binding feature: buttonhole stitch

Buttonhole stitch is a fun structure that can be adapted in many different ways. The signature (ha) feature of these books is the hole in their spine, through which the stitching that holds the text block in place is threaded, and the edges of the interior signatures are visible.

The holes in the spines of buttonhole stitch books offer many artistic possibilities - they can be as big as you want as long as a little bit (0.5 cm or so) of spine is left at the top and bottom for the thread to wrap around. The hole can also be extended into a cut out on the front of the book for a peek-a-boo moment on the cover. A lot of layering options are thus made possible with your cover, endpages, and interior pages.

Buttonhole stitch books can be made in soft or hardcover forms, which each have their pros and cons. While hardcover versions are a bit more complex to complete, it can be helpful for beginners to be able to pull hard on their stitching as they go to make sure that the strings lay taut across the spine. Softcover books have fewer steps to set up and cut out the cover itself, but they need more of a delicate hand when stitching. If the threads are pulled too tight on a softcover spine, they can bend, fold, or tear through the paper.

Once you get the sewing pattern down on a buttonhole stitch, these books are fairly simple to complete. With tons of design options and both soft and hardcover possibilities, this binding is one of the more versatile structures to have in your bookmaking repertoire.

For more in-depth binding features, check out our writing on coptic stitch.