- ONLINE | video lessons
- Book now and get access to all 12 projects instantly
- Add our Starter Bookbinding Tool Kit (optional)
- Lifetime Access
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.
This Bookbinding Across the World course will take you on a journey of the art of bookmaking across the world. Inspired by how different cultures have made books, we will visit countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East to learn bookbinding from scratch.
On this course we will visit a different continent each week and explore at least 8 book structures across the course. By the end of the course you’ll have completed 12 book projects with the knowledge and skills to carry on making books and telling your friends all about how amazing it is.
Who is it for?
This course is aimed at the beginner but would also suit someone who wants a refresher course in the basics of bookbinding. No experience is necessary.
Delivery
The course is delivered across bitesize short tutorials you can watch at your own pace.
You will also receive:
- a materials suppliers list
- a bookbinding jargon buster to tell you what a signature or bone folder is.
- access to our members only Facebook group
1 - The basics
To being in, we will look at the tools and materials you need to get started in your bookbinding journey. We will also go through a few terms and words you will hear throughout the course. A Bookbinding glossary PDF will be available so you can easily refer back when you need to.
We will start our journey in China and explore the fantastic world of paper folding to make some very simple pop up structures. Folding paper is the first thing you learn when making books so we’ll see just how far folding paper takes us.
By the end of this module, you will have constructed a set of folded book structures and a folder to keep them safe.
2 - Stitching + Binding
This week is all about learning sewn structures. You will learn how to measure, pierce and sew signatures and form 3 simple sewn book structures.
We’re heading to The west this week where single section Pamphlet stitch was widely used in Europe and America. We will learn two variations of this and combine our folded structures we learned in week 1 for a third book.
We will focus on soft covers, incorporating hidden flaps and pockets to keep extra lists (or secrets) within.
3 - Stab Books
We’ve landed in Korea and Japan and will explore the Stab binding and ancient scrolls which has origins in both countries.
4 - Chinese Thread Book
We’ve landed in China
to learn about the Chinese Thread Book, a beautiful expanding structure with multiple enclosures. Perfect for holding small items or all of your secrets
5 - Buttonhole Binding
Let’s get into making larger books using this simple binding method - the buttonhole binding. It expands our learning of the pamphlet stitch and takes it further to add more pages, while also giving you the chance to explore cutaways in the spine to expose the stitching.
6 - Clamshell Box
Did you know that boxmaking is a big part of bookbinding too? For our final lesson you will learn how to create your own clamshell box using materials from the bindery.
7 - Bonus Lesson - Make your own book cloth
Learn how to turn any fabric into your own durable book cloth
Community
You will have access to my private Book Arts Facebook group for anyone who has taken one of my courses. Here you can share your books, ask questions for anyone or myself to answer.
Tool Kits
Tool Kits are optional on this course as some of you might already have some of the tools. Here’s what’s included in the kit
- 2x Bonefolders
- awl
- bookbinders needles
- glue brush
- thread cutters
- scalpel
- beeswax
- book cloth
- book board
- A4 white paper
- specialist Paper
- linen thread in 3 colours
