Tag: KUKI

COPTIC STITCH SKETCHBOOKS

It’s been a loooooong time since I did a Coptic stitch binding. I’d almost forgotten how to do it but I guess it’s like riding a bike, once you get on and get going it comes naturally. This is what I spent most of last week doing – no not riding a bike, coptic stitch binding. I’m very proud of myself for keeping the stitching so neat. I think the secret to that success is using a waxed thread. I used to use plain embroidery thread which looked pretty but was such a pain as it kept getting tangled. It goes to show it’s worth using the right tools.

I’ve used sketchbook paper once again for the pages and pretty paper to cover. They’re A6 in size so nice to carry around whether that’s on holiday or in the garden.

I think this image of the signatures inside the covers looks like an ice-cream sandwich. It made me smile.

The coptic bindings make them look so pretty as well as being very tactile to hold. While I was in the groove I made a few more.

They’re all listed in my shop now and I’ll be making a few to go to KUKI later on this Spring.

Jaine xx

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MAKING NOTEBOOKS

As I stand here cutting paper and sewing books for KUKI I’m reminded of the last time I was preparing for the KUKI festival which was three years ago I think. I cannot believe the change in just a few years in my approach to making these notebooks. Looking at some of the books I made back then, frankly I’m embarrassed. My slap-dash way of measuring and cutting was shocking! In fact I’ll go as far as to say it wasn’t in my nature to quibble over the millimetres. I would even suggest to the participants at my workshops to ‘wing it’ most of the time and I’d mock anyone who spent longer than a couple of seconds calculating exactly how many millimetres to measure with their sharp HB pencil. After making accordion books and discovering the need to have deadly accuracy if you want the pages to look perfect and the covers to open properly, I find myself measuring twice before cutting just to make sure and testing paper grain. All alien concepts in my past life.

Sharp blade needed

I’ve even marked on my cutter the mm difference because I’ve discovered not all rulers are the same.

I can tell you right here and now that my HB pencil is sharp, my cutting blade is regularly changed and my metal ruler is always on the table. There’ll be no slacking with these books.

Notebooks

I’ll crack on sewing until I have a nice little stack.

Have a good weekend and I’ll see you here next week.

Jaine xx

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