Pamphlet Binding

Garry Harrison

Pamphlet Binding

Treatment Criteria

The material is a single-fold pamphlet. The condition of the paper is such that it can withstand being stitched into a binder.

Sewn pamphlet binding

Tools Needed

Awl
Needle

Materials Needed

Pamphlet Binder
Linen Thread

Here we have a typical example, a single-fold pamphlet, characterized by the staples through the spine.

The pamphlet is opened to its center, where the staples are exposed.

Staples being removed with an oyster Knife

The staples are removed, using an oyster knife, as shown here, or with a microspatula.

Pamphlet with sewing holes being punched with awls

The pamphlet is placed in a binder of the nearest size larger in both length and width than the pamphlet. The pamphlet and binder are pierced at the spine with an awl or similar tool. It is sometimes handy to use two awls, to keep the work positioned and prevent it from shifting.

The number of holes is always some odd number, 3, 5, or 7, so there will be a center hole. The pamphlet we are binding is small, so we will use 3 holes. The path of the sewing for 3 holes is a figure -eight. Sewing starts inside at the center hole no matter how many holes.

This is the path of the thread for 5-hole pamphlet sewing.

After threading the needle, the thread is cut off at a length approximately 2 ½ times that of the pamphlet.

Pamphlet positioned in the binder to begin sewing

The pamphlet is placed in the binder and centered lengthwise. Stitching begins from the inside, going out through the center hole. A tail about 4 or 5 inches long is left on the inside.

First stitch started inside in the center hole

We will demonstrate the stitching, showing the parts of the thread that are not visible in red.

Needle goes from center hole outside to bottom hole outside

From the center hole, we go back in through either of the other holes.

Sewing going from inside bottom hole to top hole inside

Now we skip the center hole and go to the far end and out that hole.

Sewing going from top hole outside to center hole outside to inside

Last, we go back in through the center hole.

Center fold of pamphlet with thread ends at the center hole

The inside view illustrates that the needle end and tail end straddle the center thread. This vertical stretch of thread in the center is from when we skipped the center hole while we were stitching.

Now all slack is pulled out of the thread and it is drawn up tight. This is to be checked carefully, both on the outside and (especially) on the inside.