by Florence O. Bean - Assistant in Manual Arts - Boston Public Schools
Published by School Arts Publishing Company 1914
To carry out this problem a few common wood-working tools will
be necessary. A sewing frame may be made by older pupils, a
working drawing for which is here given. (See Plate L.)
The wooden upright screws may be purchased. Instead of tapes
the book is to be sewed on bookbinder's twine. Cut three pieces
6 inches longer than the distance between the upper and lower
bars. Tie one end of each securely to the upper bar and slide
them along to position. (See Plate LI.) Tie the other ends to the
lower bar, pulling them as taut as possible.
The signatures should be "jogged up" and carefully placed in a
vise, back up and extending above the jaws about half an inch. It
may be better (depending on the shape and size of the vise) to
place the signatures between two boards, and then the whole in
the vise. On the back of one signature mark off the position of
the "kettle stitches" and twine 5 points in all - and, if T -square,
try square or triangle are available, square lines across;
signatures and thus insure cuts which shall be
"square across" the back. At each point saw
across all signatures with a back saw, making a
cut about 1/8 of an inch deep. Hold the saw
perfectly horizontally, that the cuts may be of
uniform depth on all signatures. If vise and saw
are not available, V-cuts may be made on each
signature with scissors instead.
To sew a printed book, begin at the front
with the "head" toward the right. Place the first
signature on the frame (page 1 down), with the
back toward the operator and the three inside
cuts against the twine, leaving the cuts at the
ends for the "kettle stitches." If necessary,
move the pieces of twine along the bars so that
they exactly fit' the cuts and sink into them.
(See Plate LI). Tighten the twine by turning tile
wooden nuts and commence to sew.
Hold the signature open with the left hand, and,
commencing at the head, (right) insert the
thread out through the second hole on the right of the twine,
cross it, and return the thread through the same hole on the
left of the twine. It will be seen that this process is virtually
the same as sewing over tapes. Continue across the first
signature and, when completed, close it, lay the second
signature on top, and, in the same manner, sew across it
from left to right. Pull the sewing threads tightly and always
forward in the direction of the sewing. If they are pulled
backward, the paper will be torn.
After sewing across the second signature, tie the thread to
the loose end as in a book sewed on tapes. When the third
signature has been sewed, make loop stitch as already
illustrated, (forming a part of the "kettle stitch") and repeat
this stitch at the end of each signature. When the sewing is
finished, grasp the book firmly and slide it up on the cords
about 1 1/2 inch; then cut the twine from the frame, leaving
about 1 1/4 inch projecting beyond the book on both sides.
Pull the twine with both hands to straighten it. Put in
fly-leaves and "super" and bind as before. The ends of the
twine
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