Date: September 26-27, 2020 (pending to covid-19 restrictions)

Linking to the Past: Historical Link Stitches on Book

LetterSong, Louisville, Kentucky

Partakers of this workshop will make two books that highlight historic link stitches on the books’ spines. Participants will learn the Diagonal sewing pattern and the Circle sewing pattern. Both stitched elements are constructed as the book is sewn, making the sewing both functional and decorative. It is the sewing that attaches the sections to the paper wrapper. A back plate of thick leather keeps the spine from concaving.

An embossed leather back plate will adorn the first book. The second book’s back plate will be tooled and dyed by the participants. They will also have the opportunity to create additional back plates to produce link stitched books at home.

March 13-14, 2021

Simplified Binding with Embellished Leather Covers

Jaffe Center for the Book Arts, Boca Raton, Florida

This handsome, thin volume with leather covers offers participants a chance to explore various leather embellishments such as blind panel stamping, cold tooling, and cuir-cisele (cut leather). The decorated leather covers are made entirely off the book and are attached to the text block after they are finished.

Decorative paper will be used for the pages.  Using the two-as-one pamphlet stitch, the sections are sewn to a concertina that has a pocket for a hidden note. A book cloth spine completes the book.

Participants will have an opportunity to explore various decorating techniques on their covers before selecting what works best for their book. All paper, leather, book cloth, and binder’s board are provided. Participants may want to bring their own decorative papers to add creative touches to the books.

postponed until spring 2021

Binding the Embellished Page

Hurricane, West Virginia

In this two-day workshop, participants will bind a book of their own previously completed journal pages with the handsome Ethiopian Coptic stitch and Coptic headbands. Prior to the workshop, folded sheets of Arches Text Wove paper will be delivered for the partakers to draw, paint, write, collage, or print on the surfaces. Helpful suggestions for page decoration will come with the folded paper.

During the workshop, the covers will be made of double-thick boards wrapped with textured paper. After a discussion on the different Coptic stitches, people will drill holes in waste boards and practice the Ethiopian Stitch using two needles. This exercise is preparation for the four-needle sewing of their own books. The distinctive Coptic headbands will finish the journal and strengthen the cover-to-text attachment.