Bookbinding Core Certificate Program
The San Francisco Center for the Book celebrates the craft and art of bookbinding. Our Bookbinding Core Certificate Program introduces students to four different binding models, leading them through the history and evolution of bookmaking. It provides students a comprehensive foundation to delve into the practice of binding and qualifies them to rent studio time in our bindery. Core classes must be taken in order, 1 through 4.
Bookbinding Core 1 :: Coptic Binding
To paraphrase Lewis Carroll, we begin at the beginning. This, the first of our Core Bookbinding series, introduces students to the craft with the Coptic stitch, one of the earliest structures in binding. Students will spend the morning making their own decorative pastepapers, then use them in the afternoon when binding their book.
In addition to coming away with a finished book made by hand, students will also be introduced to the tools and terms of bookbinding. Basic practices and equipment will be discussed as students familiarize themselves with both skills and safety measures needed for working in a bindery.
Competencies Gained:
Knowledge:
Basic vocabulary of bookbinding tools and equipment
Basic bindery practices and procedures
Understanding paper grain
Skills:
Folding, pressing, piercing, sewing, cutting and gluing
Equipment:
Board shear, nipping press, hand tools
Materials to Bring
All tools and materials will be provided.
About the Instructor
Nearsighted from childhood, Sarah Songer (she/her) learned to read at a young age because she couldn’t see anything twelve inches past her nose. Her love of books continued even after she got her first pair of glasses, and she earned a BA in Comparative Literature from UCLA.
She is the daughter of a printer and a graphic artist; in rebellion, she became a bookbinder. She spent ten years at Arion Press and trained many apprentices in edition binding. She is a longtime student of design bookbinder Eleanore Ramsey and was the proprietor of Bay Area Book Repair for several years. Sarah enjoys sharing the many bookbinding tips and efficiencies she's learned over the years, and finds her own personal projects most satisfying if they make her laugh.
Past Student Reviews
“The workshop assumed we had no prior experience in bookbinding. Having all the materials was a huge convenience.”
“Sarah was a fantastic instructor. The classroom vibe was serious but friendly, everyone helped each other and chatted. I fell behind a number of times and Sarah always found a minute to give me personal instruction and get caught up. I left feeling excited to make this book again, and competent enough to do it on my own.”
“Sarah’s experience and knowledge in the field of bookbinding is remarkable, and her skills as a teacher make her the perfect person to spend a long Saturday class with! She makes it feel like twenty minutes.”
Location
San Francisco Center for the Book
375 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Registration Policies
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.
Workshop fee
(includes materials fee):
$225
SFCB's Windgate Scholarship Fund is dedicated to providing need-based financial support to individuals interested in learning bookbinding, letterpress printing, and related book arts. Click here to apply.
Prerequisite(s):
None.
Class session:
Sunday: May 11, 2025
9:30am-5:30pm
If this workshop is full, please click this link to add your name to the waitlist. If a seat becomes available, we will contact you.