If you are interested in learning how to get into bookbinding or would like to develop your bookbinding skills, Glenn Malkin of Signature Bindings runs a number of workshops throughout the year. One day workshops are held at ScrapStore, Hull, whereas three day residential workshops are held at The Grange in Shropshire and other occasional workshops are run by request in other locations.
Intermediate level binders who would like to further develop specific skills or would perhaps like to move on to creating their own design bindings may be interested in the possibility of tailored one-to-one tuition with
Please see below for further details and dates of forthcoming workshops. You can also e-mail Glenn to be added to the e-mailing list to be amongst the first to learn of new workshops as they are organised.
CLICK HERE to download a FREE tutorial (.pdf file) on how to make a straightforward hard-back pamphlet-sewn notebook
The ScrapStore Hull
The Grange, Ellesmere, Shropshire
These three-day residential workshops are organised directly by Jon and Rosie at The Grange. Here they run a number of courses including Letterpress workshops, Paper Marbling and Bookbinding for Beginners.
Glenn Malkin tutors three 3-day residential courses each year focusing on different subjects. They are suitable mainly for those who have already done some bookbinding but would like to learn new book structures or techniques. Please note that courses do fill extremely quickly so early booking is essential. Please book directly with The Grange.
The Grange website can be found Here
Programme for 2020
May 7th - 10th 2020 - The Drop-Back Box - Beyond the Ordinary
Whether for protection or decoration, making a box for a valued book is an important part of a bookbinder's work. In this workshop you will make a drop-back (or clamshell) box for your own chosen book. This box will be of competition quality, using a choice of book cloths for the covering and lined with suede panels. Although you can choose elements of your box’s design, the front and spine will have recessed panels for a label or decorative panels and we will explore some simple decorative tooling. This workshop requires precision and delicacy in measurement and cutting by hand but you do not need to have bookbinding experience to attend.
July 30th - August 2nd 2020 - Decorative Elements for Design Bindings
In this workshop you will focus on a selection of decorative techniques by preparing a number of small leather panels which can be inlaid into recessed boards. The techniques to be explored in some depth will include cold tooled leather with gold leaf, scarf joints in leather, recessed leather lines and back-pared onlays. You will then have the opportunity to create your own unique decorative panels, combining these (and other) techniques in whatever way you wish. Some basic experience of working with bookbinding leather would be advantageous.
October 22nd - 25th 2020 - Limp Vellum Binding
This is a very old style of binding where the vellum cover is laced on to the book block with no (or very little) glue. Here you will be utilising attractive old vellum documents to create the covers. The first process will be to line the vellum with tissue to flatten and strengthen it and to make it easier to work with. You will then prepare a blank book block, cutting, folding, piercing and sewing your book on to strong leather thongs. You will then sew on some simple headbands. Then you will create a template to cut your vellum cover and fold it into shape before lacing it on to the book. The result will be an attractive book with a strong flexible cover, using a binding style which has been used for centuries. For those who work quickly, there may be the opportunity to make a second, pocket sized version of the limp vellum binding. Some experience of bookbinding would be an advantage when attending this workshop.
