As an after thought, I decided instead of decorating the covers of the books themselves to decorate the cover of the slipcase. Here is a scanned image of what it looks like now. I love the medival feel this has.
After half of the slip case is assembled, I flip it over onto the reverse side and trim my corners. The overhanging paper is then glued to the top, the bottom, and to line the opposite inside of the slipcase. You will see the cut areas on the top and bottoms, if it bothers you, additional paper can be cut the width and length of the case and adhered once assembling is finished.
Next, PVA is applied liberally to the reverse side, shown in the last photograph, and flipped over onto my desired paper. Then, I trim it and cut all the necessary fold lines.
Here I used a gummed cloth mending tape to adhere the assembled box together. Gummed linen tape made by Lineco would also work; this is just what I happened to grab out of the studio.
Before I begin cutting, I first have to determine the actual size of the books. My book is just a fraction of a inch larger than Linda'd due to the binding so for this illustration, I'm using it. I determine the height, length, and width of the books. The height and length using mine; the width using both books. I cut 2 side panels, 2 tops {1 actually to be used for the bottom}, and one the length and width needed. You can see in this photograph that there is approx. 1/8" - 1/4" surrounding my book.
The coptic stitch starts inside the book's center signature and a tail is left. I sew from the inside bottom hole to the outside of the signature. From there, the thread is taken under the book cover and through the cover, where it taken back down into the signature of the book once more. The thread is taken to the center hole in the signature and sewn through the signatures to the outside again where this step is repeated then on to the last hole. When I reach the last hole for attaching the front cover, I start to work on attching the back cover. Since, my thread is in the inside of the signature and I need it outside the signature to begin again, I simply take it through to the bottom hole on the opposite end of the book and repeat the above steps.
Binding my book is a bit different since I choose to use a Coptic stitch. I use the same gig for the placement of the book holes only this time I make them in from the left edge of the book covers... approximately 1/4" or so. I use the awl guild on the signatures to create the same template as the pamphlet stitched book.
Next, I thread my needle with waxed linen thread. I determine the length of the thread by the lenght of the book cover X 3. Starting from the outside center hole, leaving a 2" tail, I sew through the book cover and the signatures to the top hole and come back out. From there, I skip the center hole, go the bottom hole and again stitch in through the book cover and the signatures. I pull the thread taunt, carefully, just enough to be sure it is snug without tearing. From the bottom hole on the inside of the book, I bring my needle up to the center again, using my opposite hand, I move the waxed linen tail on the outside of the cover over so that I can capture the single thread that I previously sewed, and bring my needle and thread back out of the signatures and the cover. Trim the thread with the needle end attached to 2" and tie a square knot after being certain the book is taunt. Here is a picture of the book actually bound.
Next, I use the same gig and the Louet awl guide to punch holes in the center of books folding cover. I use the awl guide to line up each of the 3 holes then, use the awl to punch through the book cover.
I am often asked how I determine the placement of my bookbind holes so I'll tell you. I use a gig. A gig is a simple piece of paper that is the same height as the book and I normally make mine at least a 3/4" wide. This one was just randomly cut. First, I fold it in half along the width to determine a center point. Next, I unfold it, and fold in half length-wise to determine my center hole placement, then I fold each end into the center. Were the folds intersects, is where I make my holes. This photograph shows Linda's book, open to the center of her signatures which the gig in place. I lay it in the Leout awl guide to assist me with getting the holes punch in the center of the signatures.
