Lesson 1Quality criteria for durablity and open-flat performance (swell, flexibility, longevity)You go understand what make hand-sewn book strong and easy to open flat by looking at swell, joint bend, spine rounding, and material aging, plus setting clear quality measures for workshop and customer jobs.
Defining durability and service life targetsSwell control in sewing and roundingJoint flexibility and board hinge behaviorSpine shape, backing, and opening angleTesting books for strain and early failureLesson 2Thread types, weights, and sewing structures: kettle stitch, long-stitch, multi-section sewingWe go check thread fibers, sizes, and waxing, then learn main sewing ways—kettle stitch, link stitch, long-stitch, multi-section sewing—and how dem affect swell, bend, and fix options in hand bindings.
Linen, cotton, and synthetic thread optionsThread sizing, strength, and waxing methodsKettle stitch and link stitch fundamentalsLong-stitch and exposed sewing variantsManaging swell in multi-section sewingLesson 3Endpapers, pastedowns, and flyleaves: function and material choicesYou go learn the strong and pretty roles of endpapers, pastedowns, flyleaves, how dem protect text block, control opening, give design choices, plus pick and prepare good materials for each part.
Functional roles in support and protectionSingle, double, and made endpaper constructionsMaterial choices: text, decorative, and clothGrain direction and folding of endpaper unitsTipping, pasting, and hinging techniquesLesson 4Paper types and grain direction: choices for 200-page sewn booksWe go see how paper weight, surface, grain direction affect folding, sewing, swell, opening in 200-page sewn book, with tips on testing grain and matching paper to use and binding style.
Identifying grain direction by touch and curl testsChoosing paper weight and bulk for 200-page textsSurface, sizing, and opacity for print and illustrationManaging paper swell and compensation guardsMatching paper to binding style and end useLesson 5Mull, crash cloth, and spine liners: purpose, materials, and placementCheck mull, crash cloth, spine liners as key supports dat share stress between text block and boards, with advice on fiber types, weave, glues, grain, exact place for strong but bendy spines.
Comparing mull, crash, and paper liningsSelecting weave, weight, and fiber contentAdhesive choice and application thicknessLiner width, position, and shoulder coverageLayering multiple linings for heavy booksLesson 6Types of sewing supports and stations: tapes, cords, and raised vs. recessed cordsLook into sewing supports and station setups, like tapes, cords, recessed vs raised supports, and how dese choices affect strength, spine shape, and look of finished binding.
Planning sewing stations and spacingFlat tapes versus round cords in sewingRaised versus recessed support aestheticsLacing-on and board attachment methodsSupport choices for heavy or tall booksLesson 7Anatomy of a book: sections, spine, endpapers, headbands, boards, endleavesMap out sewn hardback parts: sections, spine, joints, endpapers, headbands, boards, endleaves. Learn how each part work together strong, terms used, and design choices affect handling.
Sections, signatures, and text block formationSpine, shoulders, and joint definitionsEndpapers, endleaves, and their interfacesBoards, squares, and fore-edge alignmentHeadbands, tailbands, and caps overviewLesson 8Boards, board thicknesses, and edge treatment for hardback constructionStudy board materials, thickness pick, edge treatments dat affect stiff, protection, fine look in hardback build, minding grain, warp control, fit with covering materials.
Comparing binder’s board and other substratesChoosing board thickness for 200-page booksBoard grain direction and warp preventionCutting boards, squares, and shoulder fitBeveling and shaping board edgesLesson 9History and styles of hand binding relevant to luxury gift booksLook at key old and area hand-binding styles dat shape today luxury gift books, noting strong features, usual materials, fancy ways dat fit modern projects.
Overview of medieval and early modern bindingsFrench, German, and English style contrastsFine trade bindings of the nineteenth centuryArts and Crafts and private press influencesAdapting historic models for gift editionsLesson 10Adhesives and their properties: animal glue, PVA, wheat paste—where and when to use eachCompare animal glue, PVA, wheat paste for stick, bend, undo, aging. Learn where each shine in traditional binding work and how mix, store, apply safe.
Key adhesive properties and terminologyPreparing and using hot animal glueMixing and modifying PVA for bindingsCooking and thinning wheat starch pasteChoosing adhesives for each binding step
