The Manuscript Codex * Structure
LINK-STITCH SEWING

An unsupported sewing, dominant in Islamic manuscripts. The thread goes into the gathering at one of the sewing stations, passes along the spine-fold on the inside of the gathering, and exits the gathering on the spine at the next station. When the thread exits the last station in the gathering, it then passes behind the thread going into the adjacent station on the previous gathering and up through the loop formed by itself in this passage. Once the thread is pulled taut, the loop cinches the thread passing through it, thereby forming a kind of knot to secure the sewing. It then continues on to the next gathering to be sewed. Thus as the sewing progresses, two or more – depending on the number of stations – chains of linkages are formed.
 
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UBL OR. 206

 

 

AUTHORS: PAUL HEPWORTH AND KARIN SCHEPER