Just had a local binder correct my sewing method

A guy named Dave at the monthly bookbinder meetup in Portland told me I was sewing my signatures too tight (like, pulling the thread until it creaked). I tried his looser tension on a recent rebind of an old cookbook and the spine actually opened flat for the first time. Has anyone else had to unlearn a habit from watching YouTube tutorials?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sean21h ago

That bit about pulling the thread until it creaks hit home. I did the exact same thing when I started, thought tight sewing meant a strong book. Turns out you're just strangling the paper and making the spine fight itself. Once you loosen up and let the sections breathe, the whole thing opens like a dream instead of fighting you. YouTube tutorials push this idea that everything needs to be locked down tight, but real world use says different. I still catch myself yanking too hard on the thread sometimes and have to stop and remind myself to just let it sit snug not cinched.

kellyr1821h ago

@the_sean you ever try switching to a thinner thread? I started using a lighter weight and it took away the urge to pull so HARD since the thread just glides through without fighting you.