Lesson 1Cutting, folding, and punching tools: knives, bone folders, folding sticks, ploughs, sewing frames, awls, and punching/marking gaugesLook at cutting, folding, and punching tools needed for hand bookbinding. Learn safe and exact ways to use knives, bone folders, ploughs, sewing frames, awls, and gauges to get clean cuts, straight folds, and even sewing spots.
Picking and caring for knives and bladesCutting mats, straight edges, and guidesBone folders, Teflon folders, and folding sticksPloughs and guillotines for trimming blocksSetting up sewing frames and aligning supportsAwls and punching guides for sewing holesLesson 2Paper types and weights: properties of 90–120 gsm uncoated papers, fiber content, and behavior when foldedCheck out uncoated papers from 90 to 120 gsm, looking at fiber types, surface feel, and how they fold. Learn how grain, sizing, and thickness affect strength, see-through, and fit for different binding types in our local crafting.
Wood pulp against cotton and mixed fiber papersThickness, measure, and stiffness in text blocksInner and outer sizing and how ink worksFolding strength and tests for opening many timesOpacity, see-through, and clear printingPicking papers for sewn or glued textsLesson 3Adhesives overview: PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, starch pastes — properties, open time, penetration, reversibilityLook into common glues for bookbinding, comparing what they are made of, working time, how they soak in, bend, and can be undone. Learn when to use PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, or mixes for strong, fixable bindings that suit Gambian conditions.
PVA kinds, bendiness, and how they ageMixing and cooking wheat starch paste safelyMethylcellulose uses, thickness, and undoabilityMixed pastes for controlled stick and open timeGlue soaking and paper sizing effectsStoring, labeling, and stopping dirt from getting inLesson 4Grain direction: identifying grain, why it matters for folding, sewing, and casing-inUnderstand paper grain in paper, board, and cloth, and why it's key for folding, sewing, and putting in the case. Learn easy tests to find grain and how right alignment stops bending, rippling, and spine strain over years in humid weather.
Easy grain tests: curl, tear, and wet lineGrain in text paper and endpapersBoard grain and how it causes bendingCloth grain and weave on casesPlanning layout and cutting for grainProblems from wrong-grain buildingLesson 5Boards, cloths, and cover papers: thicknesses, stiffness, bend radius, and selection criteria for books handled frequentlyCheck boards, cloths, and cover papers for books used often. Learn how thickness, stiffness, bend curve, and surface strength affect comfort, safety, and long life, and how to match them to what the project needs in daily handling.
Comparing board types: millboard, binder’s boardPicking board thickness for book sizeCloth strength, weave, and backing papersCover paper weight, strength, and opacityBend curve and hinge work at jointsMaterial mixes for heavy-use booksLesson 6Safety, workshop ergonomics, and preservation-friendly material choices for archival durabilityLearn safe ways, comfy setups, and materials that help keep things for long in the workshop. Topics cover tool use, body position, light, air flow, and picking steady, low-smell materials that age well and safe in our tropical climate.
Knife safety, cutting ways, and first helpBench height, seating, and body lineLight, magnify, and eye easeAir flow for sprays, solvents, and dustPicking pH-neutral, buffered materialsAvoiding bad smells and unstable plasticsLesson 7Finishing materials and protective coatings: acrylic sprays, waxes, size mixes; pros and cons for cloth-covered hardbacksLook at finishing materials and coatings for cloth hardbacks. Compare acrylic sprays, waxes, and size mixes for safety, shine, and feel, thinking about long stability, undoability, and how readers handle them in dusty or wet places.
Acrylic sprays: film making and aging risksWax finishes: putting on, shine, and slipSize mixes for cloth: recipes and thinningTesting coatings on scraps before useBalancing safety, feel, and lookUndoability and re-treatment thoughtsLesson 8Measuring and layout tools: templates, spacing calculators for spine width, grain allowance, and cover overhangsLook at measuring and layout tools for exact case making. Learn to use rulers, squares, templates, and spacing tools to find spine width, grain space, squares, and cover overhangs for steady results in your binding work.
Steel rules, squares, and dividers in layoutReusable templates for common book sizesCalculating spine width from text thicknessPlanning cover overhangs and board squaresAllowing for swell, linings, and endpapersRecording measures in project sheetsLesson 9Threads and sewing supports: linen thread, waxed vs. unwaxed, tapes, cords, and sewing tapes characteristicsStudy threads and supports for hand binding. Compare linen thread sizes, twists, and waxing, and look at tapes, cords, and sewn supports to see how they affect swell, bend, and strength in the book's structure.
Linen thread grades, twist, and pull strengthWaxed against unwaxed thread: good and badMatching thread size to paper and section numberCloth tapes, paper tapes, and their waysCords and raised bands for old stylesControlling swell with supports and pull
