Caterpillar Stitch Binding

Fall workshops were off to a creeping and crawling start with the Caterpillar Stitch Binding taught by Rhiannon Alpers of Gazelle & Goat this past Saturday in Wishi Washi Studio.

Rhiannon's class samples

 

In the morning we learned the Hedi Kyle version of the Caterpillar Stitch binding:

my practice card and caterpillar book in progress

and, in the afternoon we made Caterpillar stitches in the Keith Smith style - it was a lot trickier:

my attempt at the Keith Smith version of the caterpillar stitch

Making practice cards was key to learning these stitches and the Japanese hole punch was a handy tool to have in this class.

don't look too close - I made a boo-boo towards the end

As usual, everyone's work was spectacular.

student work

 

Thanks to Rhiannon for teaching another great workshop in Wishi Washi Studio and we hope to have her back again in the Spring!

Storage Binding Book with Macy Chadwick

Last weekend the wonderful Macy Chadwick of In Cahoots Press graced us with her presence once again in Wishi Washi Studio. She returned to teach a book structure called The Storage Binding Book. Macy had the pleasure of studying under Hedi Kyle who devised this structure and a number of the the bells and whistles that go along with it.

My finished storage binding book

The Storage Binding Book is designed to hold low relief items since the spine is flexible and expands.

 We began by staining tyvek that was used as our accordion spine, and dying our pages:

  Macy demonstrated a number of techniques:

Macy demonstrating

Because of the page design you can make windows:

 

student working on window goodness

 pull-y thingies:

is that a lonely chicken?

 

no...she has friends! (this was Macy's demo)

                          layers upon layers:

one of Macy's sample books

                  wheels that turn - called a volvelle:

volvelle in Macy's sample book

and capture items in a gentle, non-adhesive manner (some of these techniques are used by conservators to store fragile items):

this is the title page of my sample book made in class

 I love this side variation of the pull-y thing made by a student:

 

 Here's a composite pic of my finished book (I love that I get to be a student when I have guest instructors in the studio!):

For some reason my book had a very manly theme...see:

 

Such a great structure and I love all the little tricks and techniques we learned - I'm sure I'll be incorporating them into my work.

Thank you Macy!

Secret Belgian Binding

So, what is the big secret?

 Okay, this is the story:

 Updated version, 3/17/2015: A Belgian bookbinder named Anne Goy devised this binding in an attempt to create something that would resemble a Japanese style binding, but that could open fully. She considered it to be a work-in-progress when a student of hers saw and learned it. That student in turn taught it to Hedi Kyle who asked who created it - the student could only remember that she was from Belgium - thus the name Secret Belgian Binding. Hedi taught the binding to many in the U.S. and it was attributed to her. There was just (March 2015) a long thread on the Book Arst Listserv about this confusion and the story has been set straight: Anne Goy is the originator of the binding that is now also being called the Crisscross Binding - not to be confused with Crossed Structure Binding by Carmencho Arregui. Confused yet? I hope not and that this sets the record straight and that I have gotten it right. I would hate to be spreading mis-information.

Anyway, the Secret Belgian Binding, a.k.a. Crisscross Binding, was originally a hardcover structure with a three piece cover: front cover piece, spine piece, and a back cover piece. These pieces are held together with an intricate, weaving-like, sewing procedure. This three piece spine allows for a unique flexibility.

I learned the binding from Macy Chadwick many years ago at San Francisco Center for the Book. This orange book is the binding I made in that class. Although I loved the weaving/sewing, I did not love how that spine piece wiggles around and being the softcover-paper-case-loving-gal that I am I devised just such a structure. One softcover, paper case with slots cut along the spine to allow for the original sewing/weaving technique. I love it!

My class samples

And, now I teach it. It is my own version of the Secret Belgian Binding and it is still nice and flexible since it is a non-adhesive binding but it is a bit more solid, compact and secure.

Student work in progress

Last Saturday I taught the structure in my studio and as usual my students did beautiful work.

Student binding with Cave Paper

We used Cave Paper for the covers since it makes for a wonderfully sturdy book.

This workshop kicks off Wishi Washi Studio's Fall teaching schedule. I have many classes coming up in my studio, taught by me as well as three amazing guest instructors. Check. It. Out. 

I am also venturing out of Wishi Washi Studio to teach at Makeshift Society, Open Ground Studios and SCRAP.

Hope to see you out there!