Lesson 1Quality criteria for durablity and open-flat performance (swell, flexibility, longevity)Understand wetin make hand-sewn book strong and open flat easy by looking at swell, joint bend, spine rounding, and material olding, plus define clear quality measures for workshop and customer work.
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 sewingCheck thread fibres, sizes, and waxing, den study 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 choicesLearn di structural and nice-look roles of endpapers, pastedowns, flyleaves, how dem protect text block, control opening, give design choices, plus how to 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 booksExplore how paper weight, surface, grain direction affect folding, sewing, swell, openability in 200-page sewn book, wid advice 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 wey share stress between text block and boards, wid guide on fibre 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, including tapes, cords, recessed vs raised supports, and how dese choices affect strength, spine shape, visual style 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 di parts of sewn hardback: sections, spine, joints, endpapers, headbands, boards, endleaves. Learn how each part work together strong, terms used, how 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 wey affect stiffness, protection, nice look in hardback build, wid care for grain, warp control, match wid 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 wey inform today luxury gift books, noting structure features, usual materials, decorative ways wey 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 stickiness, bend, undo-able, aging. Learn where each shine in traditional binding work and how to 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
