Coptic Stitch Binding

Modern Coptic Bindings

Many book artists use variations of the coptic binding even now, since the structure maintains its strength while allowing the open pages to lie entirely flat (plus it requires no glue).  This makes it ideal for sketch books, journals or photo albums.  Some book artists have modified not just the stitch on spine, but also the appearance of the stitch joining to the covers.  Eliska Anna Kozik is one such book artists—she created mini sketchbooks that, just from the view of their covers, look more like Japanese stab bindings than Coptic bindings.  


For videos of how to prepare and sew a book using Coptic stitch and to see an image of a beautifully executed artist's book using the Coptic binding structure, either scroll down or click on the linked contents at the bottom of this page.  

SeaLemon's Preparation for Coptic Stitch
SeaLemon's Binding using Coptic Stitch
Roberta Lavadour's The Thread That Binds

There is some disagreement as to a 'true' Coptic binding.  Some book artists, particularly those that are also book historians, feel that a book structure only uses the Coptic style if two needles are used for the sewing and it follows the traditional anatomy of a Coptic binding (for the historical structure, see Historical Coptic Bindings).  

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