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Overcasting Continued: Refining A Sewn Loose-Leaf Binding Method

Four Keys Book Arts

84,775 views

It’s amazing what unintentional crowdsourcing can do.

When I set out on my investigation of the overcasting method I didn’t anticipate learning about such esoteric things as sailmaking equipment or surgical tools, and yet, here we are. I thought I was being clever in anticipating the curved needle suggestion, but it turns out I can’t compete with the collective experience and knowledge of thousands of individuals. That hive-mind produced some great ideas, though, so I’d be a fool not to take advantage of them.

One suggestion arose from several viewers on Patreon, which was to sew the book in the same direction in which I pierced the holes in the paper. This, like so many common sense things, was glaringly obvious once it was pointed out, and so I immediately resolved to adopted that habit.

Of the techniques suggested here on YouTube, by far the most common was to sew the book loosely, with tensioning the sewing following as an extra step. This too seemed sensible, so I set out to evaluate both methods.

And wouldn’t you know it, in the process I made a discovery of my own! But it came to me as part of a thought experiment in which I tried to anticipate viewer comments and suggestions, so I guess I can only claim partial credit. But it’s a good one, if I do say so myself, and like the follow-along sewing was glaringly obvious in hindsight.

I’m very encouraged with how my overcasting experiments are going. Soon I hope to refine the method to the point where I can produce a definitive tutorial on the subject, incorporating all of the best suggestions and findings. Hopefully together we can work out all the bugs and make it as good as possible!

Until then,

Cheers!

Dennis

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0:00 Preparing the experiment
2:10 Initial loose sewing attempt
8:56 Analyzing the failure
16:01 Testing a blunt needle
24:30 Conclusions on technique

20 Comments

@realitynexusbroadcast 3 weeks ago

You sir, have a tool no amateur could ever succeed without.
A printer..
..*that works*.

@weaselwolf 3 weeks ago (edited)

Stopping what you're doing when it's not working and going "What would the comments say?" is a surprisingly good self reflection tool LOL

@Reijack 3 weeks ago

If you put a cover on this book, you should make it look mildly scorched

@johnnydove 3 weeks ago

I've been making luxury leather goods for the last 4-5 years as a hobby and when you were tightening the thread and it got tough until it snapped a bit I thought man I bet he pierced the thread, I've definitely done my fair share of that! I was also thinking that you could have used an awl to pull the stitches tight instead of the tweezers, you had the right idea to close them to get more leverage and having more rounded edges, which the awl already has plus the handle is more comfortable to hold. I was also thinking you could try playing around with the relationship between thread thickness and hole size, because as you noticed it was easier to stitch through the previously stitched holes. The blunted needle definitely helps, most leatherworking needles as far as I know are already blunted compared to traditional sewing needles so it definitely lessens the chances of piercing the thread but doesn't completely eliminate it as you found out. I don't know if you've done much leatherwork outside of bookbinding but when saddle stitching it's helpful to pull back slightly on the thread that's already gone in to try to get it out of the way of the needle that's going in next, I don't know if there's a way you could maneuver everything in this situation to do something similar but that would also help to lessen the chances of piercing the thread.

@treeflamingo 3 weeks ago

12:58 all the embroiderers already know what happened 😂

@ZFG1467 3 weeks ago

Hey, I just wanted to say these experiment and tutorials type videos are amazing! Even to someone who doesn’t do book binding.

@idlerwheel 3 weeks ago

upholstery needles are blunt round tips with easy to thread eyes. A higher gauge awl seems in order since you are passing a needle multiple times thru the same hole.

@oddbirdMusic 3 weeks ago

There's a fun sewing/crosstitch trick called the loop start you might enjoy -- it lets you start a thread securely without requiring a knot. You fold the thread in half, and thread your needle by pulling the loop through. This effectively gives you a 2-ply thread, with a loop at one end, and two tails at the other. Make your first stitch, then pass your thread through the loop. Pull it tight.

There's a lot of good shorts on youtube showing how to do the loop start, too. And there's a similar technique called a russian join, that lets you join two thick threads/yarns end-to-end with no knot.

Regarding blunt needles - they actually sell them, too! Usually called tapestry needles.

Have you considered leaving the binding stitched loosely (not pulling the thread through), and letting glue hold the excess thread in place against the spine? The looseness will leave the pages more flexible and let them open easier.

Using too much tension can make life difficult in general, and it's counter-intuitive, but letting fibers relax can be helpful.

Have you considered making a custom thimble for situations like this? Either a piece of metal, or a leather one with a metal plate sewn on?

@-MCMLXXII- 2 weeks ago

Channels like this keeping this kind of craft and knowledge alive are just about the best thing about YouTube.

@kingemeraldgreenheart3586 3 weeks ago

Finally, YouTube suggests something I want to watch

@creamCarnivalJones1234 3 weeks ago

Have you considered doing Asian style bookbinding for loose leaves? Chinese/Japanese 4 hole stitching are pretty good for binding loose leaves in my opinion.

@bradleyelacombe 3 weeks ago

17:08 blanket stitch is close, but because you're not going back through the last loop, this is called a whip stich I believe

@awkwardindieauthor 3 weeks ago

In blanket stitching, you would catch the top of the stitch back on the needle. The result is a continuous row of thread at the edge of the material, and more vertical looking stitches going into the material. |_|_|_|_| Which might work for bookbinding, but I've only ever used it on fabric.

@April4YHWH 3 weeks ago

❤ “tack welding”
Yup! Former sheet metal worker here. Perfect.

@CarolineHawkins-b3k 3 weeks ago

I find that stitching through two signatures at a time is really awkward and not necessary. Just a stitch into the thread of the signature below, not through the hole, is enough and is much easier and very quick to do, and can be tightened as you go. It's also less damaging to the paper. If the holes are fine, in line close to the edge, and the spine is carefully glued and pressed it makes a very neat spine.
If you prefer a non-adhesive decoratively stitched spine then what you are using looks good but it's very awkward to stitch.
Crewel needles (used for wool embroidery) have rounded points, and some darning needles too.
My hands can no longer hold a needle and thread properly (my finger and thumb dont bend enough to meet at the tips) so just watching your videos is very happy nostalgia for me. I can still do most of the other processes of mending books but not the stitching.
Your videos are really well-made, I am always pleased when I see a new one.

@megwolff58 3 weeks ago

Wool needles are round tipped for the same reason. So you don't split the wool when you are sewing up your knitting. Really intersting video, thanks!

@paulshepherd2289 3 weeks ago

'Bookbinding science' is exciting!

@zzezda 3 weeks ago (edited)

Your Project Hail Andy series got me back into reading ( I hadn't read in a few years). Love your vids❤
Forgot to mention I'm reading Project Hail Mary and will read the rest after I finish this one.