coming together

after quite a long inactive period i have got back to my threads of time piece over the last week

i had already assembled to squares into pages and arranged them - the next stage of sewing and trimming them needed concentration, i hadn't really thought through the process of getting them in the right positions back to back as well as side by side

the plan was for pages of two squares in landscape, with each "signature" being a single folded sheet of  2 x 2 pages back-to-back and attached by a hinge



the original squares are here and here

with my brain still lagging a bit i had to work in short bursts to stop myself from making some big booboos

i got there in the end and has fun fraying the page edges, this means the exposed edges of the assembled pages (block) have a velvety feel rather like a much used paper book - mick has a dictionary which was given to him by a fellow proof reader who had used it for most of his working life, the edges are like fine velvet and when you open it at any page it lies flat, both signs of a well used book

during what i hope is the final ironing of the pages one maker's name started to run.... blue black "ink" smudged out from under the brown stitched lettering ..... my language was unrepeatable, i was fuming - it meant dismantling the page (bondaweb and machine stitching involved) and copying the stitched name on fresh fabric ..... not a prospect i relished

....... the square would be no use as it was  so i thought i might as well try washing it .... and was much relieved to find that the offending colour washed out - so i was able to rescue it and use it, at least it was a set back that i could blame on someone else!!!

the next stage also needed focus as i had to work out the positions for my bindings on the page creases then carry out the perforations - a bit nerve racking as any mistakes would be very difficult to put right

i had chosen a variation on piano hinge binding with some coptic-style stitch to give an open spine binding which would lay flat when open

 i anchored my threads and tapes securely


it looked rather daunting when i started, threads and tapes dangling












i had been slightly dreading the actual binding process but once i sorted out how to do the stitches i got into an easy rhythm which i enjoyed - i could happily have gone for longer, it was much easier than the rather tense process of making the holes in the right places

i still have the covers to make and attach but i made temporary covers - this was so that the book could be handled at today's meeting - also it gives a better idea of whether or not the binding looks ok before i move on

i think it works and it's a bit late to change my mind anyway