The great debate: hand-sewn vs machine-sewn endbands

I've been binding for about 5 years now. Started out doing all my endbands by hand because that's what the old timers taught me. Last year I got a deal on a used machine and tried switching over. My hand-sewn ones looked uneven but had that classic feel, machine ones are perfect but feel too uniform. After about 20 books with each method I'm still torn. Which side do you land on and why?

2 comments

2 Comments

tessawebb2d ago

Machine endbands are just jealous because your hands look cooler.

patricia3852d ago

Man, I actually read somewhere that the old school binders used to say hand-sewn endbands were like a fingerprint for each book, totally unique even if messy. Machine ones kill that vibe for sure, but I get the appeal of perfection. I'd probably stick with hand just for that personal touch lol