1. Once you have two to a hundred signatures, it’s time to begin putting the signatures together to make a text block. Text block is the term bookmaker’s use for the pages in a book. Put your signatures in order so your pages number sequentially from one to the last page in your book.

2. Align your signatures so the folded edges of each signature are on the same side. With a pencil, mark each fold ½” and 2” from both edges. You will have four marks on each signature in all.

3. Take the first signature and unfold it, but keep all four papers together. Lay the signature flat on a board so that you can see the four pencil marks on the signature’s fold. With a hammer and nail, make a small hole at each mark. Repeat for each signature in your book.

4. When you have completed making four holes on the fold of each signature in your book, put the signatures back together in page number order. The first signature will be the top signature in the stack. With a pencil, write “first” on the top page of the first signature.

5. Thread a needle with approximately 6” of thread for each signature in your book. For example, if you have seven signatures, then 7 x 6” = 42” of thread. Your thread should match the color of your paper. If you have only one signature, your thread should be 12” and for two signatures, you might want to use 18” for ease of use.

 NOTE: A Word Document that displays the numbered order for the bookmaker's stitch can be found below #15.

6. Pick up the first signature and hold it flat so the holes in the fold are facing you and the word “first” is on top. Thread your needle through the first hole on the right, from the outer fold to the inside center crease. Leave a 2” tail dangling.

7. Thread your needle through the second hole from the inside crease to the outside fold. Be careful not to pull the thread too tight. The tail must remain about 2”.

8. Thread your needle through the third hole from the outside fold to the inside crease. Once again, be careful not to pull the thread too tight so the tail remains.

9. Thread your needle through the last hole, from the inside crease to the outside fold, and keep the tail hanging from the first hole.

10. Now pick up the second signature of your book. Make sure the second signature is in order and place it beneath the first signature, so the pages follow each other and the word “first” is on top. (I know this sounds like a lot of warning, but invariably, people turn this signature around so that it no longer goes in sequential order with the first signature.)

11. Thread your needle through the end hold of the second signature from the outside fold to the inside crease. Then go through the second to the last hole of the second signature from the inside crease to the outside fold.

12. This is where the stitch will change. Instead of going to the next hole, thread your needle through the third hole of the first signature from the outside fold to the inside crease. Then thread your needle through the inside crease of the second hole of the first signature to the outside fold. Now you can go through the second hole of the second signature from the outside fold to the inside crease. Finally, go in the first hole of the second signature from the inside crease to the outside fold.

13. At this point, if I am sitting, I put the two signatures between my knees to keep them pressed together. Then gently, I pull the loose tail hanging out of the first hole of signature one and the thread that’s hanging out of the first hole of signature two. The thread does not have to be pulled tight, but the slack should be taken out of it. Now tie the loose tail in signature one and the thread in signature two into a knot. When the knot is complete, trim the loose tail to ¼”. Do not cut the thread connected to your needle.

14. From this point forward, all the stitching will be similar. So to add a third signature, first make sure the third signature is in correct page order with the second signature and the word “first” is still on top of the first signature. Thread your needle through the first hole of signature three from the outer fold to the inside crease. Then thread your needle through the second hole of signature three from the inside crease to the outer fold. Thread your needle through the second hole of the second signature from the outer fold to the inner crease. Thread your needle through the third hole of the second signature from the inner crease to the outer fold. Thread your needle through the third hole of the third signature from the outer fold to the inner crease. Thread your needle through the last hole of the third signature from the inner crease to the outer fold.

15. When you reach the end of the third signature, loop your thread through the thread that goes from signature one to signature two. Then go to signature four and repeat the same stitch. Continue doing this bookmaking stitch with each signature until you reach the end of the last signature. Loop through the thread to the last two signatures and make a knot. Cut the thread ¼” from the knot.