Why does my page count have to be a multiple of 4?

Every sheet folded in half makes four pages. If your content lands on 26 pages, plan for 28. The extra pages can hold notes, an ad or a blank.

How thick a book can you stitch?

It depends on the stock. Our heavy-duty stitcher runs up to 13 pockets. Tell us the page count and paper and we'll confirm it runs before we price it.

What's the difference between a loop stitch and a standard stitch?

A standard stitch clinches flat against the spine. A loop stitch forms a small eye so the booklet hooks into a three-ring binder without drilling.

What is creep, and do I need to plan for it?

Inner pages push outward as signatures nest, so their outside margins shrink after trimming. On thicker books keep live copy 1/4″ from the trim and ask for creep compensation.

Can you stitch jobs printed somewhere else?

Yes. We're a trade bindery: most of our work arrives printed from commercial printers and brokers. Send flat sheets or folded signatures.

Process 01 of 06

Stitch

Saddle-stitched booklets, catalogs and programs: folded, nested, wire-stitched and trimmed, with no glue to dry.

In: Flat press sheets
Out: Stitched, trimmed booklets

Quote a stitch job What we need to quote

Opens the quote form with Stitch pre-checked.

1What it is

Sheets are folded on the folder, then the folded signatures nest over the stitcher's saddle and are wire-stitched through the spine fold. The three-knife trimmer takes them to size. No drying time, so books are ready to pack as soon as they're trimmed.

2When to use it

Booklets, catalogs, programs, newsletters and annual reports
Page counts in multiples of 4, from 8 pages up
Tight deadlines and budgets: fast setup, no drying time
Binder-ready booklets, using loop stitches that hook onto rings

3Specs

Saddle-stitch binding: Heavy-duty stitching up to 13 pocketsHigh-speed safety stitchHard, soft and #10 folds after stitching
Loop stitching: High-speed loop stitch
Spine gluing: Up to 24 pages
Padding: High-speed padding up to 28″Crash pads

All 4 services, with loops Stitch on the spec sheet

Learn it · 0:25 explainer

How stitch actually runs.

Every step, in order. Tap a step to hold it, or let it play through.

● Step 1/4 · 0:25 loop

01 · Stitch

Fold into signatures

The folder folds each press sheet into a signature and stacks it on its delivery. One sheet folded once makes 4 pages, which is why stitched page counts come in 4s.

What moves the price

01Quantity: makeready is the same for 500 books or 50,000, so unit cost falls fast with volume
02Page count: every 4 pages adds a sheet to gather, and heavy books need more pockets
03Cover stock: heavy or coated covers are scored first so the spine doesn't crack
04Extras: inserts, loop stitches or a tipped-on card

General bindery factors. Your estimator prices the actual job after review.

4 stitch services

What stitch covers.

Each quote link opens the form with this process and that service already ticked. Combining several? Tick them all on the form.

Saddle-stitch binding

Booklets, catalogs, magazines, annual reports and financial prospectuses, nested and wire-stitched through the fold. Best for books under 240 pages.

Heavy-duty stitching up to 13 pockets
High-speed safety stitch
Hard, soft and #10 folds after stitching

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Loop stitching

Stitches formed into small eyes, so booklets hook straight onto three-ring binders without extra holes.

High-speed loop stitch

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Spine gluing

Glued binding for lightweight booklets and promotional pieces.

Up to 24 pages

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Padding

Sheets glued along one edge into tear-off pads for notepads, forms and scratch pads, plus crash pads for custom requirements.

High-speed padding up to 28″
Crash pads

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The saddle stitcher

The machine that stitches it.

Each pocket opens a folded signature over the saddle. The heads stitch wire through the spine, and the book comes off onto the stack, ready for the trimmer.