Cecilia, that idea is indeed a good one. My mind was in overdrive as I read everyone's contributions.

What a great idea! I have some machine manuals printed and just clipped together. I will have to sew them!

Love all of your ideas!! I have sewn paper tickets without thread for perforations, never thought of binding, will give it a shot --- I work in a museum would be fun to use a hand crank to sew up customers bags!!

it would be even more fun if it had a chain stitch

Fabulous idea!

I bound a copy of Devere's Tailoring book from the 1800's that way. 8 sheets of 8.5" x 11" at a time printed booklet format on both sides, folded and stitched, then those sets bound with glue.

There are color scans of some old documents like that available. I print them at work on a two sided color capable copier and when i bind them they look like the originals.. hehe

Ooooh, Lori... nice avatar!!!

Candace mentioned paper piecing... obviously this must mean sewing paper together; but what for? Have heard the term a few times and have been unsure as to what it means.

Miriam, your Consew manual seam made me giggle. Promise me that this year you'll sew your income tax filing together, eh?

Redmadder, fabric envelopes??!! Dude, teach me how!!!

Cecilia,

Paper piecing is for accurate quilt block piecing where the fabric is sewn to a paper base marked with sewing lines. It results in a very accurate block. The paper is removed after the block is complete. Only one piece of paper is used -- paper is not sewn together.

Why, so they would audit me?

I sort of don't get that.