Fold, Stitch, Bind: An Introduction to Book Arts

You’ll get hands-on with techniques like Japanese stab binding, coptic stitching, and paper marbling, while learning how to turn raw materials into softcover books, hardcover journals, and even your own clamshell box. Whether you’re an artist, writer, or just love working with your hands, this class is packed with creative inspiration and satisfying builds.

What to Expect

This workshop takes place over two sessions (2.5 hours each) over one weekend: September 20th & 21st. 

In the first session, participants will dive into:

• Accordion folding

• Pamphlet-stitch pocket notebooks

• Japanese four-hole stab-bound sketchbooks

• Paper marbling

• Techniques for applying book cloth to book board for hard cover books

The second session will build on those skills with:

• Clamshell box construction

• Piano binding for hard cover journals

• Coptic stitch binding

• Tips for incorporating irregular-sized or shaped paper into book projects

Expect a hands-on, skill-building experience with plenty of time to ask questions and personalize your creations.

Skills You’ll Acquire

• Constructing multiple book structures using various folding and stitching techniques

• Creating hard cover books using book board and cloth

• Marbling paper for custom book pages or covers

• Binding with pamphlet, stab, coptic, and piano stitch techniques

• Designing and building custom clamshell boxes

What’s Provided

All necessary materials, including paper, thread, book board, book cloth, marbling supplies, and instructional handouts, are included in the ticket price.

What to bring
if participants have specific decorative or functional papers they're looking to incorporate into their book projects they're welcome to do so and use them in place of what might be provided in class

Who Should Attend

This class is great for beginners and anyone curious about book arts. No prior experience in bookmaking or sewing is required. Artists, writers, and makers looking for creative ways to present or preserve their work will find this especially valuable.

Prerequisites/Safety Information

No prerequisites. This workshop involves the use of basic hand tools (e.g., bone folders, utility knives, awls) with safety guidance

This workshop takes place over two sessions (2.5 hours each) over one weekend: September 20th & 21st