Walked through the old library downtown and saw something that made me rethink my whole process

I was in the reference section looking at a book from 1890. The spine was completely gone, but the pages were still held together by these tiny, perfect stitches along the fold. I always thought sewing on a frame was the only right way, but this book was sewn by hand without one and it lasted over a hundred years. It made me wonder if I rely on my frame too much for simple projects. Has anyone else found old books sewn like that and tried copying the method?

2 comments

2 Comments

tylermason8d ago

Wait, the stitches were still perfect after all that time?

emery_hall8d ago

Ever think the frame might be more about our need for control than the book's need for strength? That old binding trusted the hand's natural tension, not a perfect grid. Maybe we over-engineer the simple stuff.