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Bookbinding

With numerous engravings and diagrams
by Paul N. Hasluck 1903

Sewing Two On

 

The remainder of the sheets will be sewn “two on," except the last two sheets, which are sewn on like the first two sheets. In sewing two on, the sheet C is laid on the two sheets already sewn, and the thread, which has not been detached from A and B, is passed from the tail kettle stitch of C to the first band along the centre of the section. A folder is then put in the middle of the section to mark the place. Section D is then laid on C and is sewn from the farther side of the first. band to the near side of the third one; then section C, the middle of which is easily found by the folder; is sewn along from the third band to the head kettle stitch, two sections being thus secured by a single passage of the needle from tail to head, or vice versa. These two sheets are secured at the head or the tail by making a kettle stitch. This is affected by passing the needle under the section already sewn, up through the loop thus formed by the thread, and then upwards until the knot is drawn tight, taking care that the stitch is kept in the saw mark cut for it, and that it does not tear the back of the section. When the needle full of thread is finished, it must not be fastened off on the book, but the second needle full must be knotted to the first so that the book is sewn with one length of thread.

Two On Method of Sewing Books

Fig. 34 may help to explain a method of sewing "two on." A, B, and C represent the first three sheets; 1 , 2, 3, 4, and 5 the saw-marks 'and the position of the bands. The small letters, if taken in alphabetical order, will show the outs and ins of the needle. Thus in at a, A, out at b, in at c, out at d, and so on until h is reached; the needle will be at the outside of the first sheet or A, which will have been sewn all the way up. Now in at i , in the second sheet or B; out at j, B; in at k, c; out at 1, c; in at m, B; out at n, B; in at o, c; out at p, c: and fasten. The diagram has little of the appearance of a book on the bench, its purpose being to show intricate matter plainly and simply.

The method of sewing just described is that which is used for non-flexible work-that is, for books in which the back of the cover is not glued to the backs of the sheets. In non-flexible work, when the book is opened the back of the cover forms an arch, leaving a space between it and the back of the book, but in flexible work the back of the book adheres to the cover. For flexible work the back is marked up, but is not sawn in, the cord or band being laid on the back of the book and not embedded in the sheets. The marks for the kettle stitches are sawn slightly, as in the case of non­flexible work. In sewing, the needle is passed in at the right hand kettle stitch hole; the left hand inside the section takes the needle and thrusts it out of the left side of the mark for the first band, and with the right-hand the needle is taken and thrust in on the right hand side of the same band, so that the band or cord is encircled with the thread. The same operation is repeated at each band, and the needle finally brought out at the left hand kettle stitch hole. The other sheets are sewn in the same manner.

 

 
 

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