Showerthought: I was putting my headbands on backwards for 2 years

I've been bookbinding as a hobby for about 3 years now. Just last week I was watching a video from a bindery in Philadelphia and realized the woman had her headband going the opposite direction on the spine. It hit me that I've been wrapping mine the wrong way this whole time - the bump should face the back cover. Now my spines actually close properly and I feel like a dope. Has anyone else had that moment where you find out you've been doing a basic step backward for months?

2 comments

2 Comments

shah.olivia9d ago

The 60s era finishing press I got from an estate sale had a little note taped to it from the original owner that said "headband bump faces away from you." I ignored it for months until my first sewn spine fell apart. The worst part was I had to go back and redo like a dozen journals I had already given as gifts. My advice is to just make a little habit of double checking the direction before you glue it down.

zara_hunt9d ago

Oh man, that note haunting you from the first day is rough, I feel your pain on all those redo gifts.