Hemp Leaf Binding

Measure three-quarters of an inch from the spine of the book and mark four holes along this line, where the outer holes (red) are three-quarters of an inch from the edges of the book and the other two holes (magenta) divide the space between the outer holes into thirds. Then measure three-eighths of an inch from the spine of the book and three-eighths of an inch from the edges and mark two holes (blue) and three additional holes (cyan) three-eighths of an inch from the spine of the book and dividing the distance in half between adjacent holes in the farther row from the spine. The distances can be calcuated below:

Height (green):

Row Nearer to Spine Row Farther from Spine 3/8 Inches from Spine 3/4 Inches from Spine Inches from Top: Inches from Top: Blue: Red: Cyan: Magenta: Cyan: Magenta: Cyan: Red: Blue:

Make sure the covers and pages are aligned and use the awl to punch the holes. After punching the holes, the book can be stitched. The amount of thread needed is approximately seven times the height of the book. When in doubt, cut the thread long. While stitching, take care not to rip the holes, but pull the thread as taut as possible. Too much give in the binding will leave the pages unsupported. The following is the Hemp Leaf binding pattern:

A view of the book with the four holes punched three quarters of an inch and five holes punched three eighths of an inch from the spine. The back cover is on top and the spine in the front.

Step 1: Push the needle up through the spine through the pages near the back of the book and through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine. Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back to the inner right hole. Leave a small tail inside the book to be used later to tie the knot.

Step 2: Push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the inner left hole in the same row.

Step 3: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the inner left hole.

Step 4: Push the needle up through the outer left hole in the row farther from the spine. Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the outer left hole.

Step 5: Loop the needle and thread around the bottom of the book and back up through the outer left hole.

Step 6: Push the needle down through the left hole in the row closest to the spine.

Step 7: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the left hole.

Step 8: Loop the needle and thread around the bottom of the book and back down through the left hole.

Step 9: Push the needle up through the outer left hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the inner left hole in the same row.

Step 10: Push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the outer right hole.

Step 11: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the outer right hole.

Step 12: Loop the needle and thread around the top of the book and back down through the outer right hole.

Step 13: Push the needle up through the right hole in the row closer to the spine.

Step 14: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the right hole. Then, loop the needle and thread around the top of the book and back down through the right hole.

Step 15: Push the needle down through the outer right hole in the row farther from the spine and up through the inner right hole in the same row.

Step 16: Push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the middle right hole in the row closer to the spine.

Step 17: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the middle right hole.

Step 18: Push the needle up through the outer right hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the middle right hole in the row closer to the spine.

Step 19: Push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farthest from the spine and down through the center hole in the row closer to the spine.

Step 20: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the center hole.

Step 21: Push the needle up through the inner left hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the middle left hole in the row closer to the spine.

Step 22: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the middle left hole.

Step 23: Push the needle up through the outer left hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the middle left hole in the row closer to the spine.

Step 24: Push the needle up through the inner left hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the center hole in the row closer to the spine. Then, push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine.

Step 25: Use the needle to tie a knot with the remaining thread and the tail left earlier. Pull the knot into the book through the inner right hole and trim off excess thread.