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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):
Stab Bound Measurements
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 0
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 1
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 2
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 3
Step 4: Push the needle down through the hole to the left in the row closer to the spine.
Tortoise Shell Stab 4
Step 5: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 5
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 6
Step 7: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 7
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 8
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 9
Step 10: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 10
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 11
Step 12: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 12
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 13
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 14
Step 15: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 15
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 16
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 17
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 18
Step 19: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back down through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 19
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 20
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 21
Step 22: Loop the needle and thread around the spine and back up through the same hole.
Tortoise Shell Stab 22
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 23
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 24
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.
Tortoise Shell Stab 25