#sewing frame

allow me to show off the embroidery frame stand my dad made for me! (i mean, i asked him to make it for my birthday, but still).

it's adjustable in so many ways:

the legs can be assembled in multiple ways to adjust the height and angle of the frame

the width between the rolls have 3 settings (it's on the middlemost in these pictures)

whatever you're working on can be rolled up on either side, and easily rolled from one side to the other

the whole frame can be easily rotated to access the back of your work

(via http://jeffpeachey.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/blank-book-sewing-frame.jpg?w=625)

This is a great video (with great subtitles and no distracting audio) that shows you exactly how to prepare a text-block for sewing a book on a sewing frame. 

Okay, in my last post I showed how I had sewn up two paper blocks in one go on my sewing frame. It was a decent idea in my head so when I got a chance I decided to knock up something a little more reliable.

It's pretty simple. All it is is a piece of 9mm MDF and a couple of pieces of 15mm x 41mm pine. Its all off-cuts so I didn't need to get anything for it. I actually made 2, but then my scraps ran out. I was in the mindset that if it worked, then I would then re-make them in the future all fancy and stuff out of silver-birch or Evergreen Alder or something.

So I rigged up my sewing frame to accommodate 2 paper blocks side-by-side. Doing this really showed me the limitations of the clamping system I have on this frame. I really need to make a new one ASAP.

With the first two sewn up, I put the first table on top. By some stroke of serendipity, I placed the paper blocks just close enough to fit underneath the legs. In the future I'll be making the tables wider.

The second tier of paper blocks sewn on without too much trouble. I think I'll have to do something to make it so they don't slide as much. Silicone or rubber dots on the bottom perhaps.

As expected the third tier went on without any issue. I just boosted the efficiency of my Sewing frame by 600%! I guess I could have kept on going but I ran out of height so 3 tiers of books is enough. I'm really glad this worked. it was so much quicker than re-setting the frame after each book.

Hopefully reading this has given some of you some ideas :)

During this Sewing Frame Build I realised just how important precision is in some cases. With the supports it mattered not at all if I was a few mm out  in the end after sanding and whatnot. But the contact clamps? They needed to be absolutely spot on.

As was seen in part one, I didn't do that. I must have been only a few mm out in drilling the peg hole in either the dowel or the side support but it made it so the clamps had a gap when fully closed. This is not good when you're trying to clamp onto something which will slide happily out of that hole with a little pressure.

I ended up (hopefully) fixing the clamping problem by gluing leather onto the rails and clamps in addition to making leather packing rings.

Bookbinding equipment

Sewing frame, A3