We spent the last few months looking at variations on the theme of case binding. We looked at different endpapers, headbands, covering styles and so on. Our assignment here was to make a set showing all the different features. I found this assignment very helpful as a way of understanding when the different features are useful and most efficient. I also very much enjoyed thinking through production methods trying to figure how to get this done without spinning my wheels too much. I think I am just now realizing, while I dont particularly care for the case binding, it is a very important structure in the development of my skill.

More pictures from my bench! These are historic models of a Long Stitch Binding. We spent some time a few weeks back looking at this structure and experimenting with new materials. The book in the first two pictures is bound with a maple spine stiffener and the cover is made from flax paper. The spine stiffener is used to keep the spine from warping which is common with this structure. The weaving on the spine is actually a part of the structural integrity of the book. It protects the threads from wear, and also it helps to tighten the binding. The other book is the same structure but the spine stiffener is made from leather and vellum. The cut out on the vellum is something I saw on some of the historic examples we looked at. I think of all the historic structures we have looked at so far this is my favorite.

I am pretty excited about this model I finished a few weeks ago. It’s an Ethiopian Link Stitch Binding on quarter sawn oak boards. This structure is sewn with 6 needles and it produces a very nice full looking link stitch at each station. The quarter sawn oak is much more stable due the way the board is cut and the way the grain runs. I finished it with a light coat of paste wax to shine it up and bring out the grain. Enjoy.