Japanese Bookbinding Stitches

As you explore the world of bookbinding techniques, you will eventually discover Japanese bookbinding stitches.

Bookbinding emigrated from China to Japan during the Tang Dynasty, between 618 and 907. A difference between Chinese bookbinding stitches and Japanese bookbinding stitches is that Japanese bookbinding stitches are spaced equidistantly from each other, while Chinese bookbinding stitches are not necessarily evenly spaced. Regardless, basic Japanese bookbinding stitches are easy to do and can add to the beauty of your final book.

Bookbinding Supplies
You have a variety of choices when looking at bookbinding papers, ranging from plain copying paper to fine papers that include higher cotton content. Since you are using Japanese bookbinding stitches, you might examine some of the different types of Japanese paper for your book.

Every book needs a cover. Choices for cover materials range from cardstock paper to leather to bookbinding cloth.

Bookbinding Equipment
You do not need a lot of equipment for a basic book. You will want to have a ruler, a pencil, a heavy needle and an awl. You will use your awl to punch holes through your paper and cover. Have some binder clips handy to clamp your book in place before you start to stitch it together. You may also need a paper cutter to cut your paper to the size of your choice.

Basic Japanese Bookbinding Stitches
Measure a piece of your stitching thread a least four times the height of your book and cut. Single thread your needle.

For a five-hole book, start by running your needle through the middle hole of your book, leaving a few inches of thread dangling so that you can knot the thread in place when you finish. Take your needle up to the next closest hole to the top and run the needle through. Roll the thread and needle around the spine of your book and take the needle down again through the same hole. Pull the thread tight.

Next, take your needle to the hole nearest the top of your book and stitch down. Take the needle and thread around the spine and take them through the hole again, pulling tight. Then, take the thread and needle and run a line over the top of the book and pull through that top hole again and run down to the second highest hole.

Now, ignore the center hole and take your needle and thread through the second-to-the bottom hole. At the same time, make sure that your dangling thread stays towards the open side of your book. Repeat the process on the bottom half of your book.

Bring your needle through the middle hole a final time, tie your thread flush to the book and trim the ends according to your liking.