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Bookbinding
Fundamentals: Basic Stab
Binding
by Erica Munoz11 Jul 2013
Difficulty:BeginnerLength:ShortLanguages:

BookbindingScissorsPaper CraftsPaperScalpel

The traditional Japanese four-hole stab bookbinding technique has a simple,

contemporary appeal and its excellent for beginners. Theres no gluing or folding
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involved, so you can get a beautiful hand-crafted result with very little effort. Lets
get started.

Supplies

Scissors

Bone folder

Three sheets of 18in x 24in (approx 46cm x 61cm) drawing paper or

sketchbook paper
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Sheet of thick handmade paper or card stock

Waxed linen thread

Bookbinding needle

Awl

Ruler

Triangle (or set square)

X-Acto knife (or craft knife)

1. Determine Paper Grain

Step 1
Before we start, youll need to learn about the grain direction of your paper.
Machine-made papers have grain that runs in a certain direction based on how it
was cut and dried. A paper is termed short grain when the grain moves parallel to
its short side. Similarly, long-grain paper has a grain that moves parallel to the
long side. Its very important to have the paper grain move parallel to the spine of
the book so that it opens flat. To test the grain direction, take a piece of paper and
gently begin to bend it one way.
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Step 2
Then turn it and try to bend it in the other direction.
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Step 3
When you fold parallel to the grain, it will be easier. When you fold against the
grain, you will feel more resistance. For this tutorial, the paper will be cut long-
grain so that the direction of the grain is parallel to the longest edge of the paper.
For example, if a sheet of paper is cut to 13cm x 15cm long-grain, the grain should
be parallel to the 15cm side and should be easier to fold length-wise. Always
determine the grain of your materials before cutting.

2. Prepare Your Materials

Step 1
Cut the three sheets of drawing paper into 5in x 6in (approx 13cm x 15cm) long-
grain sheets. These will make your text block. Cut an extra sheet and set it aside.
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Step 2
Cut the sheet of handmade paper into two 5in x 6in (approx 13cm x 15cm) long-
grain sheets. These sheets will make the book cover.
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3. Make Your Punch Guide

A punch guide will help make your binding look clean and professional. Without a
guide, your stitches might turn out crooked or uneven.

Step 1
Take the extra sheet of drawing paper and place the ruler 1/2in (approx 1cm) away
from one of the long sides.
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Step 2
Punch four holes against the ruler at 3/4in, 2 1/4in, 3 3/4in, and 5 1/4in (approx
1.5cm, 5.5cm, 9.5cm, and 13.5cm).
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4. Punch Holes in the Cover and Text Block

Step 1
Take your guide and line it up flush with a sheet from your text block. Punch
through the four holes using your awl.
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Repeat this step with all pages of the text block and the two cover sheets. You can
try to punch two or three sheets together to speed things up, but youll have to be
very careful to keep the pages lined up. If your punches are not identical on each
page, it will show.

Step 2
As they are, the holes you punched will not be wide enough for the needle and
thread to sew through. So take each page in the book and push the awl through
each hole.
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5. Bind the Book

Step 1
Cut an arms length of linen thread. Hold the book up with the spine facing you.
For the purpose of this tutorial, the four holes will be numbered 1 to 4, starting
from the left. Sew the thread up through hole number 3.
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Leave a tail of at least 5cm sticking out.

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Step 2
Sew up through hole number 3 once more to make a loop around the spine.
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Pull the stitch tight.

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Step 3
Stitch down through hole number 2.
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Step 4
Stitch down through hole number 2 a second time to make a loop.
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Step 5
Sew up through hole number 1.
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Step 6
Make that loop by stitching up through hole number 1 again.
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Step 7
At the end of the binding, you will want to make a second loop to secure the pages.
Sew up through hole number 1 one last time and position the loop so that it lines
up with the four holes.
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Step 8
Sew down through hole number 2.
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Step 9
Then sew up through hole number 3.
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Step 10
Sew down through hole number 4 and make a loop by sewing down again through
the same hole.
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Step 11
Make that second loop at the end of the binding by sewing down through hole
number 4 one last time.
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Step 12
Now take a look at the back of the book where the tail end of your thread is
sticking out.
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Sew around the tail, moving the needle underneath the two surrounding stitches.
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Step 13
Tie a knot with the two ends of your thread.
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Step 14
Cut the excess thread and burnish the knot with your bone folder. This will help
keep the knot from untying.
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Pat Yourself on the Back!

Great job on your stab binding! Now that youve learned this basic technique, you
can go on to learn more advanced bindings or even invent your own.
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