Montana land of the big sky

Six of us headed out to Montana to do some fly fishing.  We rented a Forest Service Cabin; a log homestead built in 1917.  It sits in the valley between tree topped hills along side a small rocky creak that flows into a bigger rocky creek where we fished.

The fall landscape is beautiful.  Winding blue water framed by Golden grass covered fields and tall green pines with red bark; tree covered hills with Rocky outcrops; brilliant blue skies with billowing white clouds.

The two story cabin had a propane stove and lights.  It didn’t have a refrigerator, so we kept our food in coolers on ice.  A shed behind the house contained the pit toilet, shower and wood storage area.  The largest part of the shed was occupied by wood, since we used the central wood stove to heat the house.

While painting the cabin I notice movement in grass, a mountain grouse was out foraging.

We spent most of our days fishing and relaxing on the porch.  I caught and released several Rainbow and Brown Trout.  

Fly fishing and sketching

I have been fishing my whole life.  By the time I was five, I was helping clean the fish we caught.  Blue fish, Striped Bass, Rock fish, Porgies and Blowfish were all common in the sound and bay.  I spent my time near the water, on the water, and in the water every day of summer vacation.  If we weren't fishing we were scalloping or clamming or sailing or swimming or walking the beach.    

I learned to Fly fishing much later in life, but found it to be just as wonderful as my childhood summers.  I am outside standing in a clean rocky stream surrounded by forests, fields and mountains.  I fish for trout use barbless hooks, and practice catch-and-release.  Casting is more challenging and getting your line tangled more common, and the frustration can ruin an otherwise great day.

When I start to get frustrated I find a place to sit, drink some water and do a few sketches.  I carry a small  pocket sketch book and pencil in my waders.  I sketch what ever is around me.  After a few sketches I am calm and ready to start fishing again.

 

Printing and Books: Double pamphlet stitch book

The final two classes were devoted to making a Double pamphlet stitch book (also known as Japanese double pamphlet).  The pamphlet stitch is an easy way to bind a small book.  It consists of one signature and a cover.   The signature will have only enough pages to be easily fold.  That can be from 2 to 15 pages, depending on the thickness of the paper.  The size of the paper, determines how many holes are used to stitch the spine of the book.  The most common are three or five, but more holes can be used if needed.  The binding always has an odd number of holes.  A double pamphlet stitch book has two signatures, so it has double the amount of paper.

Materials

• Paper: 10 sheets of 8 1/2" by 11" lightweight paper that easily folds
• Cover: 1 sheet of medium weight card stock
• Book cloth: 3" x 5 1/2"
• Thread: ~17" (3x the length of the spine)

The book has two signatures with 10 folios each.  The paper is cut to make in half to make twenty 8 1/2" wide x 5 1/2" tall sheets.  These pages are divided into two sets of 10 pages each.  Each set of pages are folded in half and creased to make a signature that is 4 1/4" wide x 5 1/2" tall.

Cut the card stock in half to make two 8 1/2" wide x 5 1/2" tall sheets.  Fold and crease each sheet in half to form 4 1/4" wide x 5 1/2" tall covers (one for the front and one for the back).

The book’s spine is made from a piece of book cloth that is folded lengthwise to form a “W”.  Fold the book cloth in half lengthwise first and crease the fold.  Then fold each long end back to the middle, creasing the folds.

Attach the front and back covers of the book to the book cloth so that each cover is folded over one end of the book cloth.  Measure and mark 3/8" along the inside edge of each cover.  Spread a thin laver of glue along the 3/8" x5 1/2" strip of one cover.  Attach the cover to the outside wing of the book cloth lining the edge of the book cloth to the 3/8" line that was drawn.  Spread the inside of the card stock with glue and press the two sides of card stock together.  Repeat with the other piece of card stock.  Press the cover flat and let dry.

Make a stitching template with three holes.  One hole in the middle (2 3/4" from top), and the others 3/4" from top and bottom.  Use the template to punch holes in the two signatures and the valleys of the book cloth "W".  

Stitching the signatures to the book cloth.  Thread the needle.  Place one signature into each of the valleys of the “W”.  Hold them in place using a paperclip.  The two signatures will be stitched to the book cloth using a single pamphlet stitch.  Open each signature so their pages are back to back.  You will have one side of each signature with both covers between them in one hand and the other sides of each signature with the middle of the "W" in your other hand.  Start with the middle hole and stitch through one signature, the "W" and the other signature, leaving a 1" tail.  Next stitch the top holes bringing the thread back.  Stitch the bottom holes.  Finally stitch through the middle hole again, making sure to come up on the opposite side of the thread that runs from the top hole to the bottom hole.  Tie the tail and remaining thread off.

Instead of photos of making the book, i am using photos from my notes.  I keep note books on making books, printing and painting.  I refer back to them often.

This same process can be used to make a larger five hole double pamphlet stitched book.  There is also a version called the "split-pleat Japanese double pamphlet" which separated the front and back covers.  Or you can have one continuous cover following this plan.  Or just stitch two signatures together without a separate cover.