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, right folds, and even sewing spots.
Picking and caring for knives and bladesCutting mats, straightedges, and guidesBone folders, Teflon folders, and folding sticksPloughs and guillotines for trimming blocksSewing frames setup and support alignmentAwls and punching templates for sewing holesLesson 2Paper types and weights: qualities of 90–120 gsm uncoated papers, fiber content, and how they act when foldedStudy uncoated paper kinds in 90–120 gsm range, looking at fiber parts, surface, and folding ways. Learn how grain, sizing, and thickness change lasting, show-through, and fit for different binding types.
Wood pulp vs. cotton and mixed fiber papersThickness, caliper, and stiffness in text blocksInner and surface sizing and ink waysFolding strength and repeated opening testsOpacity, show-through, and print clearnessPicking papers for sewn versus adhesive textsLesson 3Adhesives overview: PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, starch pastes — qualities, open time, penetration, reversibilityLook into common bookbinding glues, comparing what they are made of, working time, soaking in, bendiness, and ability to undo. Learn when to pick PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, or mixed pastes for strong, fixable bindings.
PVA types, bendiness, and aging waysMixing and cooking wheat starch paste safelyMethylcellulose uses, thickness, and reversibilityMixed pastes for controlled stick and open timeGlue soaking and paper sizing effectsStorage, labeling, and stopping dirtLesson 4Grain direction: finding grain, why it matters for folding, sewing, and casing-inKnow grain direction in paper, board, and cloth, and why it is key for folding, sewing, and casing-in. Learn easy tests to find grain and how right lining stops bending, bubbling, and spine strain over time.
Easy grain tests: curl, tear, and wet lineGrain direction in text paper and endpapersBoard grain and its effect on bendingCloth grain and weave way on casesPlanning imposition and cutting for grainBad effects of cross-grain buildingLesson 5Boards, cloths, and cover papers: thicknesses, stiffness, bend radius, and picking rules for books used oftenLook at boards, cloths, and cover papers for books handled a lot. Learn how thickness, stiffness, bend radius, and surface strength change comfort, safety, and long life, and how to match materials to what the project needs.
Comparing board types: millboard, binder’s boardPicking board thickness for book sizeCloth lasting, weave, and backing papersCover paper weight, strength, and opacityBend radius and hinge work at jointsMaterial mixes for heavy-use booksLesson 6Safety, workshop ergonomics, and preservation-friendly material choices for archival lastingLearn safety ways, body-friendly setups, and saving-minded material picks for archive work. Topics cover tool holding, sitting right, lights, air flow, and picking steady, low-smell materials that age well and safe.
Knife safety, cutting habits, and first aidBench height, seating, and body liningLighting, magnification, and eye comfortAir flow for sprays, solvents, and dustPicking pH-neutral, buffered materialsStopping 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 surface covers used on cloth-covered hardbacks. Compare acrylic sprays, waxes, and size mixes for safety, shine, and feel, while thinking about long-time steady, undoable, and reader needs.
Acrylic sprays: film making and aging risksWax finishes: putting on, shine, and slipSize mixes for cloth: recipes and thinningTesting covers on scraps before useBalancing safety, feel, and looksUndoable and re-do considerationsLesson 8Measuring and layout tools: templates, spacing calculators for spine width, grain allowance, and cover overhangsLook at measuring and layout tools that help make exact case building. Learn to use rulers, squares, templates, and spacing calculators to find spine width, grain space, squares, and cover overhangs for even results.
Steel rules, squares, and dividers in layoutReusable templates for common book formatsCalculating spine width from text thicknessPlanning cover overhangs and board squaresAllowing for swell, linings, and endpapersRecording measurements in project sheetsLesson 9Threads and sewing supports: linen thread, waxed vs. unwaxed, tapes, cords, and sewing tapes qualitiesStudy threads and sewing helps used in hand binding. Compare linen thread sizes, ply, and waxing, and look at tapes, cords, and sewn-on helps to know how they change swell, bend, and strong build.
Linen thread grades, ply, and pull strengthWaxed vs. unwaxed thread: good and badMatching thread size to paper and section countCloth tapes, paper tapes, and their waysCords and raised bands for old stylesControlling swell with helps and pull
