Image shows 3 notebooks laying on a table. The notebooks overlap on another, one green on the bottom, an orange overlapping this and finally a yellow one on the very top. Laying on the yellow notebook are book binding tools.

Japanese Stab Stitch Bookbinding

Create a set of beautiful hand bound books using Japanese stitching techniques.

Time

11:00am - 1:30pm

Date

Sat 15 June 2024

Sat 15 Jun, 11am - 1:30pm

Create a set of beautiful hand bound books using 3 traditional Japanese stitching techniques.

Course Location: Bluecoat Intaglio Print Studio

Experience Level: Beginners & people needing a refresher into the process

Duration: The course runs for one day (11:00am – 1:30pm)

'Japanese bookbinding or 'Stab Binding' is an ancient form of bookbinding that is beautiful, easy for beginners and endlessly customisable. The basic Japanese version of stab binding is called Yotsume Toji, which roughly translates to “four holes”. This is because the binding pattern is made using only four holes. There are many other binding patterns that use more holes to create their intricate stitched designs.'

Japanese binding uses thin, loose leaf paper to create a book. It's perfect for any paper or crafting offcuts and the finished books make beautiful gifts.

In this short and informative workshop, you will learn all about Japanese bookbinding. Japanese bookbinding utilises beautiful, external stitching and thin handmade paper and covers. You’ll learn all about the materials used in Japanese bookbinding. You’ll learn different ways of stitch binding your books, paper folding and tearing and creating concertina pages for your book. We will teach 3 beginner Japanese stab bindings - The 4 Hole, Noble and Tortoiseshell stitches. You’ll end the session with at least 3 handmade, hand bound books to take home with you.

What’s Included?

All materials you will use are included in the cost of the course, but you are welcome to bring along your own if you choose. Our studios are environmentally friendly where possible and use greener methods of screen printing, such as water-based acrylic inks. Completing this course will act as an Induction to book into our Screen Printing Studio should you wish to.

Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?

Feel free to bring paper, drawings, printed photos or anything you’d like to include as pages in your books.

Tickets: £30

What happens after the course?

After you’ve completed your course, you are free to book into our open access printmaking studios. Your course acts as an induction but if you feel like you would benefit from more info about our studios before booking a session we offer free health & safety inductions, just email: ivy.m@thebluecoat.org.uk

We also offer a Bluecoat Artist Memberships scheme, which has lots of amazing perks for practicing and aspiring local printmakers. You can find out more information here: https://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/artist-membership

Got any questions?

If you have any questions about the course or our studios, please email: Ivy.m@thebluecoat.org.uk

You can also find out more information here: https://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/our-community/spaces/print-studio

Accessibility:

  • The Bluecoat cafe and building floors are fully accessible for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
  • The print studios are not adapted for wheelchair users. If you would like to do a print workshop with us but are unsure about accessibility, please contact the Print Studio manager at: ivy.m@thebluecoat.org.uk


Getting here:

Bluecoat is located in Liverpool city centre and is easily accessible using public transport.

  • The closest bus stop is Tesco Hanover Street
  • The closest railway station is Liverpool Central Station


(Attendees must be 18+)

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