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Bookbinding Studio

Beginner, intermediate and experienced bookbinders are all welcome.

With a wide range of equipment and materials available, it’s possible to bind anything from a simple paper book to a leather-bound tome in our bookbinding studio. Many of our students turn up without any knowledge or equipment. Our tutors are skilled practitioners in their own right and are experts in the fields of bookbinding, book arts, fine design binding, conservation and repair.

Person operating a large metal printing press in a workshop, with shelves of rolled paper visible in the background.

The Studio

City Lit offers a large spacious studio, which is ideal for students to master the basics and hone their specialist skills. More experienced book artists attend drop-ins to use the space and equipment, which is testament to the high standard of the facilities. The studio contains purpose-built benches at a good height for working either seated or standing; perfect for bookbinding and box-making. The space also comes fully equipped with large sink facilities, allowing City Lit to run book conservation and repair classes.
Traditional printmaking workshop with wooden drawer cabinets, engraving and printing tools, gloves, and materials neatly arranged on workbenches and shelves.Traditional printmaking workshop with wooden drawer cabinets, engraving and printing tools, gloves, and materials neatly arranged on workbenches and shelves.
Stack of handmade books and journals in assorted sizes and colours, featuring cloth-covered covers, decorative bindings, and patterned endpapers displayed on a worktable.Stack of handmade books and journals in assorted sizes and colours, featuring cloth-covered covers, decorative bindings, and patterned endpapers displayed on a worktable.

The Equipment

We also have a large selection of bookbinding equipment and materials for our students to use, much of which is difficult to access at home or in other studios. It’s important to note that tutors often teach alternative techniques for when equipment is not available to students outside of the classroom.
Person adjusting the screw handle of a large bookbinding press in a workshop, with rolls of coloured paper stored on shelves in the background.Person adjusting the screw handle of a large bookbinding press in a workshop, with rolls of coloured paper stored on shelves in the background.
Close-up of a person using a guillotine paper cutter to trim a sheet of board or paper in a bookbinding workshop.Close-up of a person using a guillotine paper cutter to trim a sheet of board or paper in a bookbinding workshop.
Handmade book being compressed in a large bookbinding press between wooden boards during the finishing process.Handmade book being compressed in a large bookbinding press between wooden boards during the finishing process.

  • Presses

    We offer a number of different types of presses which all serve different functions within bookbinding. These include:

    • 1 standing press – used for pressing items that take a long time to dry.
    • 4 cast-iron nipping presses – used for pressing books and paper.
    • 5 laying presses and tubs – used for trimming, rounding and backing, and for gilding and colouring the edges of books.
    • Lots of finishing presses – used for gold tooling spines or for gripping books whilst lining spines or endbanding.

  • Other equipment

    The studio also contains other equipment which help in the bookbinding process:

    • Cast-iron board chopper – for cutting boards and paper.
    • Table-top board chopper
    • 1 Metallic elephant blocking press – used for titling books.
    • Vertical ploughs – used for trimming books.
    • Finishing stoves – used for gold tooling.
    • Sewing frames

  • Tools and Materials

    City Lit also provides the means to allow students to pursue their artistic vision. The studio is well stocked with a wide range of boards, papers, and book cloth and has a large selection of brass finishing tools for gold tooling and lettering.

Learn Bookbinding at City Lit

We invite you to explore our studio, learn about the art and the craft, and try your hand at bookbinding under the guidance of our experienced team.

Check out our full list of courses by clicking the button below.