The proper way to sew headbands is overrated

Last month I was at a bindery meetup in Portland and watched someone spend 45 minutes hand-sewing a headband with silk thread. Everyone in the room was nodding like this was the only acceptable method. I use a simple cotton thread and a basic stitch that takes me maybe 10 minutes. Has anyone else found that fancier techniques don't actually make the book last longer?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade321mo ago

Question whether that kind of perfectionism is really worth the extra time and effort. I've been using basic cotton thread and a simple stitch for years and my books hold up just fine. Honestly, unless you're entering a competition, nobody is going to notice the difference.

andrew9161mo ago

Jade32 makes a solid point. I've seen people stress over getting their thread tension perfect, then six months later the spine cracks anyway. My first few books were a mess of uneven stitching and cheap thread, but they're still sitting on my shelf just fine. Sometimes good enough really is good enough, and the extra hour spent fussing could just be spent making another book.