A solid oak buttonhole binding sketching journal and notebook with hinged boards and an articulated brass clasp.

The signatures are wrapped in handmade Lotka paper dyed with natural Indigo and charcoal to decorate and protect the exposed spine. Barbour linen thread was used to sew the signatures and the spine pieces were stepped down to prevent the thread from slipping into the hinge. A hinged fore edge piece holds a brass clasp that secures the book closed on the front cover. The wood was decorated with a homemade stain to give a weathered look, highlighting tones of blue and grey that compliment the Lotka paper.

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The structure of the buttonhole binding lends itself well to a wooden construction. The hinges allow the boards to open fully whilst the two spine pieces provide rigidity and stability. The limitation with this binding is the thickness of the book and the number of signatures it can accommodate without comprising on flexibility and functionality. Because the spine pieces are solid, the signatures push against each other when the book is opened, which can become an issue when the text block is too thick. However, the main advantage of this binding is that the covers and the spine pieces are structurally independent from the sewing of the text block.. This allows for the text block to be removed and replaced when the pages have been filled.

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Although this book may be simple in its design, it is sturdy and long-lasting. Every element of its construction is structurally sound and substantial enough to provide a lifetime of use.