Box Stitch Binding

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.

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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.

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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”

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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.

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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