Book #31

Asa-no-ha Toji

This is another traditional variation of the yotsume toji. It is a more elaborate development of the koki toji that I showed yesterday.

Today I have successfully finished the first month of my year-long plan to post a different book structure or binding every day. So far, so good. I still think I can do it!

Book #30

Koki Toji

This is my favorite variant of the basic yotsume toji. It is also called the "noble binding" or Kangxi sewing pattern, because it was apparently devised by emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty.

Book #29

Yotsume toji

This is an example of the basic 4-hole sewing pattern used for Japanese pouch bindings, or yotsume toji. Since I like to stay true to historical bookbinding techniques whenever possible, I have tried to duplicate all elements of this historic binding process including materials, tools, and techniques (not just the sewing pattern). There are some traditional variations to this binding that I will show in coming days.

Book #28

Japanese Handscroll

Scrolls, of course, emerged prior to the codex book form. This one that I have made is based on the structure of the traditional Japanese handscroll, or Makimono.

Book #27

Origami Book 1

These two little books are very simple origami books made from a single square of paper that folds up into a booklet with four pages and a cover.

Book #26

Origami Spine Book

Another folded book structure where the spine is made from a single piece of folded paper and then pages are inserted into the folds. The instructions to make this structure were in the most recent issue of Bound & Lettered (Vol. 12 No. 1), so I had to try it.

Book #25

Origami Wallet Book

Another origami fold that can be used to make a book, is the origami wallet. For the book shown here, the cover is the origami wallet and then I added the accordion pages by tucking the first and last page into the front and back of the wallet.

Book #24

Origami House Book

There are some origami structures that lend themselves to the book world, including the origami house fold. The one shown here is actually two house folds stuck together. So it can be displayed open, in its full house format, or it can be compressed into a flat house shape that will function as a book with cover and pages.

Book #23

Crown Book

Another nod to Hedi Kyle today. This is a variation of her Blizzard Book structure that incorporates a cover. The cover is made from the same sheet of paper as the folded spine. Since it is called a crown book, this particular example that I made has the Keep Calm crown on the first page and then it lists steps in the bookbinding process. Keep Calm and fold paper and measure twice and press overnight and collate, etc...

Book #22

Blizzard Book

One of Hedi Kyle's well-known structures is this, called the Blizzard Book. The pages of this structure are bound together using an intricately folded spine piece. I made this one with folded pages but the pages can also be individual flat cards so the structure lends itself well to accommodating simple printed pages.

Hedi Kyle's instructions for making this are in "The Penland Book of Handmade Books."

Book #21

Turkish Map Fold

Today's book is indeed a Turkish Map Fold structure. My example that is photographed here, is actually two stuck together. I have seen other people use several together to make some very flourishing books.

If you want to try it, there are some quick folding instructions here.

Book #20

Secret Fold Book

This structure is sometimes called a Secret Fold or Hidden Book or other similar names because of the way it can open up into different shapes. It works well for artist's books with only minimal content or secret messages or for displaying quotes like my Freak Flag book.

If you want to try this one, I posted a tutorial here on my blog way back in 2007, showing how to do this structure with a hardcover.

Book #19

Crossed Structure Linked

This is an example of the Crossed Structure Linked binding that I made with a limp leather wrap-around cover and long strap closure.

If you are interested in more details about how to make this structure, visit Arregui's website.

Book #18

16th Century Ledger Binding

This is another example of an historic ledger binding. In this case I was replicating the construction but not the materials. This ledger binding is based on a 16th century European example where the textblock is sewn onto supports which are woven into the cover. The tacketed overbands cover the woven sewing supports.

Book #17

Spanish Ledger Binding

I just finished making this replica of a Spanish 17th Century limp vellum ledger. I used an old parchment document for the cover, folded with turn-ins so that the original writing is hidden on the inside. I constructed the traditional toggle and loop closure elements from strips of vellum.

Book #16

Back Stitch

The back stitch is another very common embroidery stitch and it can easily be incorporated as a pamphlet stitch. So, this is probably enough exploration of pamphlet binding options for now; I will find something different for tomorrow.

Book #15

Inter-laced Running Stitch

Another traditional embroidery stitch used for binding a pamphlet.

Book #14

Running Stitch

There are a number of traditional embroidery stitches that can be used as pamphlet bindings. Today's pamphlet shows the most basic embroidery stitch, the running stitch.

Book #13

Dos-à-dos Pamphlet

The dos-à-dos structure is another option for a two-signature pamphlet.

Book #12

Two-Section Pamphlet

Using a pleated cover, this is another way to make a two-section pamphlet where each section is sewn separately into the pleats.

Book #11

Sewn Chains

This is an example of a pamphlet bound using a chain stitch. Keith Smith calls this binding sewn chains but it is really just a traditional embroidery chain stitch adapted as a single-section pamphlet binding.

Book #10

Two Sewn As One

I would love to know if there is any other (i.e. better) name for this little structure. Two sewn as one means a two-signature pamphlet where the two signatures and the pleated cover are all sewn up simultaneously using one pamphlet stitch.

Book #9

Alternating Hitch

Another pamphlet featuring one of my original linocuts. This time I used the "alternating hitch" stitch, a single-section sewing option devised by Keith Smith.

Book #8

Five-hole Pamphlet

Before I forget, I should include an example of the five-hole pamphlet as well. This one is made with a piece of my very own handmade paper for the cover, and folded with turn-ins. The front is printed with one of my original lino cuts.

This pamphlet binding is very similar to the 3-hole version, obviously, but it is worth mentioning that this sewing can be modified in a lot of ways. The knot can be on the outside of the book like this one, or hidden on the inside, and you can really use any number of sewing stations (well, 3 or more). Using five sewing stations is probably the most common variation. Odd numbers work best (imo) since the sewing pattern can start and stop in the middle, but it can also be done with an even number.

Book #7

Chopstick Binding

Another pamphlet binding that I have used a lot, is what I call the Chopstick Binding. I have seen descriptions of this binding technique that give it different names but I always use a chopstick and do not remember what those other names might have been. So, Chopstick binding.

I wrote a Chopstick Notebook Tutorial for my blog (wow, seven years ago). Also, I have a Flickr group where people can share photos of books they have made with this tutorial. You can see all the photos here: www.flickr.com/groups/797651@N21/pool/.

Book #6

Hardcover 3-hole Pamphlet

The first hardcover book that I ever made was a hardcover pamphlet, with a 3-hole pamphlet stitch sewing. Ever since then, I have always really liked this combination. This book has one signature, bound with a 3-hole pamphlet stitch. Then the signature is cased into a hardcover. This particular book has yellow leather on the spine and Japanese Chyiogami on the covers. The pages are a mixture of yellow papers from my extensive paper hoard.

This small journal is available in my Etsy shop, where there are additional photos of it too.

Book #5

Three-hole Pamphlet

Today's book structure is as simple as it gets: the very basic 3-hole pamphlet sewing. This little notebook features one of my own bamboo designs, a hand-carved and hand-printed lino-cut, on the cover. Typical of a basic 3-hole pamphlet sewing, this example is one signature where the outermost sheet also serves as the cover. Very commonly used for small notebooks and chapbooks. Pamphlet sewings are actually some of my favorite bindings so I'm going to spend the next few days presenting a variety of pamphlet bindings.

I posted a simple tutorial for making a 3-hole pamphlet way back in 2007... if you want to try it!

Book #4

Tunnel Book

This is an example of a tunnel book that I made when my son was small. Today is his birthday, he is now 10 years old. Happy Birthday Nicholas!

Book #3

Chain Stitch with Coptic Endbands

This is an example of a multi-needle chain stitch sewing, which I finished with Coptic-style endbands.

Book #2

Crossed Structure Protective

This is an example of the Crossed Structure Protective binding that I made with a limp leather cover and double strap closure.

If you are interested in more details about how to make this structure, visit Arregui's website.

Happy New Year: Book #1

Happy New Year! Thank you to all my loyal blog readers who continue to stop by even when my posts are so few and scattered. Hoping for blog rejuvenation throughout 2015!

I have been wondering if I could possibly come up with 365 different book structures to share here this year. I do not have a plan and I am not sure that I can follow through on this idea, but I would like to try to post a picture every day of a different binding structure. So, 365 books that I have made using 365 different techniques. This will include books that I am currently making as well as books that I have made in the past.

Retchōsō binding

So, to start off, this is an historic Japanese structure called the retchōsō binding that is unique to Japan. This particular example is made using Kozo paper handmade at The Morgan Conservatory. I made this book for their silent auction that was held a couple months ago.