Hit 50 hand-sewn bindings last week and it got me thinking about old vs new methods

I just finished my 50th binding using the classic sewing frame method, and the number surprised me because I started out using only glue and those cheap pre-made covers. But then I tried stitching everything by hand on a 300-page journal for my sister last month, and I swear the spine opened twice as flat compared to my glued projects. Do you think the old-school sewing is worth the extra time, or am I just romanticizing the process because I hit a milestone?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathan1001mo ago

Gluing can get you 90% of the way there for half the time and effort, no question. Your sister's journal might lay flatter but most people won't notice or care, especially if it's just for daily notes.

bennett.harper1mo ago

Ha! @nathan100 I actually read somewhere that even old bookbinders used a mix of glue and stitching for strength.

claire_young761mo ago

And it's like that with so many things now, shortcuts save time but you lose something real in the process. I've noticed it with cooking too, boxed meals work fine but when I actually chop vegetables and simmer stuff from scratch, the taste and texture are just better. Hitting 50 bindings probably made you realize the old way has its own kind of quality that glue can't fake.