A Bookbinder’s Compendium: Workshop Handouts 2001-2025 by Karen Hanmer
Available only in unbound sheets, shipped unfolded and flat.
SHIPPING TO US ADDRESSES ONLY
Available soon to bookbinders everywhere through Colophon Book Arts Supply.
This collection includes instructions on thirty four topics across six categories, arranged in the order they were written.
Historical Structures and Traditional Binding
Paper Cases and Modest Structures
Book Arts Structures
Notes on Materials
Decorative and Luxury Features
Professional Practices
Most of the material here was written as a supplement to, not a replacement for, an in person or online class. Still, handouts for many of the topics are detailed enough to guide those with basic forwarding skills in making the structure described. Most include a detailed tool and supply list.
Twenty-four sections, 23 with five folios each, one with 3 folios, 462 pages total.
Unfolded page size (short grain) 14 × 8.5”
Folded text block: 8.5 × 7 × 1.25”
Printed on bright white 70 lb text with a Canon varioPrint iX Digital Press by HF Group in North Manchester, IN
Most of this material is available for free download as individual documents
Download a sample here. (formatted to print on legal-sized paper, the margins here are slightly smaller than in the printed sheets)
I’ll periodically be binding sets of these sheets. I have a copy of the first draft with no tool or supply lists here.
Registration still available through Cat Tail Run School for Bookbinding Arts
September 14 – 18 (Mon – Fri) 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In this workshop students will craft a full-leather fine binding while building a solid foundation in fundamental binding and leather-working skills including sewing on flattened cords, rounding, backing, adding a hollow tube, paring, and covering. In addition, luxury features commensurate with the fine-binding tradition will be discussed along with the evolution of the techniques from Medieval to contemporary.
This workshop is also an excellent review for someone who would like to refresh their skills.
This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop. Students must have experience with leather paring and traditional binding structures. Students should already be making bindings independent of the classroom setting. Please email workshops@cattailrun.com for more information and to register.
June 17-18 | Two all-day, in-person sessions.
9:30 am-5:30 pm
two spaces remaining
The nineteenth century Springback Binding with its enthusiastic opening is ideal for journals, guest books, sketch books, or any application where it is desirable that the book open flat, and then some. The book both opens and closes with satisfying jolt.
The Springback Binding is also a perfect way to delve more deeply into traditional binding. The book features two-part “split boards,” reinforced “made” endsheets, and a “spring” made of layers of card and paper. With its robust aesthetic, the Springback Binding is a great way to begin working with leather. The paring requires minimal finesse, and the modest leather headcap is easy to form.
This workshop requires a leather-paring knife and strop.
Note: This is a fast-paced, advanced-level workshop for students experienced with traditional binding. To complete the material in the time scheduled, it is essential that students should be proficient in constructing reinforced endsheets, marking up, sewing on a variety of supports, rounding, measuring for and applying spine linings, and have some experience paring leather. Students should be making sewn books independently, outside a workshop setting.
The goal is to end workshops on time as scheduled, but timing must depend upon the group’s overall speed and skill level. Please be flexible within an hour on workshop ending times.
Please contact meif 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.
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.