LongStitch Leather Journal Bookbinding Kit

New for Autumn 2022 – Our very latest “workshop in a box” – the leather Medieval Longstitch kit.

Based on a style of binding that originated in Germany around 600 years ago, this is a deceptively simple-to-make book. All the pages are stitched directly to the leather cover with decorative, exposed chain and long stitches. The flexible, wrap-around leather cover is held closed by a neat Sam Browne stud.

This substantial, robust tome contains 288 hand-torn pages of acid and chlorine-free 150gsm, FSC cream cartridge paper; making it suitable for artists and writers alike. The thick, buttery paper will take a range of media, including pen and ink, watercolour and marker pens. We have included spare paper so you can test out your chosen media before committing to your book.

Handsomely rugged and sturdy, this book would be the perfect gift or keepsake. Perfect for a myriad of uses, it can be utilised as a nature lover’s diary, a mindfulness journal, a captain’s log, a reportage sketchbook, a place to write those favourite family recipes or a volume of memoirs. The flexible cover enables it to lie flat- perfect for sketching and painting.

The cover is a single large piece of thick, rugged, superior quality, full grain ‘pull-up’ cow hide. A beautiful leather, it is both soft and robust with a mildly distressed finish, richly drum dyed and impregnated with oils and waxes, this finish will only become more beautiful with use. Over time your book will mature, accquiring its own unique patina and character.

The leather cover comes already die-cut to shape with all the holes pre-punched, making this kit incredibly easy for complete beginners to complete & as there is no glue involved, you can even replace the pages when you have filled them.

You will learn a wonderful & historical method of bookbinding and be rewarded with a real object of desire.
However you choose to fill it, this book is a pleasure to simply look at and hold and the quality materials promise to last a lifetime.

Here at Learn Bookbinding we have built an enviable reputation for producing outstanding craft kits containing high quality, carefully selected tools and materials and incredibly thorough instructions. This kit has downloadable instructions with over 180 easy-to-follow fully illustrated steps. Our kits are designed with the absolute beginner in mind (they are of course also equally suitable for keen crafters with prior experience!). If you can thread a needle and fold a piece of paper, you can be confident you will be able to complete this kit and create a unique book to be proud of.

As with all our kits we don’t just want you to make a beautiful object, we want you to ‘Learn Bookbinding!’ by completing this kit you will learn a genuine historic method of bookbinding with a modern twist.

This “Complete” version of our Leather Medieval Longstitch Bookbinding Kit includes:

Downloadable fully illustrated in-depth tuition guide
Genuine bone folder
Thread snips
Piercing awl & cork
Large bookbinding needle
505mm x 220mm 2-2.2mm die-cut and punched pull-up cowhide panel
10x A1 150gsm acid and chlorine free, FSC certified cream cartridge paper
Braided waxed cotton cord
Stitch holders
Sam Browne stud fastener

If you have already purchased our “Complete Bookbinding Starter Kit” you may find you already have a number of items included in this kit. With that in mind, you might prefer to go for the “Lite” version of this kit, saving you from doubling up on certain tools. You can find this here: LongStitch Leather Bookbinding Kit – Lite