The November workshop was presented by Michele Kamprath. She taught the French Stitch binding for use on a 10 signature journal that was 4 ¼ inches by 5 ½ inches.
The covers were also paper (8 ½ by 5 ½ inches folded in half).
Generally, the French Stitch is used when sewing onto
tapes in a traditional case binding. This gives the book a little more structure,
but isn’t usually visible as it is hidden under the spine. Today book artists have integrated it into exposed
bindings. We used the French Stitch with a kettle stitch at the end of each signature to give the book stability.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT6FaLgux867MhVkk_maC2jv7yX59URxF8trIF9xyMlQKOgGMmPsfXljEouoeDFBvXBw8cQ3zwcqCsKiP5qNHWA3m3q30j6mLCbEPXxq4_rXxGILDolzCPBFqaDT1CXvHIebt25ibgeBW/s400/01+Michele+gave+the+workshop.jpg) |
Michele Kamprath brought several samples for us. |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsy6-93bxEVfk4YEzDdR_fYnAbM5CBA1zENO-ee3mlggqyoe2sKNTMwIYFAjXtqPGNIBSEFcNMmC-dL2vuk7mH-874PcVp_wVZL7Ni2tv_gMn01COWtNZdrucG_6FKa5k9dZVjcO-DK6aa/s400/02+We+started+off+folding+the+signatures+and+covers+and+then+used+sewing+cradles+and+jigs+to+put+in+our+stitching+holes.jpg) |
We started by folding our covers and signatures. Then, using the sewing cradle and a jig, we put holes in the covers and signatures. |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWriXRDOMZxWIUxRtO-ine9VLU6gW6fzZQCGeDD5MWvIKdaO8W23UDd86ej8CNdC9pK0C_pPuPQrgdByNZXkT1FaG8WpKuiaio-Vhn21N8o2mHRcHfJPZYK1UPnz5pCxNj9mgJ19066jQ/s400/03+french+stitch+and+kettle+at+the+end.jpg) |
We used a kettle stitch at the end of each signature and did the French stitch between. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVC4PxUjkaz4tBe5UkCBJhYqfY4Zlo_Dwgn6rb0jf_RU39G_mIBYSKUqzKVWBnfc1w_T1OudenK_jkZytoPwbRmaqSu8PXXDar_6iwE_MW58pg2Tv3yNpCikGGkMHqjO1LRAsLFw-bSBCW/s400/04+stitching+on+the+inside.jpg) |
This is how the interior of each signature looked. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyw4FdbeSYaO8w41nkRYeb5eJrXd4JQuY1A3iw_hLJvaUaSQOYqru3I4oA6DE7kff_mcIJZT4BidAKfinRU80SHV_GGkAZF2HdyhZOAI0ls8gAT2VAVIrg8Yzsl7HbinLsl7eeGSQDT2i/s400/05+Michele+walks+around+walking+us+through+the+process.jpg) |
Michele helped as needed. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiMMpnJ-DFIIzSr90G8dksLehE_yaxId2vrzDbvQCG2AeKYJvCc1SpTsSmpyF9VyXBg7tetw_7_NIQrhMYUIQIJYR9oIP584Y00JNpEZTRTtp90snxqwYs35AweKuCIxIYIykirHs38Gf/s400/10+sewing+on+the+covers.jpg) |
After finishing the signatures, we sewed through the cover and tied off our stitches. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDD5XhlhjfSD4KC0QcN_LOzu7KHyJOEDHnujypuztLDItkhkHaQ6L7FCMcPIIF0qDw2d5jzBVJDJWOvzj8UIKrTEAJilAAAfK9qq49XEEYADBTMEAKp0nPg8vJapkwKvVqwN6jID2te2Q/s400/08+a+sample+of+the+covers.jpg) |
Here are samples of the covers and a peek at the French stitch on the exposed spine. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV1hdpzYu6jEvo4Nq6QgY4INeuvpodha9V1va6ive6xcXGnisd1vOyT2cdFBRgOFYspPRdfFXMxogHL9_h9qCfuhsJ0sSFjUtjM6vfq-1C_r735YuPlsD2kaXA1drknxu-63MrCJC49rE/s400/11+now+that%2527s+a+lot+of+French+stitch.jpg) |
Wow! That's more than a few French stitched spines. |