North Bennet Street School

Dates: Saturday, August 22nd & Sunday, August 23rd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Todd Pattison

In this workshop each participant will be given a book in unbound folded signatures, Structure of the Visual Book by Keith Smith, (fourth edition - 432 pages and over 450 photographs of artists books) which they will then have two days to bind. Outside of a school or workshop setting, bookbinding is practiced in relative isolation and often involves specialized equipment that not everyone has. This class aims to address both those challenges by providing an opportunity to bind a book with others in the well-equipped bookbinding facilities at NBSS. Each student will have their own bench for the two days and access to equipment and basic materials, although they should bring covering and other materials for their binding design as needed. While there will be no formal instruction provided in this class, Todd Pattison will facilitate the workshop and will be available to offer advice, guidance and any information as needed. In addition, participants will be encouraged to collaborate, share ideas, seek inspiration and generally discuss their binding concept and approach with other participants as they see fit.

Tools & Supplies: 

Student Supply List -

• Participants should bring any covering materials they would like to use (leather, parchment, cloth, marbled/decorated paper, etc)
• Any other specialized materials you would want to use on your binding

NBSS Provided -

• Binders board
• Sewing thread and supports
• Several types of blank paper for endsheets
• Thread for endbands
• Adhesives

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

• Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
• No loose clothing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Participants should have some bookbinding experience in sewing signatures and constructing a binding, but otherwise the workshop is open to all levels. If you have any questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.