My first handmade notebook product on Etsy was a small B6 custom printed cover notebook featuring a gradient chain stitch binding. It was a simple project, but one that got me committed to making more handmade notebooks.
I started with chain stitch binding because it highlights the gradient color of my threads a lot better than other binding methods. Since I use gradient threads for my small notebooks, this type of binding creates a more uniform gradient transition of my threads with each chain.
What is chain stitch binding?
Chain stitch is a sewing pattern used in bookbinding. It’s called a chain stitch because you create a chain-like pattern along the spine. This effect is done by looping the thread under the previous stitch and back into its current section. This binding also allows the notebook to lay flat when opened while adding a nice decorative element to its overall look.
While you can use the chain stitch method for bigger notebooks with multiple sections, I recommend using it mostly for smaller notebooks where the binding is exposed to show off the stitching. Bigger notebooks also require a stronger bind and more spine support. If you end up gluing and hiding the spine as well, then you lose the unique look of the stitch.
Materials I Use
Here is a list of the materials I use for my bookbinding projects:
- Self Healing Cutting mat
- Curved needles (I prefer these over straight needles for bookbinding)
- Embroidery Floss (You can use any type but I recommend lightly waxing them if they are not waxed)
- Beeswax
- Stainless steel ruler
- Small clips to hold papers together while binding
- X-ACTO knife for precision cutting
- Small scissors
- Bone Folder Tool (helpful for scoring and flattening the spine)
- Stitching Awl
- Corner Cutter- optional
- Book Press – optional
A Quick Tip on Cutting Mats:
For cutting mats, I highly recommend investing in one that advertises as self-healing. I find these mats to be a lot more durable and cut-resistant than the cheap plastic ones. I also recommend getting a size bigger than your estimated workspace. For example, if you’re mostly working on smaller notebooks (like an A5 or smaller), opt for a larger mat that provides extra cutting space. The last thing you would want to worry about is not having enough cutting room.
Self Healing Cutting Mat by Idemeet – This is the mat that I use for my projects and it’s something that I would recommend for beginners. It’s budget-friendly (less than $10 on Amazon), comes in a lot of different colors to match your style, has many measurement references, and can handle plenty of cuts. The main downside is that it does not handle glue very well.
Corner Cutter Recommendation
Kadomaru Pro Corner Cutter by Sunstar – I highly recommend this corner cutter if you like to add rounded corners to your notebooks. I’ve tested this on laminated papers (up to 3mil) as well and it cuts great. For thicker materials, I recommend pressing the punch a few times to make sure the cut is clean. Unfortunately, this product can only ship to the US, UK, and EU according to Amazon.
Design Choices
When sewing your notebooks, there’s no strict rule on how far apart each stitch section needs to be from each other. However, the closer each section is together, the more it’ll look like a chain. If each section is further apart, the binding will look more like a basic stitch. My recommended sweet spot is about 1 inch apart in the center of the spine.
You can do a single pass on the first and the last section of the spine if you want to emphasize that the chain is starting and ending. However, I like to do a full chain for the entire spine for consistency.
Chain Stitch Tutorial Videos
These two videos were extremely helpful for me when I was learning how to do chain stitch binding. I hope they will be useful to you as well.
Beginner chain stitch and tree stitch binding by Porsche and Coffee
Multiple binding methods for beginners including chain stitch binding by Bitter Melon Bindery
I hope you found this post informative. Let me know what products you’ve tried out and what you recommend for your bookbinding projects. Thank you for reading!
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