Workshop Fee (includes materials fee): $525
Click here to apply for a Windgate scholarship

Masks are no longer required for workshops, though anyone is welcome to wear one if they wish.

In this class, we will learn the steps necessary to repair ailing clothbound books. This style of repair, developed through decades of use in conservation labs and private studios alike, allows the practitioner to safely disbind books with integrity and respect for the original structure, and follows an ethic of saving every part of the original material. The cloth reback can be varied many ways to attend to the many different problems books can have, but all variations are based on the foundational method taught in this class. Students will receive a lifting knife made by the instructor which is theirs to keep.

Students will work on books specifically chosen by the instructor, who will also discuss how to identify books that are not good candidates for this type of repair. 

The class fee includes a custom made lifting knife students will need to use in class, and will be able to keep for future repair work. The instructor will email you prior to class to ask if you are right-handed or left-handed, so be sure to register with a current email address.

Competencies Gained:

• Students will be comfortable with the concepts and techniques used in the basic cloth reback
• Students will understand the purpose of the cloth reback and when it is not the proper strategy for a broken book
• Students will be comfortable with basic concepts and strategies in paper repair
• Students will be able to make their own cooked paste and methyl cellulose poultice
• Students will be able to use a lifting knife and sharpen it on a leather strop   

>> Prerequisite: Some book making and repair experience. Book Repair Core :: Paper & Paste or Basic Repairs for Hardbound Books are recommended. <<

Materials to Bring: None. All tools and materials will be provided. Students are also welcome to bring any of their own favorite bookbinding tools.

Date & Time: Friday-Sunday, October 18-20, 2024 :: 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 approximately three days prior to the start date of the workshop to allow the instructor time to prep materials for class. We recommend you not wait to register, as workshops that don't meet our minimum enrollment will be canceled, sometimes as much as a week in advance.
 

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About the Instructor | Juliayn Coleman (she/her)

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:

 “All three sessions were a joy. The facilities exceptional.”

“The bookbinding skills we learned were very useful and immediately applicable to all types of repair projects."

“Great density of information, ability to complete a whole project within the timeline of the workshop, and clear instructions. There was a good balance between demos and personal work time. The ambiance was very convivial, and I felt comfortable asking questions; instructor was very knowledgeable, approachable, and explained things very clearly and precisely.”

“I learned a lot in this workshop, and I feel confident working on my own projects using the skills acquired. Thank you so much for a wonderful time!”