At the workbench & on the bookshelf

For the love of a well-made book.

Learn to bind your first notebook, care for the books you treasure, and look a little closer at the stories on your shelves.

Understand a Book’s Anatomy

Get to know boards, spines, hinges and endpapers with three labelled diagrams and a simple hands-on exercise.

Make something worth keeping

A simple three-hole pamphlet stitch, made with paper, card and thread.

A better fold begins before you pick up the needle.

Small habits, lasting protection

Good shelving and careful handling do most of the everyday work.

Know when to protect a book and when to ask a conservator.

Notes from the bookshelf

Look beyond the title and learn to read a decorated binding.

A first inspection, from title page to the last leaf.

Care before repair.

Enjoy learning the craft on new materials. For an old or valuable book, thoughtful handling and protection come first.