Completed books

Student working

I’ve taught quite a few bookbinding classes in LiB260. through the years, I’ve fine tuned the class after each one ends to meet students needs and abilities so they have a good experience. In the beginning, we used 2 class sessions to sew up a text block, make a case for the text, and combine them into a traditional book. Now, I use one class session, and our book is more an artists book that has all the elements you’d include in bookbinding: text pages sewn together, end sheets, covers, a spine…all the things. this is a more streamlined approach that works and it’s kind of cute!

Bookbinding kit

Another improvement I’ve introduced is a kit for each student which has all of the elements. I do a little work on the kits that makes the process easier like cutting pages to size, scoring the spine piece, cutting thread and threading the needle. This saves so much time! Also, since I am doing the majority of the cutting, it makes the workshop safer. For each step in making the books, I demonstrate the activity, and then, let them do the work as I observe.

Punching cradle, template, bone folder and thread

Students get the bookbinding experience without the headaches. Students do a good bit of gluing, and also a smidge of sewing, and punching sewing holes in the pages using a punching cradle. The punching cradle lets you punch equidistant holes using a template that is laid over the text pages. It feels official because it is official. There are so many ways to make a book, and books are part of us in so many ways. This class allows our students to create a small book they can be proud of.

Set up for bookbinding class