Bradel Binding

• ONLINE | Pre-recorded videos.
• Kits | add a materials and tool kit to make at home 
• Short Course
• LIVE: 16th February 2025

Your course is hosted by Thinkific - you will receive an email immediately after purchase from Thinkific with details on how to access the course, so look out for that when you join us.

A Bradel binding (also called a bonnet or bristol board binding) is a style of book binding with a hollow back. The cover is created in three sections and joined separately, which allows for more movement and flexibility when opening and using the book.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a cover using two tone, colour blocked book cloth, which shows off the join seamlessly. We will explore the use of a heavier book board spine and a version using thin card.

I’ll also show you a very simple pamphlet stitch method of creating pages for the interior and how to attach endpapers to your book block and the cover.

Characteristic of the binding is that the material covering the outside boards, is separate from that covering the spine. Many bookbinders consider the Bradel binding to be stronger than case binding.

Origin

The binding may be traced to 18th-century Germany. The originator is uncertain, but the name comes from a French binder working in Germany, Alexis-Pierre Bradel. The binding originally appeared as a temporary binding, but the results were durable, and the binding had great success in the nineteenth century. Today, it is most likely to be encountered in photo albumsand scrapbooks.

Kits

I have a limited run of kits using the same (or similar) materials I used for my own book. The book is pocket sized, but you can of course size up and use whatever materials you have to hand.

Included:

• Bookcloth in two contrasting colours (colours may vary depending on stock)
• Notepaper
• Linen Thread
• Endpapers
• Scrap Paper

Please also bring:

• PVA Glue
• Glue Brush
• Scalpel 
• Ruler