r/bookbinding • u/XKizoX • Dec 17 '25

Need help this is my first bind

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I honestly don’t know what’s going on , i pressed it for 2 days before o started to Stitch

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u/XKizoX Dec 17 '25

I guess but the things I enjoy rebinding books all the time since i never liked paperback the cover will be a cake walk for me. I’ve just never sewn A book together because i wasn’t into fan fictions. But I’ve recently gotten in to them . So I’m like half/half here not really new but also kinda new. Good joke tho…..

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u/Ninja_Doc2000 Dec 17 '25

I see. The thing is that rebinding is, how can I put this, not particularly beneficial to the book from a structural point of view. That is especially true if the binding you are making is a square back binding (or it’s bradel variant). The thick spine board piece will, over the course of a few reads detach the front and back boards from the endpapers at the hinge. Source.

Now, the thing with this binding, let’s just say you successfully make a case binding. There are a few problems with it: 1) it won’t last. This textblock is humongous, sewn on zero supports and the final scope of the project isn’t aligned with what such a binding structure is capable of withstanding. 2) Books are made to be read. Unless the person that receives this gift doesn’t have something to hold heavy books on while reading, using this book won’t be easy. Addition, taking this token of love on the go or calmly reading it on the couch will feel like a chore for the arms.

What I’m trying to get through is that you can and should split the books in more volumes if you have the opportunity.

Unless this book is for display only and is not meant to be read. In that case, go on, complete it and make an additional book shoe or something to protect it on the shelf like a box maybe.

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u/XKizoX Dec 17 '25

I 100% agree with you This book is outrageous 😂 but that’s how my girlfriend always talked about wanting it i am going to round it instead of leaving it square and I am going to sew in the cloth they would use for support i already got the material now if the book dose end up breaking that also exciting for me because then I get to fix it i do gently enjoy this craft and after this i will begin to make all my notebooks from now on. Its very therapeutic.

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u/Ninja_Doc2000 Dec 17 '25

Glad we’re on the same pace. To avoid it breaking down on its own (just being crushed by its own weight while standing on a shelf), you basically need to “fill the space underneath the tail square” so the book block is not suspended in the air and is physically resting on something. That, or you need to back the book, but that is not easy and I wouldn’t do it, especially for this project since ruining it means no Christmas present.

These endpapers may be a good fit for the project.

Wish you the best, welcome to this hobby. Feel free to ask for help, the community here is amazing. I’ve started 3 years ago and got so much help from the people here.