Following on from our most popular posts ‘Top 10 Secret Belgian Binding Tutorials‘ and our infamous ‘Top 15 Japanese Stab Binding Tutorials on the Internet‘ I decided to put together a collection of the best long-stitch bookbinding tutorials on the internet.

Below you will find a hand-picked, reviewed and summarized list of the best tutorials on the long-stitch technique. We’ve included blog posts, PDF’s, video playlists and photo galleries – we hope you’ll find it a good resource 🙂

Please also don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of this page before moving on.

Find more tutorial collections at iBookBinding.com:

So a little background as to what the long-stitch bookbinding method is…

The long-stitch bookbinding method is one of the most simple bookbinding techniques known to man (and woman), it requires no glue, can look as equally rustic as it can professional and offers fantastic binding strength. The technique involves sewing the signatures direct to the cover.

There are two types of long-stitch bookbinding methods, one involves cutting or slicing the cover and sewing the signatures through these slices, and the other involves punching holes in the cover and sewing through the holes. Very similar, but a little different.

The ‘sliced’ long-stitch bookbinding sewing method has been used since the 18th century but the other method, the punched hole method, has been around since the medieval era and was thought to of originated from Germany.

You will often see the long-stitch binding method used in conjunction with the chain stitch often on the first and last rows of the punched holes.

Extended book covers are often used with the long-stitch technique so they can be wrapped around the front of the book and fastened to ‘shut’ the book.

Follow our pinterest channel by clicking the button above to see more photos and examples of long-stitch bookbinding.

So, if you’ve ever wondered how to make a long-stitch bound book then please read on! Enjoy 🙂

#1 Long-Stitch Leather Journal – Intermediate

Perhaps one of the best tutorials out there for making a long-stitch leather journal can be found at Tutsplus.com. It has many clear photos and covers the basics steps of making a long-stitch book. I’d advise reading through this tutorial before moving on. More advanced techniques can be found in the tutorials below.

View Tutorial on Tutsplus.com

Tutorial Contents

Supplies

Cutting your text block

Cutting your cover

Making signatures

Cutting/Punching holes in the signatures

Punching holes in the covers

Sewing signatures to book cover

Attaching your closure for your book

Making a ‘weavers knot’

#2 Long-Stitch Bookbinding – INTERMEDIATE

A two-part tutorial on how to make a long-stitch book using recycled covers using the long-stitch slit technique. The tutorial also covers how to wrap the long-stitch around the outside edges of the cover, a common style you’ll see in many long-stitch bound books. Big thanks to Anya for taking the time to put this tutorial together, the photos are excellent!

View Tutorial on SAS Does

Tutorial Contents

Gathering Supplies

Folding Pages

Assemble Signatures

Preparing Book Block

Measuring Block

Measure Cover

Fold Cover

Marking & Piercing Signatures

Cutting Slits

Sewing Signatures

#3 Leather Long-Stitch Bookbinding Tutorial – Beginner

Another great tutorial on how to make a leather journal using the slit technique by Lynn Taylor. Minimal materials needed, clear photos and some excellent advice in the descriptions of each step.

A great starting point for beginners.

View Tutorial on Torta Gialla

Tutorial Contents

Gathering Materials

Preparing Signatures

Punching Holes in Signatures

Cutting Holes in Covers

Sewing signatures into covers

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#4 Leather Long-Stitch Book – Advanced

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Perhaps one of the best tutorials out there for making a long-stitch journal or book. It covers a number of advanced long-stitch techniques and talks you through making what I consider the most well made long-stitch book out there.

This is part 2 of a 3 part series on how to make a long-stitch book, the first part focuses on how to make “deckled” edges for your signatures.

View Tutorial on Lizziemade.blogspot.com

Tutorial Contents

Preparing the covers

Choosing the Cover

Cutting leather

Measuring the book cover

Selecting lining paper

Lining the leather

Making a spine stiffener

Covering and marking punch holes on the spine stiffener

Punching holes in spine stiffener and cover

Punching holes in signatures

Binding signatures to cover

#5 Long-Stitch & Link Stitch Bindings (PDF) – Intermediate

A wonderful PDF tutorial put together by San Francisco Center for the Book. If you’re looking for a tutorial you can print out and take into your workshop then this is it.

Covers a bit of background on the long-stitch and linkstitich binding along with numerous variations on stitching patterns and covering designs.

Download PDF here at Red Squirrel Studio

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#6 Bookbinding in Long-Stitch – Advanced

A very text-heavy tutorial on how to make a Long-Stitch book. Full of useful information, tips & techniques and diagrams to help you bind your first book.

Whilst it has some limited diagrams, the descriptions are very comprehenisve and thus might only be suitable for somebody with prior experience of long-stitch binding. A great source of information none the less.

View Tutorial on WikiBooks.org

#7 Long-Stitch Binding Tutorial (PDF) – Basic

This long-stitch binding tutorial by Emma Jane Hogbin covers the tools and materials you’ll need to get started on making your first long-stitch bound book.

Comprehensive process description but lacking good photographs. A good for an introduction or quick printout.

Download long-stitch instructional tutorial here on emmajane.net

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#8 Slotted Spine Long-Stitch Bookbinding Tutorial — Beginner

A 14-step guide for beginners on how to make a long-stitch bound book. An old website but still hosts some useful information.

View Tutorial on Aj Banks My Web

#9 Bookbinding Tutorial – Intermediate/Advanced

A fantastic and very comprehensive guide to making a long bound book by Douglas W. Jones, broken down into 12 sections it takes you right the way through from preparing the signatures to making a dust-jacket for your completed book.

View Tutorial on University of Iowa Center for the Book

#10 Long-Stitch Bound Journal – Intermediate

A photo heavy tutorial on how to make a beautiful leather bound journal from recycled paper and leather.

View Tutorial on Are you flowin’ blog

#11 Hybrid Long-Stitch & Button Tutorial – Advanced

A fantastic little tutorial with some great diagrams on how to make a long-stitch bound book. A great website with lots of useful bookbinding information.

View on CaiLun.info

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Bonus #1 Full Book Tutorial – Advanced

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Taking your long-stitch binding methods to the next stage. In this tutorial you will learn how to progress onto attaching a book cover separately to the text block. Great photographs and descriptions to go along with them. Highly recommended for those looking to progress their bookbinding skills.

View Tutorial at the Postman’s Knock

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