ˈkettle-stitch
[ad. G. kettelstich chainstich, f. kettel a small chain + stich stitch.]
In bookbinding: A knot made at the head and tail of a book in sewing it, by which the thread holding one sheet is fastened to the thread in the next.
| 1818 H. Parry Art of Bookbinding 2 Kettle-stitch, the stitch at head and foot of the book, independent of the bands, to tack or fasten the sheets together. 1846, etc. [see catch-stitch s.v. catch- 3 a]. 1880 J. W. Zaehnsdorf Bookbind. 17 The head and tail must now be sewn in to imbed the chain of the kettle stitch. Ibid. 21 The needle brought out of the kettle-stitch hole on the left or tail of the sheet. 1973 Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 30 Sept. 11/1 Dick shewed me some of the stitches used in book binding. Among them, the kettle stitch, used in hand sewing during the early days of book binding. |