Orientation to Leather

 Registration is closed for this event

July 7th, 2018 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Juliayn Coleman
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Open
  • Workshop Start: July 7th, 2018 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: July 7th, 2018 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 1

It is impossible to imagine the history of bookbinding without leatherwork, and difficult to advance in learning bookbinding without having some skill or understanding of how leather is used in making books. Fancy books, plain ones, rustic or refined, historical and modern all have used leather in some fashion. Even many books without the tiniest scrap of leather still have borrowed working methods from leather bookbinding. This introduction to the advanced track in leatherwork for bookbinding helps students cross the frontier of those remote and mysterious tools and techniques commonly used in leather bookbinding today.

The first half of the class will explain and demonstrate the technical aspects of knives, and you will experience how to get and maintain a great edge. We will look at the various advantages and disadvantages of PSA abrasive sheets, Japanese water stones, oil stones, and stropping compounds. We will also explain the different surfaces available for using your knife, and how they act on knives: litho stones, marble, and tempered glass. If you have a knife for leather working that has dulled or lost its shape, and you'd like to learn how to tune it up yourself, please bring it to work on. 

The second half of the class will focus on the various methods used to pare leather: edge paring with knives, and all-over paring with a Schärf-Fix or Brockman paring machine. There will be plenty of time for guided practice on your own in order to gain confidence with this essential skill. For those who learn quickly, paring for onlays and labels will be covered 

This workshop is a requirement for the advanced leather track in bookbinding at the San Francisco Center for the Book. 

*Watch a video about this workshop!


Materials to Bring: None. Students will be provided with edge paring knives that they will be able to take home after class for use future leather workshops and leather bookbinding work.

Workshop Fee (includes $40 materials fee): $205.00

Date & Time: Saturday, July 7, 2018 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.


About the Instructor | Juliayn Coleman

Juliayn Coleman has been a professional bookbinder since her graduation from the North Bennet Street School bookbinding program in 2003. Her private practice encompasses all levels of book repair and conservation, custom portfolio and enclosure making, teaching, and being a good ambassador for the craft of bookbinding in general. Some of her creative and professional projects can be seen at  www.bookislandbindery.com.


Past Student Reviews:

“It was just the right amount of information. Very practical introduction to tool and leather.” 

“This one day workshop is a perfect introduction to the tools and process for leather working.”

“Juliayn was incredibly knowledgeable, encouraging, and patient which made the class an absolute pleasure.”

“Orientation to Leather is a fabulous idea and a gift to those who are interested in Leather binding. Like everything else, it is the tools and how they are maintained and used that is as important as the actual craft of Leather binding. I worry that not enough people realize this and tend to skip over a class like this. Thank you for offering this important class.”

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States