What is box stitch binding?
A box-stitched book is one in which the cover is stitched directly to the book. The goal is to show off the box stitch as a design feature, rather than hide or ignore the stitching. A box stitched book can look vintage, professional and funky.
Mini history lesson
Until about 20 years ago, all boxes in a bindery were stitched on the bottom, before packing with books. Boxes were stitched in vast quantities, using big machinery. Enter the hand-held tape gun … the big machines became obsolete and most box stitchers were scrapped … including the ones we had.
Back to today … there’s now a demand for box-stitched books (not boxes!). We searched high and low and bought a classic box stitcher. We now box stitch books … another service for our design-minded clients.
Features
- Books may have 1,2, 3 or 4 stitches per book
- Stitches are metal, 1 ¼” long x 1/8” wide
- Edge of stitches are rounded
- Colours: bronze (possibly aluminum)
- Metal is stitched into two pre-drilled holes, so no tearing or puncturing problems
- Maximum book thickness 3/4”
Benefits
- Innovative, unique stand-out design component
- Another tool in your design toolbox to create distinctive branding for your client
- Functionality: highly durable
- Perfect bound book falling apart after it has been produced? Box stitch it as a work-around.
Factors to consider
- No timeline problems
- We have the box stitch metal in stock at all times and we have the machine on our premises
- Box stitching more expensive compared to binding methods such as side sewing, riveting or eyeletting