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Welcome to more #BookbindingWithAziraphale! Well, we’ve looked at paper and binding techniques, so now it’s time to actually sew some signatures. I’ll be putting up lots of pictures but, as always, if anything is confusing do please ask questions and I’ll try and clear things up.
You will need: your improvised sewing frame (if you’re using one), darning needle, strong cord or twine, sewing thread (waxed linen thread for preference, but use what you can find – thick embroidery thread or dental tape will do for now), a piece of stiff cardboard for pressing
pages, and PVA glue or wheat paste.
Your folded signatures (sets of nested folios), which should have been sitting patiently under a clean piece of board, will be removed one at a time for sewing. To ensure you place them in the same orientation as they were stored, you may
Your folded signatures (sets of nested folios), which should have been sitting patiently under a clean piece of board, will be removed one at a time for sewing. To ensure you place them in the same orientation as they were stored, you may
Hello, yes. I might have got slightly distracted by my exploration of bygone days, so let’s to business! In #BookbindingWithAziraphale today I am most definitely going to talk to you about sewing. A sewing ‘thread’!
Ahem. There are a variety of techniques for joining the pages of your codex together – I’ve mentioned sewing onto tapes or onto cords, the latter – known as ‘flexible sewing’ being my preferred method. Your choice of technique will be steered by the type of book you wish to make.
For example, you might want a book that can be opened to lie flat, for sketching. You might want a decorative spine, to reflect the book’s content, or one that is particularly hard-wearing as a journal to be frequently opened and reviewed.
Hello! Today, I’d like to talk to you about paper. If you’d rather rush in (where this angel has no fear of treading), hasten forth and read ‘building the book block’. There you will find step-by-step instructions on folding and assembling your pages. #BookbindingWithAziraphale
However, understanding the structure and composition of the paper you’ll be using is fundamental to making a book that will last longer and look more professional, so I invite you to stay with me while I explain some concepts.
Paper is usually made from pulp – a mixture of water and plant fibres. These fibres might, for example, come from cotton, linen (flax), or wood. During the paper-making process, the fibres become aligned (imagine matches lying in a box) and consequently, the paper has a ‘grain’.
