A reference guide on bookbinding types

When I tell people I'm a bookbinder they often think I make only one type of book; the library kind. That, however, is only one of the many ways an artist can create a book. For me, it's a fun challenge to pick the right binding style to go with the purpose of the book. Whether it is a novel that needs to look really classy or medieval, a sketchbook for a graphic novelist or a paper about connections that lets me show the binding. In this article I'm going to tell you a little bit about all the types of bookbinding that I know. I'm not going into details but, if possible, I will link to images and tutorials that do.
If you're here for inspiration: this guide is pretty long. I recommend scrolling through the images first!

To make a start...

The different ways of binding books can be broken down into two general groups: adhesive bindings and non-adhesive bindings. Adhesive bound books are the books you usually buy in bookstores: pockets, hardcovers, etc. Non-adhesive bound books almost always show the way they are bound; they have open spines or show the binding thread on the outside of the book. This last group is called non-adhesive bindings because they can be achieved without using any paste or glue. This is, however, not a necessity.

Terms

Signature - A signature is a set of papers folded one time.
Book block - A book block is a set of sewn signatures or a stack of glued single sheets that make out the inside of the book.
Endpapers - Endpapers are sheets of papers, folded once, attached with a little bit of glue at the spine-side at the front or the back of the book block.
Headband - A headband is a band made out of thread looped around a rope or strip of leather. Headbands can be machinemade and glued at the head and tale of the spine of a book. They can also be handmade by sewing them onto the signatures.
Hinge - The hinge of a book is the place near the spine of the book where the cover folds open.
Rib - A rib is a thickening on the spine of a book. This thickening is created because there are ropes below the cover material. Sometimes fake ribs are created by placing strips of cardboard below the cover material.
Slot - A slot is a cut in the paper, creating a place for the glue to adhere to or the thread to go through.

Non-adhesive bindings

Non-adhesive bindings #1: Pamphlet stitch

The pamphlet stitch can be used to bind single signatures into pamphlet. A string is sewn through 3, 5, 7 or up (depending on the size of the paper) pierced holes in the fold of the signature. Both ends of the string always end up in the middle, creating the opportunity for easy finishing by means of a single knot.
While it could be argued if a single signature can be called a book, I've included it in this list because the pamphlet stitch itself can be used in combination with other binding techniques (such as the Concertina fold) to create multiple signature bindings.
The pamphlet stitch is sometimes used to bind two signatures together. The cover will have a double Accordion fold in the middle with a signature sewn into each inner pleat.

Tutorials:

- Pamphlet Stitch Tutorial by ThePressGang-ink, deviantART tutorial

- Pamphlet Stitch by unknown, PDF

- Double Signature Stitch Journal by Janet Banks, PDF

- 5-hole Pamphlet Stitch by ElvieStudio, video

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Non-adhesive bindings #2: Stab-bindings (or Japanese bindings, Album bindings)

Stab bindings can be used to bind single (not folded) sheets into a book. Stab-bound books will not be able to lay flat when opened in the middle. In Japan, these bindings have been used for centuries. 4 major sewing patterns can be identified in Japanese stab-bindings: The Noble binding (Koki Toji), The Tortoise-shell binding (Kikko Toji), The Hemp-leaf binding (Asa-No-Ha Toji) and the 4-hole binding (Yotsume Toji). Covers of stab bindings may be sewn together with the rest of the papers, or folded over or around the book block, making the binding invisible before opening the front cover.
Instead of sewing the pages, they can also be held together using book screws, the so called nuts and posts, creating an album stab-binding. An added bonus of this variety is the ability to add or remove pages, or to change the order of the pages, making it perfect for photo albums, recipe books, collecting books, etc.

Tutorials:

- Japanese Stab Stitch Binding by If-Wings-Could-Fly, deviantART tutorial,

- The Four Hole Bookbind by pdtnc, deviantART tutorial,

- Japanese Stab Binding by lexarch, deviantART tutorial,

- Japanese Bookbinding Tutorial by Tuteate, video

- Screw Post Binding by pupuccachu, webpage

- Postbound DIY bookmaking by Brooke Adams, video

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Non-adhesive bindings #3: Long stitch (or Medieval limp binding)

The long stitch binding method is a quick sewing method that binds the signatures and cover together with the same single thread. The cover can be slotted or pierced before sewing, or pierced during the sewing procedure. Because the thread will go in and out of the cover, and in and out of the signatures; two variations of sewing can be used. One variations will see all the outside thread on the same line while the other alternates between slots. Sometimes thread patterns are created by crossing over to different signatures during the sewing process.

Stitch variations on the long stitch binding method include:
- The buttonhole stitch, where alternate slots will be removed to create exposed parts of the signatures, and the signatures will be locked together using the buttonhole stitch at the head and tail of each slot.
- The link stitch, where the binding will not be looped through the ends of the signatures but instead a link stitch will be used at the outside of the cover, creating a sort of chain-binding at the head and tail of the spine.
- Sewing onto tapes, where we sew around tapes instead of cover-slots. These tapes will then be attached to the two separate covers.   
- Sewing onto cords or ropes, where we sew around a cord and then go back into the same pierced hole. The cords will be attached to two separate covers. Sometimes two cords are placed tightly against each other. 

Tutorials:

- Rainbow Book Tutorial by BoekBindBoetiek, deviantART tutorial

- Long Stitch Leather Journal by Erica Munoz, webpage

- Long Stitch Binding Tutorial by Sea Lemon, video

- French Link Binding Tutorial by Pastiche Knitwear, webpage

- The Exposed Tape Binding by Molly Brooks, webpage

- Exposed Tape Tutorial by lunkirsten, video

- Sewing on Cords by BookbindersChronicle, video

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Non-adhesive bindings #4: Coptic bindings (including the Caterpillar binding)

The Coptic binding is an appealing exposed spine sewing method. The thread will come out of a pierced hole, loop around a piece of thread from the previous signature, and go back into the same hole. Getting a tight and even binding will take a little practice, but is certainly worth the effort. The binding does not have to be straight, it can be sewn criss-cross or smooth or in patterns. Covers can be made out of folded sheets that may be glued together or from stiff cardboard. It's important to make the covers the exact same height of the pages. The binding is not strong enough to keep the signatures from sagging, if they can not rest on the shelf during storage.
The Caterpillar binding is a variation on the coptic binding using paired holes. Threads coming out of both holes come together in the middle, creating the illusion of a caterpillar with a million legs, crawling over the spine and the covers.

Tutorials:

- A handy notebook tutorial by ThePrinceOfParties, deviantART tutorial

- Coptic Bookbinding by mouse2cat, deviantART tutorial

- Coptic Stitch Sketchbook by Sea Lemon, video

- Caterpillar Stitch by Keith Smith, PDF

- Caterpillar Stitch by Mike Commons, video

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Non-adhesive bindings #5: Secret Belgian bindings

The way the secret Belgian bound books are made was only recently rediscovered. This binding method is wonderful because it creates the illusion of a full hardcover book, while you can create the front, back, and spine boards separately. This creates the opportunity to use unbendable materials like plastics and wood for the entire book. The special sewing method binds all three cover-parts and the signatures together in one go.

Tutorials:

- Secret Belgian Binding by GatzBcn, webpage

- Top Secret Belgian Binding Tutorial by Erin Fletcher, webpage

- Secret Belgian Binding Art Journal by Monique vmb, video

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Non-adhesive bindings #6: Piano hinge binding (or Skewer binding)

The Piano hinge binding is a very sculptural binding method. It uses pins to bind papers together by inserting them into alternating slots at the bend of the (very thin) signatures. When this kind of book is opened, a dovetail hinge can be seen. 

Tutorials:

- Piano Hinge Book Tutorial by madcrafter, webpage

- How to make a Piano Hinge Book by Bumble, webpage

- Piano Hinge Book by Tricia Morris, video

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Non-adhesive bindings #7: Compound bindings (including the Concertina binding, the Dos-à-dos format and the French doors format.)

Compound bindings incorporate two or more binding types into one book. The most common of these compound bindings are the concertina binding, the dos-a-dos format and the French doors format.
The Dos-à-dos format binds two separate books together, sharing one back-cover. Because the spine surfaces face away from each other, these two books can not be read at the same time.
The French doors format also binds two separate books together, only this time, the books can be opened at the same time, much like opening facing balcony doors. The book on the right side would be paged through (comparing it to a normal latin book) from the back to the front.
The Concertina binding is a compound binding where signatures of the book are sewn into the inside pleats of an accordion fold. The outside pleats of this fold may left to fan out, or may be sewn together using any of the stitches motioned above. The advantage of the Concertina binding is that it will open flat, even if the 'signatures' are made from thick materials, materials of varying thickness or are single sheets. The simplest Concertina (or Accordion) book is only a long strip of paper, folded into pages.

Tutorials:

- Dos à dos by Jennibellie, video

- Folding concertinas by Benjamin Elbel, video

- Accordion book by Grace Bonney, webpage

- Accordion fold spine by Cate Prato, webpage