored by many readers and hobbyists, as it allows a book to lay. In the context of book binding, a signature refers to a section of paper. Jan 19, 2008 this is one method of sewing hard covers on a book using the coptic binding method. The next step is to create the signatures and then sew it all together. Mini books, book binding, fun crafts, book art, sewing patterns.

Create sketch books or journals for yourself or as gifts for your loved ones. We r memory keepers 660443 0633356604433 tool journaling book binding guide 6. Have you noticed how the sewing thread in my coptic bound books enters the covers at the edge of the cover board. Once you have waxed, tie a knot at about three inches from one end of the thread. I usually measure the length of the book times the number of signatures, plus 2 more times for the covers. The term coptic is being overused and misused all the time. The beginning of this article includes basic instructions for making a hole template and preparing the covers and signatures for binding. The term is also used to describe modern bindings sewn in the same style. Oct 21, 2018 coptic binding workshop, auckland horticultural council rooms 990 great north rd, auckland. This form of binding, also known as coptic sewing, leaves the spine of the book exposed, revealing the stitches that connect the pages of the book. I have prepared covers ready to make a book, but you would usually need the following materials. This book is a coptic book made to look like a japanese stab binding. How to make a sketchbook diy coptic stitch bookbinding tutorial.

Ok, so the title might be a little misleading weve 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 pdfs, stitching patterns, photo galleries etc for you to get stuck in to it took. In the first few weeks of school, we started with nonadhesive structures. Bind them together and create a book you and your family can cherish for years to come. Coptic binding is favored by many readers and hobbyists, as it allows a book to lay completely open when flat and at an angle. Coptic stitch binding with hard cover method 1 youtube. Coptic binding part 1 creating the cover handmade books. The book above is currently available in my etsy shop.

This is done by the sewing a cord onto the backbone behind the boards, which secures the signatures together more firmly. Theres no point in going to the trouble of sewing this stitch if youre just going to cover it up. This is one method of sewing hard covers on a book using the coptic binding method. Ive been making my journals since 1994, when i was also doing letterpress printing. The tools you ll need include a needle to sew your book together and an. Another option using this decorative sewing technique is to only expose the stitching on the inside of the book. Coptic stitch bookbinding is a simple and beautiful way to create a handmade sketchbook. Calculating thread length for coptic stitch binding. Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book of codex format from an ordered stack of paper sheets that are folded together into sections or sometimes left as a stack of individual sheets. In this technique, the cover and signature are sewn at once.