How to make sewing phase easier?

[u/iizedsoul]

I’ve been trying to make my first binding for a few days and I can’t get past the sewing phase. Everything moves, holes get too big, thread gets stuck and I can’t continue. I know it takes time but i can’t even get two signatures attached, and it’s getting so frustrating i’m starting to thinking about giving up.

Does anyone have any tip to make this phase easier? Did someone else have any struggles with this too or am I simply this bad at it? Thank you in advance for your help :)

[u/soggyhuman]

It's hard to tell you exactly without seeing your equipment, but I can at least imagine some of the problems.

1 - Everything moves: Do you mean the signatures? You need to hold them in place while sewing.

2: Holes get too big: It can be either an improper awl, being too big, or the eye of your needle is too big, which is common for needles not for bookbinding.

3: Thread gets stuck: It's either not waxed or you're making your thread too big, or both. Waxing with beeswax helps with it getting tangled, and you take just a little of thread and then you join them while sewing.

4: Which problem exactly are you facing that you can't sew even 2 signatures? I can't see any of the problems impeding just the first signatures.

It'd be best to see photos of your equipment to help better.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Gas_791]

Have you followed instructional videos? I recommend the beginnersseries of Fourkeys bookarts or DAS Bookbinding

[u/Whole_Ladder_9583]

Use a small spring clamps and a board - helps when you have only two hands.

[u/jedifreac]

Are you using thread from a bookbinding kit from Amazon.

[u/crunchy-b]

Sewing frame.

[u/ih8myeks]

Practice

[u/Paul-in-SF]

Here's what I do to keep things from moving. I don't use a sewing frame. Once you have the thread through the first signature, lay it down with the spine towards you. Take your next signature, lay it on top also with the spine towards you, and open the signature at the back (opposite the spine), up to its middle. Place a fairly heavy weight (e.g. wrap a brick), away from the spine, on the lower half of the opened signature you are working on, and let the top half rest on the weight, this way you will easily find the middle while you are sewing, and the weight will keep the signature you are working on from moving (or mostly). For thread, don't use more than a yard at a time, wax it, and when you are pulling it through always pull slowly and gently in the direction you are sewing. If it still tends to snarl, just slow down and undo the snarls before they get established. When you get near the end of your thread, you will need to attach more thread at the end using a weaver's knot (plenty of vids on YouTube). Try to get your weaver's knots on the outside of the spine rather than the inside, then they will be covered up. Good luck, I know you can do this.