I just found out about a different way to do kettle stitches

For years I'd do my kettle stitch exactly like my teacher showed me, pulling tight after each section. Then I saw a video from a binder in Montreal who leaves the thread a bit loose until the very end. Tried it on a 5-section text block last week and the spine looks way smoother now. Anyone else switch up their kettle stitch method recently?

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3 Comments

umar597mo ago

Montreal binder, you say? I've been pulling those stitches tight for like fifteen years, my hands cramping up every time. The idea of leaving it loose just sounds wrong, like the whole book would fall apart. I might have to try it on a dummy text block first because my brain can't even process it lol.

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mary_foster927mo ago

Oh man, @umar59, I totally get that feeling! But a loose stitch lets the book flex and open way better. If you pull it tight, the spine can't move and it puts stress on the signatures. Try it on some scrap paper, you might be surprised how strong it still is.

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kevinrivera6mo ago

Wait, so loose stitches actually make it stronger?

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