tara's stitch*illo project 2017

  One of the earliest decisions I made about this project was how I was going to actually bind it. The best way to construct a case incorporating the knitting on the spine is with a binding I learned from Todd Pattison - organizer of this project. This is an easy leather spine binding. Above are two of the books I made in class. The structure is brilliant and hides a lot of problems.  The cover is constructed so that the boards allow you tuck the spine covering underneath them.  Voila! When I took the workshop I made a sample of the structure for reference as well as note taking. Because the knitting will be so much thicker than pared leather I have to put a filler board under the covering board to keep things even.  For my teensy little knitting    I made a weensy little text block. Rounded it, and constructed the case. My idea of putting a filler board in place worked very well. I used thin mat board instead of book binder's board. 

A good friend of mine has a mantra, Practice makes Practice. To me that means that the more I do something, the easier it becomes, the more I can do something easily, the quicker I am, the more I can get done, the more I can polish the skill and so on.  The text block is sewn together.  But wouldn't you know I had to do that twice. I decided after the first go around I didn't like the thread thickness. Now it is pasted up and waiting for rounding and backing.  Thread has also been ordered from Colophon Book Arts Supply and has arrived!  In hindsight I should have finished my design first so that I would know what colors to order, but having chosen the rainbow, I think I'm covered.  I am enjoying the process of designing the spines even if it is slow going.  I managed to recreate Elizabeth Drinker's poppy and now need to see if I can scale it down enough to fit on the spine. Possibly the poppy will go sideways, not up and down.  At

If there is one thing I've learned in knitting and book arts it is to make mock ups. Always knit a swatch with the yarn you will use, in the pattern you are using, the way you are going to knit the project. If you are trying to see if what looks fabulous in your head for a book, really is?... make it in real life. Chances are there will be problems you haven't anticipated or details you have to work out before starting the actual project.  I have learned to enjoy this part of the process. Even if your mock up doesn't work out for the final project it was intended for, chances are what you learned from it will come in handy somewhere else down the line.  I've been planning how I want to knit the spine. I'm going to do color work and include the title of the book and I'm not sure what else yet. Do I reference Elizabeth Drinker's poppy pattern, or do I use the cornflower pattern inspired by the Pennsylvania Dutch illuminations in choral books we have a

For just over ten years, I have had the privilege to be charged with the care of some of our country's most significant historical papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania . Hidden among our vast collections of personal papers, manuscripts and genealogical materials are special gems such as this needlepoint covered bible. HSP does not collect artifacts. But when something such as this comes with a collection and is part of the researchable materials... well, who are we to discard it. And of course by now these have become items of research value themselves.  The Smith Family Bible's embroidered cover dated to the mid 18th Century. HSP is also the repository for  Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker 's personal diaries which span the years, 1758-1807. These are not the sparse, pithy, diaries of recording the weather and other mundane duties. Rather, they are eloquent and detailed, full of information of her daily life. Most often, the diaries are researched for her

I am thrilled to have been asked to participate in Uppercase Magazine and Todd Pattison's binding collaboration. Last year, as I understand the story, Todd proposed that Uppercase leave a few copies of their new publication on Feed Sacks unbound.  Todd asked friends who are book binders if they would be interested in binding a set anyway they wished. A friend of mine was asked to bind a copy and I loved it!  This round is called Stitchillo, a book of artistic needlework and embroidery.  Right up my ally. I have used many different needle work techniques on my artists' books in the past including crochet, knitting, and embroidery.  The minute I received the book I knew I wanted to reference historical needlework. Working in an archive, I am surrounded by evidence of women's needlework through the last four centuries.  But how to bind the work?  When I was young, a pet-peeve was when cover illustrations of books didn't match the actual story. I