October 31-November 1, 2026 | Two all-day, in-person sessions.
9:30 am-5:30 pm
Students will be introduced to the tools and techniques required for fine leather binding. Tools: English or Swiss paring knife, Scharfix, spoke shave. Techniques: lining boards to accept leather; paring for spines, corners, headcaps, and all-over thinning of the leather; paring and edgeparing for onlays; sharpening using microfinishing films; stropping; covering of a plaquette; forming corners and headcaps; adhesives and drying procedure for leather binding.
This workshop requires a paring knife, spokeshave, and a Scharfix or Brockman paring machine. Workshop fee includes all supplies.
Leather Working for Bookbinding is a prerequisite for all workshops in the Leather Binding Series.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. Prerequisites: Binding Fundamentals or equivalent. Students should be making sewn books independently, outside a workshop setting.
This is an in-person workshop. Details on travel, lodging, and working in the studio in FAQs.
A Bookbinder’s Compendium: Workshop Handouts 2001-2025 by Karen Hanmer.
Glenview, IL: Karen Hanmer Book Arts, 2026.
private collection, California
English-style springback binding: half goatskin, blue Swedish marbled endsheets, boards covered in Katie MacGregor handmade paper inkjet-printed with Illustrations by Henry Maron of tools used in traditional bookbinding. Bound 2026.
8 ¾ x 7 ½ x 1 ¾ “
This is the third bound copy of an anthology of thirty-three workshop handouts written by the binderon topics including fine binding, a range of historical and contemporary structures, notes on materials, and professional practices.
This text is available in printed, unsewn sheets.
Leather Binding Techniques: Fine binding sewn on stubs plus edge decoration intensive
June 8-13, 2027
9:30 am-5:30 pm instruction, with open studio until 8:30 pm
The basic structure of a fine leather binding has changed little over the past 300 years. The text block is sewn onto supports, the spine carefully shaped, and the boards laced on. The book is covered in leather that has been precision-pared for protection, flexibility, and a sumptuous presentation.
This workshop will begin by crafting a library of edge decoration samples. The text block will be sewn on stubs; leather-jointed endbands and hand-sewn, multi-colored endbands will be added; and forwarding and covering will continue for rounded, backed, full leather fine binding. Additional decorative techniques will be incorporated as time permits.
A partial list of required tools: Scharfix, spokeshave, paring knife + strop.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. Prerequisites: Leather Binding I: Fundamentals, II: Raised Bands, and III: Fine Binding or equivalent. Students should be making leather bindings independently, outside a workshop setting. Please contact me if you are unsure if this workshop is the right fit for your current skills, or an appropriate stretch if you're ready for your next challenge.
Workshop fee includes complete supplies with a book in sheets comparable to those available on this site.
This is an in-person workshop. Details on travel, lodging, and working in the studio in FAQs
Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.