Friday, January 18, 2008

Under Wraps

I decided to try a Braided Spine binding for this book. So it has a wrap-around leather cover with a wrap-around strap. Then it is bound with three separate threads (and six needles) which wrap the head and tail of the book, then all the threads wrap around each other as they are braided on the spine.


I really like the look of this and many of the other 3-section bindings that Smith has devised, although I don't like restricting my books to 3 sections since they are usually journals and people like having lots of pages.... I suppose it could be doubled to have six sections so there would be two sets of braids... can't quite imagine doing them simultaneously with 12 needles on the go... now THAT would be a challenge for sure! Thanks Jackie (tjbookarts.com) for making me do something new again this week!

16 comments:

BWK Art said...

Very pretty stitching, Rhonda! :)

tulibri said...

Looks pretty good, Rhonda! I like the kind of leather you used. Can't you just make the signatures thicker by taking more sheets into them instead of increasing the number of signatures?

MyHandboundBooks said...

thanks :)

yes tulibri, and i did that. these 3 signatures are each made with 25 sheets, which is a lot more than i normally use. And i've looked at it and held it a lot today....and i'm liking it more and more... at first i thought the 3 thick signatures was rather clunky but it's growing on me...i like it more now than i did 24 hours ago...

Carol said...

Very nice book Rhonda. I agree with you that such thick signatures could have been clunky but they look really rustic in this binding and the sewing suits perfectly. Now I feel the need to try the 12 needle sewing. I think 8 is the most I've ever used in a plain coptic and that needed a lot of concentration. I love the challenge of Keith's instructions.

Anonymous said...

Is this binding in book 2 non-adhesive bindings? I love its look & would like to give it a try. I've only got book 3 at the moment though.

Thanks.

MyHandboundBooks said...

yep, it is in
Volume II Non-Adhesive Binding:
1, 2 & 3-Section Sewings

mznikidesigns said...

Im dying to learn how to do the braid spine binding would you please PLEASE direct me on where to find a tutorial on it

MyHandboundBooks said...

AS I mentioned in the comment just above yours, it's in Keith Smith's book.

mznikidesigns said...

so in order to learn how to do the braid spine binding i have to buy that 'Volume II Non-Adhesive Binding:
1, 2 & 3-Section Sewings' book ? is the book ur referring to IN UR previous commment rhonda?

MyHandboundBooks said...

yes, it's the only place i've seen the written directions. I'd recommend buying directly from keith:

http://www.keithsmithbooks.com/

Although there are several used copies available through Amazon for about half price:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0963768220/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

MyHandboundBooks said...

yes, it's the only place i've seen the written directions. I'd recommend buying directly from keith:

http://www.keithsmithbooks.com/

Although there are several used copies available through Amazon for about half price:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0963768220/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

mznikidesigns said...

im sorry if this may be a stupid question but i did buy that keith smith book and i have read the instructions to the braid spine stitching and i am alil stuck i suppose. i am pretty new to the crafting i wanted to practise to make sure i understood before i do it i dont quite understand how you get that loop before the stitching really begins could someone maybe explain it in an easier way or show me a pic cuz i dont quite get it how its written. the book i am planning on making is 3 signatures i havent worked out how many pages yet. any help or easier diagram would be greatly appreciated.

mznikidesigns said...

i figured out my problem. my project should be interesting i will post up my results.

MyHandboundBooks said...

Great, glad to hear that! (It would have been tricky to try to explain it any differently than the book.)

mznikidesigns said...

someday when i have the patience i will save alot of book binding lives by making a youtube video of all my favorite styles. lmao

MyHandboundBooks said...

Hi Mar, yes I have done this binding many times now. And I always used waxed thread. If you have only unwaxed, get some beeswax and wax it.