Bookbinding Core Certificate Program
San Francisco Center for the Book’s Bookbinding Core Certificate Program is structured to allow for scheduling flexibility while offering students a comprehensive foundation in bookbinding, personal attention from instructors, and access to our well-equipped bindery.
SFCB offers three terms per year: January-April, May-August, and September-December. Workshops are posted 6-8 weeks before the start of the new term. The Bookbinding and Letterpress Core workshop series are offered each term.
The Bookbinding Core Certificate program takes you through four binding structures in four classes:
-
Bookbinding Core 1: Coptic Binding
This first class introduces students to the craft with the Coptic stitch, one of the earliest structures in binding. In addition to coming away with a finished book made by hand, students will also be introduced to the tools and terms of bookbinding.
-
Bookbinding Core 2: Flat-Backed Case Binding
Students will create what most of us refer to as a hardbound book. In bookbinding terms it is known as a case binding, where a sewn textblock is glued into a separate structure known as a case.
-
Bookbinding Core 3: Limp Paper Binding
Books were sometimes sewn and then laced into protective soft covers as a temporary binding, before being finely bound for a specific collection or library. These limp bindings became an important structure all their own.
-
Bookbinding Core 4: Classic Rounded Back Cloth Binding
The final class in our Core Bookbinding series (taught in two sessions) combines the skills learned in each previous class to create a beautiful and classic rounded back binding. After completing this workshop, students are well prepared to continue their bookbinding education, whether that means more elaborate structures, book repair, or working with leather.
Individual workshop sessions are offered on weekends throughout the term. Classes must be taken in sequence; students who miss enrolling in a Core 1 workshop must wait until the next term to begin the series. The Intensive option offers all four classes in one five-day weeklong session.
Students who enroll in all four individual classes at the same time are eligible for a $100 series discount. To receive the discount, please call or email to let us know which four dates you wish to take; we will complete the registrations and email an invoice for payment. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively to online registrations/payments, so please don't register yourself online if you want the series discount. The Intensive class rate is already reduced; there is no further discount available for that workshop.
Upon completion of the four-class series, students will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to rent studio time to use our equipment, such as sewing frames, board shears, guillotines, presses, and more. Please see the Rentals page of this website for more information on dates, times, fees, and more.
Questions? Contact us at workshops@sfcb.org or 415-565-0545.
Bookbinding Core Schedule - Spring 2025
