An intermediate bind, easy hole pattern. Leave a comment if you have a specific tutorial you would like to see next.

**click on an image to enlarge**

hole pattern

sewing pattern

EXIT = needle pointed DOWN and ENTER = needle pointed UP
=====

enter 1, leave a tail but don’t knot it, wrap around right edge
enter 1 again, wrap around right edge at angle across from 2
enter 1 again
exit 2
enter 3, wrap around right edge, thread needle through loop from 1, point up
enter 3 again
wrap around right edge, enter 3 again
exit 4
enter 5
exit 6
enter 5
exit 4, wrap around spine at an angle to below 7, exit 4 again
enter 3, wrap around spine at an angle to below 7, enter 3 again
exit 2
enter 1
exit 6
enter 7
exit 4
enter 7
exit 6
enter 8
exit 7
enter 10
exit 7
enter 8
exit 9
enter 10, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 4 and 3, point right
enter 10 again
exit 11, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 4 and 3, point left
exit 11 again
enter 12
exit 13
enter 12
exit 11, wrap around spine to an angle below 14, exit 11 again
enter 10, wrap around spine to an angle below 14, enter 10 again
exit 9
enter 8
exit 13
enter 14
exit 11
enter 14
exit 13
enter 15
exit 14
enter 17
exit 14
enter 15
exit 16
enter 17, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 11 and 10, point right
enter 17 again
exit 18, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 11 and 10, point left
exit 18 again
enter 19
exit 20
enter 19
exit 18, wrap around spine to an angle below 21, exit 18 again
enter 17, wrap around spine to an angle below 21, enter 17 again
exit 16
enter 15
exit 20
enter 21
exit 18
enter 21
exit 20
enter 22
exit 21
enter 24
exit 21
enter 22
exit 23
enter 24, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 18 and 17, point right
enter 24 again
exit 25, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 18 and 17, point left
exit 25 again
enter 26
exit 27
enter 26
exit 25, wrap around spine to an angle below 28, exit 25 again
enter 24, wrap around spine to an angle below 28, enter 24 again
exit 23
enter 22
exit 27
enter 28
exit 25
enter 28
exit 27
enter 29
exit 28
enter 31
exit 28
enter 29
exit 30
enter 31, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 25 and 24, point right
enter 31 again
exit 32, wrap around spine, thread needle through loops from 25 and 24, point left
exit 32 again
wrap around left edge, exit 32 again
wrap around left edge to an angle across from 33, exit 32 again
enter 33
exit 34, wrap around left edge, thread needle through loop from 32, point down
exit 34 again
wrap around left edge, exit 34 again
enter 33
exit 32
enter 31
exit 30
enter 29
exit 34
enter 29
exit 27
enter 22
exit 20
enter 15
exit 13
enter 8
exit 6, tie off with tail from 1

5 responses to “japanese stab binding tutorial: kissing fish”

  1. Tati Perolada Avatar

    thank you so much!!!
    I made this and it turned out much more beautiful than I expected!
    If possible, I would like to see the butterfly tutorial.

    1. Becca Avatar

      Sure thing, Tati! I might be able to get the butterfly tutorial done by the end of next week. Look for it then!

  2. Mihael Avatar
    Mihael

    I am wondering, is there a trick when deciding to add more or less of the repeated patterns? Some techniques across the internet don’t appear to say what the rule is when you want to add additional repeats. I do hope you will put out an ebook or hard copy book with your techniques in them. I am just getting into making stab books myself and would love to have more than just the simple styles under my belt. Thanks for sharing your talent and techniques with us.

    1. Becca Avatar

      There isn’t really a trick to it, but a rule of thumb I have always used is to have at least .25″ between each hole, to prevent ripping. So it’s a matter of how much space there is on your spine, or how many holes you actually feel like drilling. For instance, my elephant bind has 33 holes per elephant. So adding a fourth repeat to the bind is a lot of extra work! It’s not any more difficult sewing it though.
      I have been thinking a lot more lately about publishing something, or even listing for sale pdf tutorials with video links. Not sure what time frame though as I have other demands on my time right now.

      1. Mihael Avatar
        Mihael

        I completely understand the time monopoly. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will be ready for them when you are able. :) Thanks for responding. Best wishes in all you do!

Leave a reply to Mihael Cancel reply

I’m Becca!

Welcome to Becca Making Faces, a blog that started out as a grad school project and has become a place where I post experiments in Japanese stab binding.

Have a look around, and let me know if you have any questions!

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