Try it out: bookbinding
Choose a starting date
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.
- Start Date: 09 Aug 2025End Date: 09 Aug 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:00 - 17:00In PersonFull fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00
- Start Date: 06 Dec 2025End Date: 06 Dec 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:00 - 17:00In PersonFull fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00
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.
What is the course about?
The course is a taster session on the craft of hand bookbinding. It is ideal for anyone who would like to know more about this area and/or who might be thinking of enrolling on one of the longer courses at City Lit.
What will we cover?
You will be introduced to some of the materials, equipment and techniques of bookbinding. We will fold, cut and sew paper to form a single section pamphlet with stiff boards, with cloth spine and decorative paper sides. There will be a chance to talk about suppliers, tools and books, and about further courses at City Lit.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify grain direction in paper
- Safely and correctly use basic bookbinding tools and materials
- Make a single section hard cover binding using pamphlet stitch.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is for those with little or no experience or knowledge of hand bookbinding.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
All work will be undertaken during the class. You will be taught by demonstration, discussion, visual aids,
practical tasks and individual support and guidance from the tutor.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All materials and tools are provided for this course, you are welcome to bring your own bookbinding kit if you have one. Please bring a sharp pencil an eraser, and a notebook. You may like to bring an apron to protect your clothes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
- VD190 City Lit Bookbinding
- VD284 Beginners' bookbinding
- VD292 Bookbinding: Learn to bind artists' books
- VD202 Book conservation and repair: paper and cloth-bound books.
Kate Rochester is an artist bookbinder based in London. After completing her BA in Art History at East London University she studied bookbinding at the London College of Printing. In 2004 she founded Hanbury Press which produces limited edition books and hand-printed papers using traditional hand-binding methods. Later she joined the bookbinding team at the Wyvern Bindery, as well as studying master classes at Studio 5 Book Arts studio in Barnes. Kate currently works on commission and runs her independent press from her studio located in East London. She regularly teaches Book Arts workshops and courses at Citylit and The London Centre Of Book Arts. In 2023, Kate became a QEST scholar after completing a year’s study in further master classes in Design Binding.
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.