Between custom orders, latest project has been to learn a new binding technique. Someone on my Etsy Bookbinding team (BEST) mentioned Secret Belgian Binding and it peaked my interest. I'd never heard of it before--maybe because it was so secret! Ha ha!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8F6vZXz_RoJOPnWgOs4P_jdT9Tbjnfo7qWfwAWATM1X0auh21HWhhc5a4hGp5o-H3rQteLgi-jNSSqd_L7gvdPQ0L8cpf3k1TmF3f7DUJTk1LosmodsMtnT0X8iXj6wFnki38hq0YC5D/s400/Secret+belgian+1.jpg)
This is my first book using the new technique I learned from
Annette's tutorial on Secret Belgian Binding. It's an interesting pattern of weaving thread to attach the front and back covers to the spine.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaxkrt0Kqfy2QFVlpM4KHFgUN43j5wKBaKo5NMC0Bgvf_nzKexjnX0HOphJ1MEke4LTlut9MfevuaoXYtyCtZOJFEhv1dbKyUmU8_CVfjDzl6nfrQky_puMNAQwJHlEuknmykNvQnTrq4/s400/Secret+belgian+2.jpg)
It was challenging because I misread the instructions, so I had to improvise when I got to the stitching. The "1/2" and "3/4" showed up as a blank box in my browser, which I just ignored for some bizarre reason. After things weren't lining up as they should I realized my mistake.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC6HqGqPJxY2gVhCGCK4NjJeCTJXC09aVqfWZOgirEYUgw9P35qDaHVSSD_PQ0AsmGgqpiDbl7JB8XUhWx1R3CY0coSd_zuvJk50WFIdE6ilu0xSaFDEbWj2Ehns25Ew-2Phfe7UuM1m5/s400/Secret+belgian+3.jpg)
The inside isn't as pretty and clean as Coptic stitch, but it's still pretty cool looking. Very unusual and handmade looking! No one would mistake this for a store-bought book!
If I can find the time to perfect my technique, maybe you'll see some of these books in my
Etsy shop. In the meantime, practice, practice, practice!
2 comments:
This is one I've always been curious about. Your book turned out quite lovely and I hope you do make more for your shop! Thanks for sharing the link for the tutorial. I believe it's also available in a kit from Quietfire Design.
I love the SBB! I had a few for sale in my shop long ago but never made anymore. Maybe I should get back to work on them too!
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