bookbinding question

[look-closer.livejournal.com]

ok, i've spent a lot of time with the tutorials in the memories section, but i have one quick question about bookbinding:

what do you all use to make the holes in the signatures when using the coptic stitch?

most of the tutorials say an awl... but the awl i have can only be used on the edges of a piece of paper, not the center, and the tutorials say to lay the signature flat when cutting holes. thusly, i am confused. i suppose i could leave them folded and use the awl halfway, but i thought i'd ask, in case i was missing something obvious.

thanks!