Coptic binding allows a book to be completely open at an angle, which is favored by many readers.It shows a clear view of the spine and colorful threads that hold the signatures together.When making the initial folds and markings, take your time.Try to push the binding holes out.When it is time to bind it all together, follow the threading pattern closely and express your creativity by adding extra adornments.
Step 1: You can create your books.
Put the large page on a flat work surface and fold it in half.Make sure the edges of the paper are straight and not skewed.The individual folded pages are called folios.To ensure a crisp edge, run the blunt edge of a knife or a bone folder across the fold.
Step 2: You can create your own signatures.
A set of folios is called a signature.When you have four to six of them stacked, open up your folded folios and lay them one inside of another.After closing each signature, run a bone folder along the fold to create a sharp edge or spine.Take your completed signatures away.You can include as many signatures as you want in your book.The number of signatures is related to the final pages.A book with 10 signatures will have 160 interior pages.It is best to start with fewer signatures if you are new to Coptic binding.thicker books with additional signatures should be tackled when you get more comfortable with your technique.
Step 3: Take care of your backing board.
You will want to handle them carefully because they are the covers for your book.Once you have two equal pieces that are large enough to cover the exterior of your folios, take a hard paper board and cut it down.To make a clean cut, run a utility knife along the edge of the board and lay a metal or plastic ruler down on it.You can get the size you want with a smooth outer edge.
Step 4: Put the signatures on it.
Put some pressure on your signatures to make sure they are on all sides.Set them down.Make a series of pencil marks with a metal ruler.The marks should start from the bottom and top and continue until you have three marks on each end.Draw lines from the holes in the signatures to the ruler against the spine.The markings show where the thread will enter and exit the spine of your signatures.Each thread hole raises the level of difficulty, so you can end up with as many as you want.You can put the holes out as you please.The looser your interior pages will be, be aware that the fewer holes you include.Too many holes in a book can make it hard to turn pages.
Step 5: To puncture a cover board, mark and puncture it.
You can put your signature on one of the cover boards.The cover board should be facing downward to protect it.Align the signature with the board.Make holes in the board next to the marks on the spine by using awl or small screwdriver.You will have a total of six holes in the cover board.They should correspond with the spine markings of the signatures.Each hole should be as wide as your needle.The threading will be more difficult if the holes are too small.
Step 6: The cover board needs to be pushed.
Put the board you punctured together with the other cover board.They should be facing one another, like a book with no pages.To get through the holes in the one board, use awl or screwdriver.Pick up the second board after you have completed the set of holes to make sure they are correct.
Step 7: Put the signatures in a bag.
Pick up one of your signatures and place it on a table.The outer spine crease should be facing upwards.According to the markings, make six holes along the spine.If possible, keep your holes on the spine.Put signatures back into a stack by closing them and folding them.
Step 8: Attach your needle.
The needle should be held firmly.Put the thread through the eye of the needle.Continue to pull this thread until you have two pieces of equal length, and then tie a knot at the end.You are ready to start binding.It is best to use a wax thread as it will slide smoothly through the pages.It will be able to resist aging.This is where you can express your creativity.Your thread will be visible on the spine of the final product if you choose a thread color that matches the book cover.The amount of thread that you start with is up to you.You want to make progress, but not so much that you get tied up.It's possible to re-thread in the middle of the binding.
Step 9: Start with a single Stitch.
The bottom cover should be laid down with the signature on top.Go to the lowest hole on the bottom of the signature.Put the needle through it.You should loop your thread over the outside of the cover.The lowest hole is in the bottom cover.Your entry point in the signature is the one that corresponds to this one.
Step 10: Pick up your first stitch.
Pull the cover and signature together with your thread.Attach your needle to the existing stitch.Guide the needle back into the hole.Coming at it from the opposite direction is the same hole that you started with.Pull your thread through the signature.You can see the knot from the lowest interior hole of the signature.When you are done with this step, you should see a completed stitch on the spine holding the cover and signature together.
Step 11: Continue working.
The next hole is on the interior signature.If you want to finish stitching, enter this hole with your needle and do the same thing as above.Move from hole to hole.
Step 12: The next signature should be attached.
It is time to attach the following one when you reach the last hole of the signature.Attach the signature to the attached one.After you finish the outer loop on that final hole, return the needle to the inside of the new signature to bind everything together.
Step 13: Add signatures.
As with the previous signature, repeat the stitching process.You will always need to loop around the previous signature before moving into the interior.This will hold everything together.
Step 14: Rethread as necessary.
When you reach a point where you have around six inches of thread left, you should stop and get more.Pull your needle and thread under one of the thread lines inside a signature and tie it off into a knot.Cut the extra off by Tucking the ends under the thread line.Continue one thread to the next open signature hole in the interior by knotting it at the end.The knot is visible at this point.When you are done, go back through and tuck all of the visible knots into the thread strands and cut away any excess with small scissors.
Step 15: Attach the back cover.
It is time to put the cover on when you reach the first hole.Align the holes by placing it on top.Push the needle into the top cover hole from the last exterior stitch.Pull the thread through the inside and it will come out of the spine.If you want to go into the signature hole from the spine, you have to loop the needle around the last signature knot.
Step 16: Continue until the cover binding is done.
Continue this process until you have secured the rest of the cover.After threading through the last hole of the interior signature, loop the needle under the existing thread and tie it off.Cut off any excess by Tucking away.