Episode 133: Hemp Leaf Binding Tutorial



As I learn about the Hemp Leaf Binding I decided to write up a quick tutorial. Here it is.

First, you’ll need some paper for the pages. The size is your choice but it should be thin. Hemp leaf binding ~ most Japanese bindings, in fact ~ favor thin pages and thin covers. Craft paper makes for a good cover as it is thick enough to be a cover yet thin enough to work properly. Then, get a scrap piece of paper the same height as your cover. On this scrap piece of paper we are going to mark the holes for stabbing.

There will be seven holes. There will be two rows: one row will have four holes labelled 1A ~ 4A.; The other row will have three holes with clever names like 1B, 2B, and 3B. The row with four holes should be about 10 mm (a bit less than half an inch) from the edge. The row with three holes should be about 5 mm (half the distance from the edge to the row with four holes) from the edge. The distance between the holes should be the same.





Let's start at the very beginning, which I'm told is a very nice place to start. The beginning is the hard part.

Here’s the short version:

Start at 2A. Wrap the thread around the edge at 2A
Go to 2B, wrap the thread around the edge (wrap)
Go back to 2A. From 2A front, go to 3A.
From the back of 3A, go to 2B.
From 2B go to 3A again and wrap the thread around the edge.
Go to 3B and wrap the thread.
Go to 3A. From the back, go to 4A.
From 4A go to 3B.
From the back of 3B go to 4A and wrap the thread around both edges.
Go to 3A. From the back of 3A, go to 2A.
From 2A go to 1B and wrap it.
Go to 2A. From 2A go to 1A and wrap it around the edge.
Go to 1B, then back to 1A, wrap it around the other edge. Go to 2A.
Tie it off at 2A.

Here’s the slightly more intimate version:

Start in the middle of your pages at 2A.

Go to the front of 2A, then wrap the thread around the edge, ending up back at the front at 2A.

Go to 2B and wrap the thread around the edge, ending up at the back of 2B.


From the back of 2B, go to 2A. From the front of 2A, go to 3A. From the back of 3A, go to 2B.


From 2B, go to 3A and wrap the thread around the edge.

Go to 3B and wrap the thread around the edge.

Go to 3A and from the back of 3A, go to 4A.

From 4A go to 3B. From the back of 3B, go to 4A


At 4A, wrap the thread around both edges.

From the front of 4A go to 3A.

From the back of 3A go to 2A.

From the front of 2A go to 1B. Wrap the thread around the edge.

From the back of 1B go to 2A.

From the front of 2A go to 1A and wrap the thread around one edge.


Go to 1B. From the front of 1B, go to 1A and wrap the thread round the other edge.

From 1A, go to 2A. Somehow find the end of the thread that’s in the middle and tie it off.


This should end up looking something like this. Hopefully, you'll be able to follow my instructions. If not, well, tell me about it.

But most of all, enjoy trying your hand at this binding, if you don't already know it.

Thanks for dropping by.