If you’re interested in making a French Link Stitch journal, this tutorial is for you! In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how I make my “wide format” french link stitch journals. These books are almost as wide as they are tall, but not quite a square. I love them because it gives me more writing and drawing space. Not everyone likes this size, but I find it irresistible! These books are especially cute when a closure is added. I’ll make another tutorial on that later!

If you’d like to learn how to make a smaller version, be sure to check out my post, How to Make an A6 size French Link Stitch Journal.

Enjoy!

Bookbinding Tutorial: Wide Format French Link Stitch Journal

Measurements: 168mm x 130mm (6.625″ x 5.125″)

Total Time: approx. 90 mins to 2hrs

Materials needed:

Yup, this is all you need!
  • 32 sheets of 70 or 80lb text weight paper
  • 2 pieces of 120lb (or heavier) double-sided decorative cardstock
  • 2 sheets 100lb cover stock for endsheets (in a coordinating color)
  • 72″ of 2 or 3-ply waxed linen thread
  • Glue stick OR liquid PVA

Measurements to use for cutting:

  • Signatures and endsheets: 164mm x 128mm (6.5 x 5.0″)
  • Decorative cardstock (120lb): 164mm x 132mm (6.5 x 5.25″)
  • Template: signature holes pierced at 6mm, 25mm, 63mm and 100mm, 138mm and 152mm (roughly 1/4″, 3/4″, 2-1/4″, 3-1/2″, 4-1/2″ and 4-3/4″)

Recommended tools:

tools recommended to build the coptic bookbinding materials kit by papercraftpanda
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Awl or thick needle
  • Bone folder OR use your fingertips to crease
  • Curved or straight needle (your choice)
  • Paste brush (if using wet glue)
  • Heavy book(s), weighted bean bag or other object to press
  • Extra sheets of scrap paper for gluing
  • A damp towel to wipe glue from your fingers

Steps to create your wide format French Link Stitch journal:

Step 1: Fold & Assemble Signatures and Covers

  1. Break the 32 sheets of paper into stacks of 4 sheets each. You should end up with 8 stacks
  2. Using the fold down method, fold each stack (also called signatures) in half and crease
  3. Fold each of the 2 endsheets in half individually and crease
  4. I’m using a Stampin’ Up! brand card stock that comes in size 12×12″. Fold each sheet in half, using care to go with the grain
  5. Cut the excess width and height away so each cover “signature” is 164mm x 132mm (6.5 x 5.25″)
  6. Lay all under weight to press for 10-15mins

Step 2: Punching the sewing stations

Create a punch template

create a punch template for the french link stitch journal tutorial

Before piercing stations, you’ll want to design a punch template. The template should have an even number of stations and include:

  • a Kettle stitch at the head and tail,
  • at least two sections in the center for the French Link Stitch pattern (each set will contain two sewing stations each)

Since the spine is unsupported, I usually go with a size somewhere between A5 and A6. These two sizes will give you plenty of room to space out the French Link so it’s noticeable.

Pierce the sewing stations

pierce signatures for the french link stitch journal tutorial
pierce signatures for the french link stitch journal tutorial
pierce signatures for the french link stitch journal tutorial

Once the template is ready, it’s time to punch the sewing stations.

Line up the template with the inside of each folded signature. Using an awl, pierce through the spine of each signature at the marked location. Use care not to make the hole too big. The needle should be able to pass through with very little drag.

Apart from the signatures, you’ll also punch the front and back covers in the same locations.

If you’re using endsheets, do not punch them. They should be glued to the first and last signatures only.

Step 3: Sewing the pattern(s)

French Link Stitch designs range from simple to intricate, but we will focus on the simple method in this post. To begin, assemble the covers, endsheets (if you have them) and signatures in the following order:

  1. Front cover, folded and pierced
  2. Endsheet, folded and tipped onto the first signature
  3. Signatures in the order they were assembled
  4. Endsheet, folded and tipped onto the last signature
  5. Back cover, folded and pierced

Step 1: Attach the cover to the first signature

Thread your needle. I like to use a 2 or 3-ply waxed thread, but you can use any thread you like. Wax does help keep things in place, so I always recommend using some unless it compromises the design.

  • Start from the back of the book. You’ll sew the back cover to the first signature. To do this, begin by running the needle into the Kettle station at the tail of the cover
  • Once inside, pull the thread until about 2″ remains outside
  • Move the needle from the inside to the outside through the next closest station
  • Repeat this pattern of moving into and out of the cover signature until you come to the final Kettle station at the head
  • You should be outside. Add the first signature on top, lined up from head to tail
  • Move the needle into the first signature at the head Kettle
  • Now move the needle outside through the first link stitch station
  • Once outside, move the needle behind the thread directly below, around and then and then up into the next hole of the signature. This will create a cross over (the “x” pattern begins)
  • Repeat this process until you get to the tail Kettle station
  • Once outside the tail Kettle, tie the 2″ piece of thread from the cover to the first signature using a single knot.
  • Now move the needle into the first signature again via the tail Kettle station
  • Tug lightly until the knot pops inside the first signature (this hides the knot)
  • At this point, I like to make a second knot by sliding the needle behind the thread just before the knot itself, but it’s not required
  • Move the needle back out the tail Kettle station
  • Slide the needle behind the connection you just made between the front cover and first signature
  • Tie a Kettle stitch
  • Add the next signature on top and enter through the tail Kettle
  • Repeat the entire process, tying a Kettle stitch at each end once reached, until you get to the final cover signature
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Thread your needle
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Leave 2″ excess outside
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Add 1st signature & feed needle into head kettle
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Loop needle behind thread of previous signature
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
It should look like this
Now feed needle into next station
Repeat process with the next station
Tie off the excess and thread together at tail Kettle
Pull knot so it’s inside the signature
Optional: create a second knot
Optional: create a second knot
Optional: create a second knot
Trim away excess
Feed needle behind thread attaching cover and first signature
Tie the kettle stitch
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Repeat the entire process with all remaining signatures

Step 2: Attach the final cover to the last signature

  • Once you reach the final cover signature, repeat the process as usual
  • At the tail Kettle, slide the needle behind the connection between the final two signatures and tie a Kettle stitch
  • Return into the back cover signature through the tail Kettle once more
  • Inside, create a knot by sliding the needle behind the thread just before the tail Kettle station
  • Clip away the excess, leaving about 2-3mm
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Return needle outside tail Kettle of final cover signature
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Loop behind thread holding previous two signatures together
Create the Kettle stitch
Return the needle into the signature and create final knot
overview how to create a book using the french link stitch technique in bookbinding
Trim away excess thread

Admire your new French Link Stitch journal

Now that you’ve completed all of the above steps, you should have yourself a beautiful French Link Stitch journal that lays completely flat for capturing your thoughts and/or illustrations.

It takes time to get the tension on each stitch just right, so don’t lose heart if your spine is a big wiggly. This is normal. As you continue to make these books, you’ll get better at figuring out the right tension.

french link stitch technique books sewn by papercraftpanda

Full Video: DIY French Link Stitch journal using double sided card stock

I hope this post has helped you learn to sew a characteristic French Link Stitch journal. It’s an incredibly fun and beautiful exposed spine technique that I think you’ll love to use in your books.

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Thank you for taking me along on your book making journey!

Misty