Last week I went on a book-binding course at the Leeds Print Workshop, it’s just outside Leeds city centre but within walking distance (10minutes) of the bus station, so ideal for non-drivers like myself. It was an introductory course so I hoped I would learn techniques which would transfer to my fabric books and maybe inspire a new hobby!
It was great, the tutor was great, good at explaining techniques, helpful where needed, very knowledgeable and interesting. There were only six on the course so we could all see and hear easily and the tutor had plenty of time for us.
We made four different books over the day, starting with a notebook made using pamphlet stitch which is certainly usable with fabric books. Our second book was made with stab binding, its the one with the stitching on the outside. I like this but it would certainly need more planning as each page needs extra space on the side for the binding.
After lunch we made the concertina book. This was our introduction to making a hard backed cover using a piece of buckram to cover the grey card. This is a no stitch technique, it’s all glue.
Our final book blew my mind! I’m calling it the magic book, or the exploding book!! It’s the little teal coloured square book in the photo. It’s made with three squares of paper which are folded diagonally and straight before being glued together at an overlapping square. It can then be folded flat but bursts out when you start to open it. I was lucky too in finding three sheets of gelli-printed paper which followed into each other. I love this one and I’m now trying to work out how to make one in fabric!! A variation on English paper piecing is what I’m thinking of at the moment!!
Isn’t that clever!!
I’d definitely recommend the Leeds Print workshops, I’m hoping to go back for another day, either on different aspects of book-binding or a print making technique. It’s run as a co-operative with various printmakers and artists all sharing the space, running workshops etc. If you join as a member you can also use the facilities there to do your own work.
