Coptic vs long stitch binding - which do you actually prefer for durability?

I had to pick between Coptic stitch and long stitch for a sketchbook I was making last week. Went with long stitch because I wanted the spine to hold up to heavy use over time. But the Coptic lay-flat ability is really tempting. Anyone else go back and forth on this? What's your go to when you need something that lasts?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas.piper21d ago

Oh man, nobody talks about how the thread itself can make or break durability - cheap waxed thread in a long stitch will fray way faster than good Coptic thread, so your material choice matters more than the stitch type sometimes.

oscarh1621d ago

Exactly, the thread is the backbone of the whole stitch. You can have the best binding technique in the world, but skimp on the thread and it'll start snapping after a few years of use. A good rule of thumb is to match your thread weight to the book's size, heavy paper needs a thicker thread or it'll saw right through the signatures.