Tortoise Shell 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 place one pair of holes a quarter of an inch to either side of the holes in the first row (blue). 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: Blue: Blue: Magenta: Blue: Blue: Magenta: Blue: Blue: 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 six 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 Tortoise Shell binding pattern:

A view of the book with the four holes punched three quarters of an inch and eight 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 hole to the right in the row closer to the spine.

Step 3: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole and up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine.

Step 4: Push the needle down through the hole to the left in the row closer to the spine.

Step 5: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.

Step 6: Push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine and up through the inner left hole in the same row.

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

Step 8: Push the needle up through the hole to the right in the row closer to the spine. Loop the the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.

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

Step 10: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.

Step 11: Push the needle down through the inner left hole in the row farther from the spine and up through the outer left hole in the same row.

Step 12: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.

Step 13: Push the needle down through the hole to the right in the row closer to the spine. Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.

Step 14: Push the needle up through the outer left hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the hole to the left in the row closer to the spine.

Step 15: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.

Step 16: Push the needle up through the outer left hole in the row farther from the spine. Loop the needle and thread around the bottom of the book and back up through the same hole.

Step 17: 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 18: Push the needle up through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine and down through the outer right hole in the same row.

Step 19: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.

Step 20: Push the needle up through the hole to the right in the row closer to the spine. Loop the the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.

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

Step 22: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.

Step 23: Push the needle down through the inner right hole in the row farther from the spine. Loop the needle and thread around the top of the book and back down through the same hole.

Step 24: Push the needle down through the outer right hole in the row farther from the spine and then up through the inner left hole in the same row.

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.