CROSSED STRUCTURE BINDING PROTECTIVE

This binding has hidden stitches and a protected fore-edge.

If made in alum-tawed skin the CSB Protective is particularly
suitable for old books because it enfolds the volume and
does not need any adhesive.

CSB Protective sewing (see sewings 2 and 3).

I will assume that the book is If you do not want to add too
ready to be bound and that all many holes in the sections you
prior steps have been can split the sewing straps in
carefully carried out. The the middle (just over the area
description refers to a full- of the spine depth) and sew as
leather binding with clean-cut for double thongs.
edges. I will not work to any The thickness of the thread
particular dimension, assuming should provide enough ‘swell’
the template to be clear in the spine to allow you to
enough for each person to round the book. I always round
adapt it to a given size. by hand, not with a hammer.
After sewing, the spine is
Cutting the back cover still accessible and can be
For the cutting of the straps lined if desired.
see images in the website:
Index - Cutting the straps. Cutting the front cover
The two sides of the cover are The front cover should be cut
cut separately. after the sewing has been
Cut the back cover first done, as you need to know the
following side a of the thickness of the spine.
template (see template). Cut the front cover following
The back is made of three side b of the template. The
parts: the fore-edge flap, the front cover includes the cover
cover itself and the sewing itself, the spine and the
straps, which should be long panel that will be fixed to
enough to meet the fore-edge the back cover. Two vertical
flap when the binding is slots, the same size as the
finished. See the binding’s straps, should be cut at the
image in the website: Index - spine joint of the front cover
CSB Protective. (see template).

The sewing The crossing

For the fixing of the cover to The sewn straps go from the
the sewing frame see images in inside out through the
the website: Index - A Sewing vertical cuts at the spine
Frame. joint of the front cover. They
You can choose two different pass over the front cover to
sewings for this binding: be secured at the fore-edge
either a simple sewing with flap. The panel of the front
kettle stitches (see sewing 1) cover overlaps the back cover
or a headband sewing by adding and is fixed to it. See the
two extra straps at head and binding’s image in the
tail on side a of the cover website: Index - CSB
that can be cut short after Protective.

Crossed Structure Binding Protective by Carmencho Arregui - [Link] 1

 TEMPLATES

SEWING 1
WITH KETTLE STITCHES.
FOR CSB BASIC, CSB PROTECTIVE, CSB MARCOPOLO AND CSB HIDDEN

This is the commonest kind of It comes out at the kettle

sewing and the first that the stitch hole on the left and
majority of us learned how to goes up into the next section.
make, as it can be used for
many different bindings. The Second section
thing to be careful about, if The thread goes inside the
you are a beginner, is never kettle stitch hole on the
to pull the thread in the left, then it goes to the
opposite direction to the right, out and in all along.
direction in which you are It goes out at the right hand
sewing, because it is quite kettle stitch hole. Before
easy to tear the paper. Try to going up to the third section
be as even as possible and do a knot is tied with the tail
the stitches neither too tight of the starting thread which
nor too loose. It all comes is hanging from the first
with practice. After 500 books section.
it will be almost perfect!
Third section
Sewing 1 The thread goes inside the
See drawing and follow the kettle stitch hole on the
direction of the red thread, right and then it goes to the
then compare the image with left, out and in all along. It
your finished sewing. goes out at the kettle stitch
Here follows a very schematic hole on the left. Before going
description. up to the following section a
kettle stitch is made by
First section slipping the needle under the
The thread goes into the first section which is below the one
hole on the right (kettle which you have just sewn on;
stitch hole), and then travels slip the needle behind the
left, passing out and in the thread which links it to the
section and over the straps section below that, and loop
until the left end is reached. the thread over the needle as

Crossed Structure Binding Protective by Carmencho Arregui - [Link] 2

it emerges from between the outwards, towards the edge of
sections. Tighten the thread the book-block.)
by tugging it upwards. NB The From this point the sewing
needle must always be slipped goes on in the same way,
behind the thread in the same making kettle stitches at each
direction as the direction in section before going up to the
which you are sewing (usually next one.

sewing 1

kettle
stitch

knot

Crossed Structure Binding Protective by Carmencho Arregui - [Link] 3

 SEWINGS 2&3
WITH HEAD AND TAIL SEWN STRAPS.
FOR CSB BASIC AND CSB PROTECTIVE.

Sewing 2 section a knot is tied with

See drawing and follow the the tail of the starting
direction of the red thread, thread which is hanging from
then compare the image with the first section.
your finished sewing.
Here follows a very schematic Third section
description. The thread goes into the first
hole on the right, close to
First section the right-hand strap,
The thread goes into the first encircles the strap, goes back
hole on the right, close to into the same hole as before,
the right-hand end strap, and goes out and in to the
comes out at the end of the left.
section, passes over the top The thread comes out before
of the section, encircling the the last strap, goes over it,
strap and goes back into the goes back into the section and
same hole as before (each time comes out at the same hole.
you go back through the same Before going up to the next
hole, be careful not to go section a kettle stitch is
through the thread when made by slipping the needle
inserting the needle). under the thread you have just
The thread then travels left, sewn around the strap and also
passing out and in the section catching up the thread at the
and over the other straps same point in the section
until the end strap is below the one which you have
reached. The thread comes out just sewn on. The needle then
before the last strap, passes goes back up and under the
over the top of the section to thread that emerges from the
encircle the strap and emerges upper section, making a
through the same hole. The loop.(NB The needle must be
second section is laid in slipped outwards, towards the
place. edge of the book-block).
Tighten the thread by tugging
Second section it upwards to make the
The thread goes into the first characteristic pattern that
hole on the left, close to the you can see in the image
left-hand end strap. Comes out above.
at the end of the section, From this point the sewing
passes over the top of the goes on in the same way,
section, encircling the strap making kettle stitches at each
and goes back into the same section before going up to the
hole as before. The thread one above.
goes to the right, out and in
all along. It goes out at the Sewing 3
last hole and out again after See drawing and follow the
encircling the right-hand direction of the red thread,
strap. then compare the image with
Before going up to the third your finished sewing.

Crossed Structure Binding Protective by Carmencho Arregui - [Link] 4

Seen from the outside there is thread running over head and
no difference between Sewing 2 tail edges as well. It keeps a
and 3. The process is as consistent swell along the
before but this time the volume’s spine and can be a
thread encircles each strap. good choice for larger or
This gives an all-along sewing heavier books.

sewing 2
inside each section, with the

kettle
stitch

knot

sewing 3

kettle
stitch

knot

Crossed Structure Binding Protective by Carmencho Arregui - [Link] 5