Create and design your own book cloth on this four-week course. Experiment with techniques to engrave, laser-cut, add colour, image and texture to basic book cloth and come away with range of samples to enhance your bookbinding projects.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
You will be introduced to book cloth as a material for binding books, learn how to make your own book cloth from textiles and fabric, and explore techniques that you can experiment with to turn this humble material into something more versatile and expressive. No previous knowledge of laser-cutting or preparing files for laser-cutting required.
What will we cover?
Making your own book cloth from fabric and other textiles
Laser etching photographic images into book cloth
Laser cut book cloth patterns
Dyeing
Sewing, printing and rubber stamping on to book cloth
Embossing and debossed covers for books
Experiment with combinations of techniques
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Make your own book cloth from fabric
Describe the difference between laser etched and laser cut book cloth and discuss how each method could be used creatively and/or practically.
Experiment with different techniques, and combine techniques to produce a range of book cloth samples
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in making and designing their own book cloth using the techniques described. No experience is necessary but a willingness to experiment will be an advantage.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught by practical demonstration, group and individual tuition, hands-on workshop sessions. Handouts will be provided where necessary and all class materials will be provided on Google Classroom which you will be able to join before the class starts. The course is designed so that the work is covered during the sessions, but you may find that some preparatory work done outside the classroom sessions will enhance your experience.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
The cost of basic materials is covered in the course fee. You may wish to bring your own artwork or photographs to use as inspiration and papers, fabric scraps or embroidery threads to use etc. use in class. We will also be experimenting with textiles so you will need to bring pieces of fabric that you would like to make into book cloth. Hand tools are available to use in the classroom but please do bring your own kit if you have it.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
VD300 Bookbinding: gold tooling on leather
VD292 Learn to bind artists’ books
VD416 Bookbinding: Japanese books and boxes
VD354 Creative arts for bookbinding I: decorative paper techniques
VD409 Visible stitches and spectacular spines: experiments in exposed sewing
Sue Doggett is an artist who creates hand-made books and bindings. She gained a first class honours degree in Visual Studies and Art History from Oxford Brookes University in 1985 and an MA in Design from Brighton University in 1998. She received the World Craft Council Award for Contemporary Craft in 1994 and was elected a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders in 1996. She has lectured and led workshops in book arts in the UK, Europe and the USA and she currently teaches bookbinding and book arts at City Lit. As an exhibiting Fellow of Designer Bookbinders, Sue works to public and private commission including the Man Booker Prize for Fiction and she is the current editor of ‘The New Bookbinder’ journal. Her work is represented in public and private collections in Europe and USA and can be seen at the Hyman Kreitman Research Library, Tate Britain; The Folger Library, Washington DC; Yale University Library, San Francisco Center for the Book, The Bodleian Library, Oxford; The Centre for Fine Print Research, Bristol and Manchester Metropolitan Museum.
Fareeha MasoodSee moreSee less
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/winning-ways-with-book-cloth2548804Winning ways with book clothhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/d/vd443_1_1.jpg309309GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Contemporary crafts/Courses/Art & design/Contemporary crafts/Bookbinding22851132113911411228511321139<p>Create and design your own book cloth on this four-week course. Experiment with techniques to engrave, laser-cut, add colour, image and texture to basic book cloth and come away with range of samples to enhance your bookbinding projects.</p>002548741Winning ways with book cloth309309https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/d/vd443_1.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetNo longer available1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-05-01T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Art & designVD443309309Winning ways with book cloth247201309Sue Doggett, Fareeha Masoodwinning-ways-with-book-cloth/vd443-2526<p>Create and design your own book cloth on this four-week course. Experiment with techniques to engrave, laser-cut, add colour, image and texture to basic book cloth and come away with range of samples to enhance your bookbinding projects.</p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-05-01 00:00:00<p>You will be introduced to book cloth as a material for binding books, learn how to make your own book cloth from textiles and fabric, and explore techniques that you can experiment with to turn this humble material into something more versatile and expressive. No previous knowledge of laser-cutting or preparing files for laser-cutting required.</p><p>Create and design your own book cloth on this four-week course. Experiment with techniques to engrave, laser-cut, add colour, image and texture to basic book cloth and come away with range of samples to enhance your bookbinding projects.</p><ul><li>Making your own book cloth from fabric and other textiles</li><li>Laser etching photographic images into book cloth</li><li>Laser cut book cloth patterns</li><li>Dyeing</li><li>Sewing, printing and rubber stamping on to book cloth</li><li>Embossing and debossed covers for books</li><li>Experiment with combinations of techniques</li></ul><ul><li>Make your own book cloth from fabric</li><li>Describe the difference between laser etched and laser cut book cloth and discuss how each method could be used creatively and/or practically.</li><li>Experiment with different techniques, and combine techniques to produce a range of book cloth samples</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in making and designing their own book cloth using the techniques described. No experience is necessary but a willingness to experiment will be an advantage.</p><p>You will be taught by practical demonstration, group and individual tuition, hands-on workshop sessions. Handouts will be provided where necessary and all class materials will be provided on Google Classroom which you will be able to join before the class starts. The course is designed so that the work is covered during the sessions, but you may find that some preparatory work done outside the classroom sessions will enhance your experience.</p><p>The cost of basic materials is covered in the course fee. You may wish to bring your own artwork or photographs to use as inspiration and papers, fabric scraps or embroidery threads to use etc. use in class. We will also be experimenting with textiles so you will need to bring pieces of fabric that you would like to make into book cloth. Hand tools are available to use in the classroom but please do bring your own kit if you have it.</p><ul><li>VD300 Bookbinding: gold tooling on leather</li><li>VD292 Learn to bind artists’ books</li><li>VD416 Bookbinding: Japanese books and boxes</li><li>VD354 Creative arts for bookbinding I: decorative paper techniques</li><li>VD409 Visible stitches and spectacular spines: experiments in exposed sewing</li></ul><p> </p>Contemporary craftsBookbindingvirtual247309201VD443NONEFri01/05/26 - 22/05/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:304 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetSue Doggett, Fareeha MasoodNo longer available2026-05-01T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Art & design309309Winning ways with book clothwinning-ways-with-book-cloth/vd443-2526<p>Create and design your own book cloth on this four-week course. Experiment with techniques to engrave, laser-cut, add colour, image and texture to basic book cloth and come away with range of samples to enhance your bookbinding projects.</p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-05-01 00:00:00<p>You will be introduced to book cloth as a material for binding books, learn how to make your own book cloth from textiles and fabric, and explore techniques that you can experiment with to turn this humble material into something more versatile and expressive. No previous knowledge of laser-cutting or&nbsp;preparing files for laser-cutting required.</p><p>Create and design your own book cloth on this four-week course. Experiment with techniques to engrave, laser-cut, add colour, image and texture to basic book cloth and come away with range of samples to enhance your bookbinding projects.</p><ul><li>Making your own book cloth from fabric and other textiles</li><li>Laser etching photographic images into book cloth</li><li>Laser cut book cloth patterns</li><li>Dyeing</li><li>Sewing, printing and rubber stamping on to book cloth</li><li>Embossing and debossed covers for books</li><li>Experiment with combinations of techniques</li></ul><ul><li>Make your own book cloth from fabric</li><li>Describe the difference between laser etched and laser cut book cloth and discuss how each method could be used creatively and/or practically.</li><li>Experiment with different techniques, and combine techniques to produce a range of book cloth samples</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in making and designing their own book cloth using the techniques described. No experience is necessary but a willingness to experiment will be an advantage.</p><p>You will be taught by practical demonstration, group and individual tuition, hands-on workshop sessions. Handouts will be provided where necessary and all class materials will be provided on Google Classroom which you will be able to join before the class starts. The course is designed so that the work is covered during the sessions, but you may find that some preparatory work done outside the classroom sessions will enhance your experience.</p><p>The cost of basic materials is covered in the course fee. You may wish to bring your own artwork or photographs to use as inspiration and&nbsp; papers, fabric scraps or embroidery threads to use etc. use in class. We will also be experimenting with textiles so you will need to bring pieces of fabric that you would like to make into book cloth.&nbsp;Hand tools are available to use in the classroom but please do bring your own kit if you have it.</p><ul><li>VD300 Bookbinding: gold tooling on leather</li><li>VD292 Learn to bind artists’ books</li><li>VD416 Bookbinding: Japanese books and boxes</li><li>VD354 Creative arts for bookbinding I: decorative paper techniques</li><li>VD409 Visible stitches and spectacular spines: experiments in exposed sewing</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p>Contemporary craftsBookbindingconfigurable
