First Semester Review: Bookbinding I

Continuing with my series, I now present a semester review of Bookbinding I.

I love bookbinding. Like, I really, really love it — which is why I’m continuing in Bookbinding II this semester. Prior to this class, I hadn’t had any experience in bookbinding, well, other than constructing mock-ups of pamphlets and books for graphic design. Even back then, the mock-up production phase was my favorite part of the whole graphic design process (that should have been my first clue). There’s so much precision and exactness in measurements and production that this highly anal retentive girl can just go to town with! It’s great. Basically, to be semi-melodramatic-but-also-totally-serious, bookbinding changed my life. If I’m not making books I quite literally miss making them. Some might say I have a problem, but it’s a problem I’m very okay with having.

morning in the bindery

pamplet sewing

learning to cover book boards

folding paper for accordion books — I loved these!

two tone accordion book with tipped on folios and covered with hand-backed cloth

all of my accordions on display

link stitch!! my first link stitch sewing.

some watercolor decoration for my book cover

watercolor praire flowers

*sigh* I love the link stitch

trying out some embroidery on a finished link stitch book

link stich loveliness!

slotted tape binding (a mini book!)

experimenting with leather for a slotted tape binding. probably my favorite book.

4 link stitch and 3 slotted tape bindings to turn in

the amazing bookbinder Jim Croft came to visit UICB for a bonefolder workshop. These are his gorgeous books.

making bonefolders! some from elk bone some from deer.

the tools and the hands that made them — everyone from the bonefolder making workshop

two of my books on display! woo!

single section case bindings — building the case

mini single section case binding

single section case binding — the case, the textblock, and the decorative paste downs.

all my single section case bindings

making hand-backed book cloth (used to cover book board)

making hand-backed book cloth (used to cover book board)

the cutest bookbinder’s tool kit sewn by my talented mother

french webs stitch sewing

french webs stitch sewing

lining the spine of my french web stitch text block

adding sweet little fake endbands

all textblocks prepped and ready to be cased-in!

making the cases — here I’m debossing for some cover details

finished case and about to case in the text block.

all three finished case bindings!

books on display at the UICB open house

all the books I made over the semester

all the books my 9 person class made over the semester — so great!