Tools and Materials
Bookbinders Kit
Course Code: 26FBB100V
This five week, virtual workshop takes place online on Wednesdays, September 2nd - 30th, from 6PM to 9PM ET.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, from 6pm to 9pm ET
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Wednesday, September 9th, from 6pm to 9pm ET
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Wednesday, September 16th, from 6pm to 9pm ET
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Wednesday, September 23th, from 6pm to 9pm ET
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Wednesday, September 30th, from 6pm to 9pm ET
Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on August 30th at 11:59 pm.
About the Workshop:
This virtual class at Center for Book Arts is taught by instructor Beth Sheehan.
Discover the foundations of bookbinding and the art of the handmade book.
In this introductory workshop, you’ll learn to fold, sew, and assemble a range of classic softcover book structures—from pamphlets and accordions to Japanese stab and multi-signature structures. Along the way, you’ll gain confidence with essential tools and materials while exploring how each structure can become a vessel for creative content.
Taught through hands-on demonstrations and guided studio time, this class emphasizes both craft and concept: you’ll leave with a small library of finished books and a deeper understanding of how book form can carry artistic meaning. Perfect for beginners and artists looking to expand their studio practice.
Required Materials:
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Pencil and paper for note-taking
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Bookbinding awl
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Bone folder
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Olfa Snap-off Blade Utility Knife
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Bookbinding needles ( #1 Bookbinders or Curved #7)
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Linen thread (Irish Linen Thread 18/3)
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Cardstock or cover-weight colored paper (at least 5 sheets of 11 x 17 cardstock)
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Text-weight paper (at least 25 sheets of 8.5 x 11 regular copy paper)
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Adhesives (PVA recommended or Archival Glue Stick)
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Large mat for cutting (self-healing mat or a large flat piece of cardboard)
About the Instructor
Elizabeth (Beth) Sheehan is a printmaker, papermaking, and book artist living in Chicago, IL.
Her work investigates ideas of memory and perception to explore her own lack of episodic memory.
Sheehan’s work has been exhibited internationally and is held in public collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Center for Book Arts, and the San Francisco Public Library.
She has worked as a professional printer at Durham Press in Pennsylvania and at Harlan and Weaver in New York. She was also the Lead Binder and Bindery Manager at Small Editions in Brooklyn and teaches paper, print, and book workshops around the country.
All images courtesy of the instructor unless otherwise noted.