Sewing Signature Part 2

Technique Tuesday

by

Judy Cantrell

Adding a Book Cover

I've been asked what does it mean to sew a signature?

Sewing signatures of the book start off as loose pages. Small holes are punched through the center fold of each signature, and then the signatures are sewn together with stitches to form a book. Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded signature pages and then attaching a book cover.

A book sewn with signatures will hold up much better than a glued book.

When you finish sewing you signatures you might consider making a book cover. This is what I came up with and it's so simple.

This is a diagram how I covered my 5 1/2' by 5 1/2" pages. Adjustments will be needed in the width of cover and seams for both edges if you are adding more signatures.

 Last week, after making the multi-color example, I made another signature book using the same 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" page size but this time I used a heavier paper with two pages and 5 signatures. The thicker the book the more you need to allow for the spine and right edges of paper.

Instructions:
Cut, score and fold each cover piece. Set aside.
Hold a penny down on cardboard, draw around the penny to make 6 circles, cut out and punch a very small hole in center. Brad two sets of circles together. Punch hole in center of back flap, glue one circle on back as reinforcement. Add one set of circles to flap. Cut 4-5" length of wax thread, tie a single knot into the circles on flap. See sample below.
Punch tiny hole in back cover, place one of the circles on inside back as reinforcement,
attach one set of circles with a brad to the back cover.

Adhere back page to back cover and then bring the fold and spine around to the front. Do not add adhesive to spine and "fold to front." Add two strips of red line tape to "Fold of Front" don't take the protective cover off yet.
Add adhesive to front page adhere to front cover, remove film from red line tape and press down on front cover.
You will see how to do all these instructions including how to do the closure in this video.
The cover needs to be finished off before adding the closures.

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Thanks for looking and have a nice day!

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