Lesson 1Quality criteria for durablity and open-flat performance (swell, flexibility, longevity)Learn what makes a hand-sewn book strong and easy to open flat by looking at swell, joint bend, spine curve, and how materials age, and set clear measures for quality in your workshop and for customers.
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 sewingLook at thread types, sizes, and waxing, then learn main sewing ways like kettle stitch, link stitch, long-stitch, and multi-section sewing, and how they affect swell, bend, and fixing options in hand books.
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 choicesFind out the strong and pretty roles of endpapers, pastedowns, and flyleaves, how they guard the pages, control opening, and give design ideas, plus pick and ready 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 booksSee how paper weight, feel, and grain way affect folding, sewing, swell, and opening in a 200-page sewn book, with tips on checking grain and picking paper for use and binding type.
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, and spine liners as key supports that share stress between pages and boards, with tips on fiber types, weave, glues, grain, and right placing for strong 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 cordsStudy sewing supports and station setups, like tapes, cords, and sunk vs. raised ones, and how choices affect strength, spine shape, and look of the 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 a sewn hardback: sections, spine, joints, endpapers, headbands, boards, endleaves. See how parts work together, terms used, and how choices affect use.
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, and edge work that affect stiff, guard, and nice look in hardbacks, noting grain, warp stop, and fit with cover 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 main past and area hand-binding ways that shape today's fancy gift books, noting build features, usual materials, and fancy styles to use in now 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, and age. Learn where each works best in old binding steps and how to mix, keep, and put on 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
