Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn bookbinding
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Folding, sewing and covering your own book shows you how every book on your shelf is put together, and the first projects use paper, cloth, board and a few hand tools. A short evening or weekly course takes you from a simple sewn booklet to hard covers.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
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What it's really like
Beginners learn to fold and sew paper into sections, then make soft and hard covers from paper, cloth and board. City Lit's six-week course also covers non-adhesive bindings, single-section sewing, simple boxes and why the grain direction of paper matters.
It rewards care more than strength. City Lit says you need some manual dexterity and attention to detail, and should be able to follow simple instructions and do simple measuring and sums. Morley College notes that you work standing up, so raise any difficulty with standing before you enrol.
The Society of Bookbinders keeps a list of courses by county, and the Guild of Book Workers keeps a list of over 130 teachers and schools. The Guild says it makes no claims about the teachers listed, so contact them before you book.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Morley College, London | Bookbinding, Beginner and Intermediate: five Wednesday evenings, 2.5 hours each; buy materials at class | £195, or £145 concession |
| City Lit, London | Beginners' bookbinding: six Fridays, 10.30 to 16.30; project materials included | £399, or £319 senior and £259 concession |
| Center for Book Arts, New York | Bookbinding I: Intro to Softcover Binding, a weekend class; evening series also listed | $445 for a weekend class; $550 for an evening series (2025 classes) |
The Guild of Book Workers' list also names Penland School of Craft and John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, and North Bennet Street School in Boston, among the places that teach book arts.
How to start
- Find a beginners' bookbinding course at an adult education college, a book arts centre, or through the Society of Bookbinders' course list (UK) or the Guild of Book Workers' study list (US).
- Check whether materials are in the fee; at City Lit they are, at Morley College you buy them at the first class.
- Take a pencil, metal ruler and craft knife if you have them, and a bone folder if you own one.
Where to go
- Society of Bookbinders: bookbinding courses by county UK
- Morley College: Bookbinding, Beginner and Intermediate (London) UK
- Guild of Book Workers: study opportunities US
- Center for Book Arts: drumleaf binding classes (New York) US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Is bookbinding hard to learn?
Beginners' courses start with folding and sewing simple books. City Lit says you need some manual dexterity, attention to detail and simple measuring skills.
What tools do I need to start bookbinding?
Morley College suggests a notebook, pencil, rubber, metal ruler, craft knife, bone folder and scissors if you have them. City Lit's bindery has most hand tools.
Are materials included in a bookbinding course?
It varies. City Lit includes project materials in the fee, while Morley College says you can buy materials and tools at the first class.
How do I find a bookbinding class near me?
In the UK, the Society of Bookbinders lists courses by county. In the US, the Guild of Book Workers keeps a list of teachers and schools organised by location.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Beginners' bookbinding; Morley College London, Bookbinding: Beginner and Intermediate - Wednesday Evening; Society of Bookbinders, bookbinding courses; Guild of Book Workers, Study Opportunities; Center for Book Arts, All Classes. Opened 7 November 2026.
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