Holiday and Every Day 2026: Another quick notebook. Online workshop. Coming soon.

$100.00
No Longer Available
Date:

Holiday and Every Day: Another quick notebook


6-8 pm Eastern Time / 5-7 pm Central / 4-6 pm Mountain / 3-5 pm Pacific

This workshop is fourth in an annual series of easy to construct notebooks for last minute holiday gifts or for yourself.

This year’s topic is the Sewn Boards Binding with Sewn-In Wrapper.

This variation on the sewn boards binding is based on a model by Gary Frost in the University of Iowa Library. Before sewing, a long strip of card is hinged around the one of the pair of thin folded boards that start and end the book. After sewing, the card is folded around the front board, across the spine of the book, and again around the rear board to rest inside the fold. A spine lining provides support. The result is a lightweight, flexible book protected by a stiff cover. The wrapper can unfold as a wide panorama, presenting book arts possibilities.

Once you learn the technique, you can construct this book in less than an hour, and a stack of them in an afternoon. Start using your notebook as soon as the adhesive is dry or make a mountain of them to have a selection of handmade gifts always ready.

In this workshop you will make one notebook. Your finished book plus detailed instructions will be a valuable reference for future work.

Note: Students must provide their own supplies for this workshop. Scroll down for the tool and supply list.

This is a fast-paced workshop for students with some experience making sewn bindings, and with gluing up and lining spines.

Download workshop handout here‍ prior to the session.

The online format is a series of live tutorials via Zoom. The tutorials are recorded and the videos are available to registered students for 90 days. Students need not be present for the live sessions. A Zoom link will be sent the week before class. Please check your spam filter if you have not received the link within 24 hours of the session.

Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.

Holiday and Every Day: Another quick notebook


6-8 pm Eastern Time / 5-7 pm Central / 4-6 pm Mountain / 3-5 pm Pacific

This workshop is fourth in an annual series of easy to construct notebooks for last minute holiday gifts or for yourself.

This year’s topic is the Sewn Boards Binding with Sewn-In Wrapper.

This variation on the sewn boards binding is based on a model by Gary Frost in the University of Iowa Library. Before sewing, a long strip of card is hinged around the one of the pair of thin folded boards that start and end the book. After sewing, the card is folded around the front board, across the spine of the book, and again around the rear board to rest inside the fold. A spine lining provides support. The result is a lightweight, flexible book protected by a stiff cover. The wrapper can unfold as a wide panorama, presenting book arts possibilities.

Once you learn the technique, you can construct this book in less than an hour, and a stack of them in an afternoon. Start using your notebook as soon as the adhesive is dry or make a mountain of them to have a selection of handmade gifts always ready.

In this workshop you will make one notebook. Your finished book plus detailed instructions will be a valuable reference for future work.

Note: Students must provide their own supplies for this workshop. Scroll down for the tool and supply list.

This is a fast-paced workshop for students with some experience making sewn bindings, and with gluing up and lining spines.

Download workshop handout here‍ prior to the session.

The online format is a series of live tutorials via Zoom. The tutorials are recorded and the videos are available to registered students for 90 days. Students need not be present for the live sessions. A Zoom link will be sent the week before class. Please check your spam filter if you have not received the link within 24 hours of the session.

Payment in full is due at time of registration. See FAQs for refund policy.

TOOLS

Essential

  • PVA

  • Bone or teflon folder 

  • Self-healing cutting mat, 9x12” is adequate

  • Metal ruler or straightedge, 12” is adequate             

  • X- acto, scalpel or olfa knife and a few extra blades  

  • Scissors

  • Awl

  • #18 bookbinding needle

  • Beeswax for sewing

  • Small glue brush

Optional

  • Microspatula, Talas #TTB002001 or similar

  • Square with base, Talas #TTB041001, or some device to keep text block and boards square

  • Punching cradle, instructions to make one here: http://www.philobiblon.com/bonefolder/vol1no1contents.htm

  • “Paper Rulers” strips of  1/2” wide to use for quick measuring when ruler is awkward or unnecessary

  • A pair of gluing up boards: scrap book board the height of the text block and a little narrower, one of the long edges of both covered in clear packing tape

  • Dividers, an inexpensive set from Talas #TTB033004

SUPPLIES

Unless noted, all materials are grain direction parallel to the spine. Dimensions below are (height) x (width).

These instructions assume a text block not thicker than about 3/4".

Notes on supplies

Cardstock

Cardstock is sold in points, thousands of an inch. At Talas it is called Bristol. From providers of conservation supplies it is called folder stock or barrier board.

10 pt cardstock is 240gsm, 20 pt is 450gsm. Two ply museum board (high quality mat board) is about 30 pt, four ply is about 60 pt.

You may substitute other papers of this weight. The paper should be stiff, and fold without cracking. Colorplan paper is available at Talas in numerous colors and weights.

Spine lining

Select a paper 90-120 gsm that does not cockle excessively when moistened. Arches text is a good choice, or heavy weight Japanese tissue. You could also use cloth, try the Cambic/Jaconnet from Talas.

Supplies

  • Text-weight paper, 32 @ 6¼ x 8½" unfolded size. Fold to 8 sections @ 4 folios each prior to the start of the workshop.

  • Outer folios, 10 or 20 pt folder stock, 2 @ 6¼ x 8½"

  • Wrapper, 10 or 20 pt folder stock, 1 @ 6.25 x 23” or if that length is not possible, 19”

  • Spine lining: Arches text equivalent, heavy tissue, or cambric spine lining 1 @ 6½ x 1"

  • Cardstock punching template, 1 @ 6 ¼  x 3”

  • 25/3 0r #35/3 thread

Workshop handout