Kirsten Varga - August StencilClub

Hello fellow Creatives! Kirsten here jumping into another bookmaking project. For this month's project I wanted to tackle the one structure I still struggle with: sewn binding. If you have been following along with me for awhile you may have noticed that I am still learning when it comes to thick sewn books like coptic or case binding. I struggle to get the correct thread tension so my signatures won't wiggle around.

Well, practice makes progress and it's been awhile since my last attempt of a sewn structure so I decided to make a basic codex. It's a text block that is encased in a cover. A text block is simply the inside pages of a book. It's the block of paper formed by multiple signatures (the cut and stacked pages of a book).

My instructions came from the book Cover to Cover by Shereen LaPlantz. The cover material is Kraft-tex® that I painted and stenciled. The inside pages are 110lb. mixed media paper. The only thing I left out of the original directions is eliminating the spine piece. I am quite pleased with the results! 

The StencilClub designs for August designed by Gwen Lafleur are called Bogolanfini. This stencil set provides many designs that can be applied in a variety of ways like backgrounds, dividers and borders. 

Check out the video below for all the details!

Happy Creating!

Find me on Instagram: @kirstenvarga

Join StencilClub by August 15 to receive these exclusive stencils and accompanying video tutorial with PDF (both downloadable!), and 20% OFF STENCILS EVERY DAY!!

Stencils used:

Other Supplies:

Kraft-tex® Paper Fabric

Mixed Media Paper - 110 lb

Chipboard

Acrylic Ink and Paint

PVA glue and glue spatula

Bone folder

Scissors

Linen thread 18/3 and needle

Beeswax

Awl

Ruler/pencil

Piercing cradle