Take it to Kinko's or similar store and ask them to remove the spine. You can have it spiral bound or just have them drill holes so you can put it in a 3-ring binder. If it is a book that I know I'll be making copies out of (for example, applique patterns), I prefer the 3-ring binder.

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

I also like to spiral bind some of my books and also have them 3 hole punched for notebooks I buy notebooks where can put title in plastic sleeve on spine and on the front. so know what book it is.

I hadn't thought of putting a spiral binding through my block tool. Will do it next time I get to town. What a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing.

I have the block book and cut the pages apart (its just a peice of plastic) be sure to keep them in order. Put them on a large key circle they will lay flat for you. I have told friends about this and we have no problem now. Plus its cheaper I found my key circle in the junk drawer

Wow...Thank you for discussing this topic. My sewing machine manual is falling apart. I know where I am going next week. the book making machine sounds great too!
Peace and blessings,

As a matter of fact, I was thinking about using some heavier cardboard for the backing for extra support for the manuals that don't have much support and that will make them stand a little better on the book shelf.

I am so glad this suggestion has helped the members. And best of all it's a simple and inexpensive way to fix the problem.

Glad it helped.

I have gotten several of my boos spiral bound especially applique and how to books.

I always have my quilt books bound at Kinko's. They do a great job. I remember when I brought my first book to them, they were kind of amaized. That was years ago. Love not having to rest something heavy on one side of the book.

Thanks for the great idea! High Ho, it's off to Office Max I go!

I totally agree. I'm trying to learn how to play piano and my book keeps closing! lol Great suggestion!

I took my new Baby Lock instruction book to a copier store - they cut off the hard binding and spiral bound it for about 6 or 7 dollars. It's sooooooo much easier to use because it lays flat whatever page is needed. That was a very good tip from the sewing machine instructor.

I never would have thought of that, great idea.

Thank you very much for the tip i have never heard of that before but now that i know i will be going to staples ASAP and getting this done

One of the first quilting books I had bound was my Quilter's Travel Companion. It's so much easier to take when traveling. I have all my quilt books bound now at Office Depot.

I am being rather dense about this...I can't picture how this would work!?!? So we're talking about a hard cover book, cutting off the spine and enough of the end of the pages so they are not stuck together...by the time you punch the holes for the spiral, wouldn't that cut into the words and pictures on the pages?!?!? :oops: :oops: :oops:

i was wondering about that i am waiting to hear the answer also

WOW...that's smart thinking.I've never seen the cards, but looks like you'll get more use of them now.

Glenda,

This discussion is about getting spiral bindings put on SOFT COVER books -- kind of like a magazine. There is no need to do this for a hard cover book because the pages in a hard cover book will stay open easily.

The print shop will cut off just enough of the back of the book to take the spine off. Spines on soft cover books are glued, not sewn, so there is very little of the book removed. Then the holes for the spiral coil are drilled into the margin. There is always a margin on both sides of a page, so there is plenty of room for the new spiral binding.

I have never had a print shop drill holes for a 3-ring binder, but i can't imagine that those holes would extend into the printed portion of the page.

All books (including soft cover books) are set up pretty much alike, so this works with all of them.

I am a chef by trade, and someone wonderful gave me a cookbook holder last year for Christmas that stands your cookbook up on the counter, and has a ledge that keeps it open to the page you are working on. WElllllllllllll, it is not used in the kitchen anymore. It is the BEST thing I have ever found to hold my pattern or book while I am quilting. I've been spreading the word and everyone seems to love the idea. Its really great. I can actually see what I need without having to move all over the sewing room.

Thank you so much MomtoBostonTerriers for your wonderful explanation. It was late last night when I was reading this thread so I'm going to blame it on that for not understanding exactly what we were talking about. Thanks again!

:D

DITTO!

I agree. I am automatically drawn to spiral bound quilt books. I think the same should apply to sewing machine instruction manuals

I must be the only one that has the same problem with my hard cover books staying open as the soft cover ones. LOL. I wanted to do them too.

I just use the plastic sheet inserts that are already punched and put them in a 3 ring binder. If I really want to save something, I laminate it, virtually indestructible.!

Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

I did this done at Office Max with all my paper piecing books - slice off the binding, 3 hole punch - all for 99 cents per book!
It's so much easier to photocopy one page instead of trying to squish the book into the copier :thumbup:

Office Max or Office Depot binds them for about $4.00. Good luck.

I brought an old college cookbook for re-spiral binding because after years and years of use, some of the ages were beginning to tear out. There wasn't enough space left at the left side of the page for repunching holes for the spiral, so they trimmed off the old edges and placed the new spiral at the top. Now the book is a flip-top book and really works well.

I had never even heard of this before. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

My DD gave me a fancy iron scroll-work cookbook holder for Christmas last year. It has never held a cookbook but lots of quilting books and patterns. It's tilted just right so I can easily see the pages.

Wow, I never thought of that but mine will be on it's way to an office supply store to be spiral bound. How neat and easy to use then. A great big thanks...

the colored key tags are a good idea.....thanks.

Gramalama9

I get it done with all of mine that need to stay open in order for me to use them. It's not expensive either. 8-)

Whenever i buy I quilt book I take it to staples and have it spiral bound.

What a great idea! :thumbup:

I never thought that such a brilliant idea could be so simple. /Thanks for the tip.

I've had some of my books done that way and absolutely love it. It definitely makes them easier to use, as you can flip to the page you want and it stays put.