Bookbinding: Sewn boards & Drum Leaf Binding (2-Day Workshop)

Come and join us in the Print Room & Bindery where Tania will introduce you to the fundamentals of sewn boards and drum leaf binding. Due to the more tricky nature of this binding, this workshop is suited to anyone who has attended one of Tania’s case-binding workshops or has similar experience.

This is a workshop in two parts and due to the challenging nature of these techniques you must be able to commit to two consecutive Fridays: 20 & 27 November.

Sewn boards binding is a modern bookbinding method developed by Gary Frost in the 1980s. It features a hard or semi-soft cover where the outer boards are stitched directly into the text block along with the pages. This approach eliminates traditional "casing-in" and creates a durable, flexible book.

Sewn boards binding and drum leaf are two related, modern bookbinding techniques. Both are highly popular among artists, photographers, and printmakers because they allow the book to lie perfectly flat when opened. Drum leaf has no stitching interrupting the centre gutter and is ideal for photography books.

We will start on the first Friday sewing our first book block using French link stitch, sewing in our covers and tipping-on to create our book block. Following this we will make the spine and top and bottom hinge coverings. On the second Friday we will finish off the first book and start the second drum leaf version which does not require stitching. You will produce two exceptional books.

All materials and equipment are supplied. Tania will have ready prepared all the materials you need trimmed to size for an efficient speed of working.

Space is limited so book fast. These are probably the smallest book binding classes ever! ONLY 4 places available for lots of one-to-one focus time. Cost including all materials for the two days £160

Tania has a BA Hons in Graphic Design and Illustration. She studied at Camberwell College of Art & Crafts (now UAL) where she fell in love with letterpress printing and bookbinding. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email Tania in advance: tania@bellhouse.co.uk

ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED.

Due to the more tricky nature of this binding, this workshop is suited to anyone who has attended one of Tania’s case-binding workshops or has similar experience.

PLEASE NOTE this workshop is unsuitable for under 16s and sharp equipment is used.

There is a chance of over-running so please allow some extra time at the end of the day. It’s a hands-on workshop not a fashion parade. You might get inky! And bring an extra layer as the basement can get chilly. You will most definitely be needing a break so either bring along a sarnie or we can refuel on some biccies for half an hour.

Due to the basement location of the Print Room and Bindery, we regret we cannot offer access to wheelchair users.

These workshops are held in the Bell House Lottery Room. We will be using materials and equipment kindly donated to us from Dulwich College, The London Library, The Heritage Lottery Fund and others.