Bespoke Books & Stationery, Workshops in Letterpress & Bookbinding

Japanese Stab Bindings

This workshop is aimed at beginners and those with experience of bookbinding who are not familiar with Japanese bindings. These bindings are sophisticated due to their simplicity and showcase the beauty of paper as a material. The workshop will start with instruction about the basic principles of bookbinding, followed by a demonstration of backing and sizing Japanese paper in order to make a cover. It takes half a day to make a stab binding. Participants can produce just one stab book and leave or they can stay the whole day and make two. If you make two books, you can also remain for a further half day and make a wraparound case, called a Maru Chitsu, which was traditionally used to group together books of this style. See the bottom of the Workshops & Prices page for an image of this. All materials are included.  Lunch will be provided for those opting for a full day.

Japanese stab binding book made of Sum-e Calligraphy paper with Katazome-shi paper corner pieces and Mingeishi Japanese paper covers. The Mingeishi is backed and sized to create a durable yet flexible soft cover.