Japanese Stab Binding : Tortoise Shell Pattern

Japanese Stab Binding Pattern: Tortoise Shell Binding

Here is the tutorial for the Japanese Stab Binding technique called the Tortoise Shell pattern.

[This pattern is slightly different in that the holes become groups of three, the hole at the center of each group is the pivotal hole (the holes farthest from the spine). For each pivotal hole, you will sew into each of its neighbors, and then move to the next group.]

Other Tutorials Available:
Simple & Basic
Traditional


What you need
20-50 sheets of paper (cut to same size, cut to the size you want the book to be)
Heavy weight paper (2 sheets) for front and back covers
Pencil and ruler
Leather hole punch or thick nail with a mallet or hammer
Thread (linen thread, yarn. ribbon, embroidery thread, whichever material you prefer for the spine), Yarn darning or tapestry needle, scissors

Directions:

1. Choose your cover option and the paper for the text pages, decide the size of your book and the number of pages. cut all text pages to size, or start with paper
cut to a standard size. Then cut two pieces of scrap paper to the same size as the text pages, reserving one for a template and the other to place underneath
the text pages to protect them during handling.

2. Using your ruler and pencil, set up your template as shown in the diagram (measurements vary by paper size, space evenly according to the paper size you are using) For more details on how to set up a basic template see Traditional Stab Binding Tutorial

3. Line up the text pages, and place them on thick cardboard or a wood board, not on a self-sealing cutting mat, which would become permanently damaged. Put the template on top of the text pages. Punch the holes with the leather hole punch or nail and a small hammer.
With the leather hole punch, punch only twenty pages at a time. If you punch more, the pages-and the holes-will slip out of alignment. Use the template to mark the position of the holes for each lot of twenty pages. Check that each hole goes through all the pages

4. Cut the cover paper to the same size as your text pages. Using the template, punch holes in the covers. Assemble the text pages, and put the covers in position.

To bind:

5. 1 Cut a length of thread or ribbon about 6 1/2 times the height of the binding, and thread the needle. Hold the covers and the text pages together, and begin sewing by entering from the back to the front of the second (middle) pivotal hole, and pull the needle and thread through, leaving 2" of thread at the tail of the book. Thread around the spine, and through the same hole again, coming out the back. Enter the next hole up and again wrap around the spine and back through the hole, then into the original hole. Repeat the same process for the next hole down.

6. Now move on to the next group of holes by sewing into the next pivotal hole, then repeat the process for this group.

7. Work your way from the bottom back to the top pivotal hole, making sure to fill in any missing stitches. Repeat process for the top group of holes. Once finished, tie the ends into a knot, trim excess thread and use your needle to tuck the knot into the closest hole.