Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books
A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology

sewing

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The process of securing the sections or leaves of a publication by means of thread in such a manner as to insure a consecutive and permanent unit. There are two basic approaches to sewing a book: 1) through the center sewing frame folds of the sections, e.g., FLEXIBLE SEWING ; and 2) through the sides of the leaves, e.g., OVERSEWING . There is also a subdivision of the latter, one which involves penetration of the sewing thread through the entire thickness of the text block, e.g., SIDE SEWING .

For many years sewing was distinguished from stitching, in that sewing involved joining groups of leaves or sections to each other, gradually building up a complete text block; whereas stitching involved uniting the entire group of leaves or sections from front to back through the entire thickness of the text block, as in JAPANESE SEWING or side sewing. Both types, however, involved the use of thread. Today, on the other hand, sewing is considered to be construction of a text block by means of thread, while stitching is done by means of wire staples. See also: OVERCASTING ;RECESSED-CORD SEWING ;REVERSED V-GUARD ;SINGER SEWING ;SMYTH-CLEAT SEWING ;TAPE SEWING (1) .

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