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Bookbinding Classes NYC

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Discover the art of bookbinding with a range of hands-on classes in NYC. Learn the techniques and skills to create beautiful handmade books, unleash your creativity, and gain a new hobby.

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Zine and Accordion

Studio 45 @ 213 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY

Unleash your creativity and connect with like-minded individuals in a hands-on workshop that explores alternative publishing formats. Join us for a collaborative gathering where you'll learn different binding methods and create your own self-published booklets and accordion-style books. Discover the joy of self-expression and storytelling while taking home a unique creation of your own.

(2) All levels 16 and older
10 bookbinding classes that have ended
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Japanese Stab Binding

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

Get a crash course in bookbinding and book sewing. Learn how to create hardcover books with exposed and intricately sewn spines. Please bring these supplies to the workshop:  Two brushes for spreading adhesive (one about 2” wide, one a that’s smaller size)  Masking tape or blue painter’s tape  Scissors  Sharpie marker, pen, pencil with eraser  X-acto knife  Paper (medium to light weight, at least 5 large sheets) ...

(1061) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$145
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Getting Your Book from Concept to Creation

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

Have you been sitting on a book idea for years, but have no idea how to even start? Writing a book can be a challenge, but with affordable self-publishing options, more people than ever are getting their books out to the market. Veteran publisher Sharon Good will take you through the steps of writing, publishing and marketing to turn your book idea into a reality.

(1061) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
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Introduction to Zines

Penumbra Foundation @ 36 E 30th St, New York, NY

Unleash your creativity and tell your own story through the power of zine-making. Discover the historical and theoretical aspects of zine culture in this approachable workshop at Penumbra Foundation. Learn the basics of creating your tangible self-published works and explore the expressive possibilities of this unique art form.

(8) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$440
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DIY Hardcover Book: Case Binding

Brooklyn Craft Company @ 165 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Did you know you can construct a hardcover book with your own two hands?   In just one afternoon, you’ll learn how to: Understand basic bookbinding terminology and techniques Expertly sew together gathered sections of pages Make a hard cover, back and spine for your book Turn your favorite cotton fabric into functional, easy to use book cloth, which you’ll use to adorn your DIY book cover. Bring it all together to create one amazing...

(557) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Bookbinding 101: DIY Leather Journal

Brooklyn Craft Company @ 61 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Learn basic bookbinding techniques and walk out with a complete leather journal in the color of your choice, plus the skills to make more on your own. Come learn how to make your very own hand-bound, softcover leather journal. In this class, we’ll tackle long-stitch bookbinding, a method that has been used as far back as the 18th century. In just two hours, we’ll cover basic bookbinding techniques and terminology, from sizing and folding paper...

(557) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Bookmaking: Fold & Stitch

Educational Alliance Art School @ 197 East Broadway, New York, NY

Explore different methods of folding paper and pamphlet stitch binding to create your own books! Use recycled materials to learn the mini zine and accordion pocket folds. Please note: Registration closes 24 hours before the start of each workshop

(29) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Introduction to Book Binding

ESS Community Projects @ 70 Eckford St, Brooklyn, NY

In this 3-hour workshop students will learn how to bind their own hand-made books using the coptic-bound method. We will learn how to fold and tear paper, prepare book covers, and sew together a durable blank sketchbook using affordable and easy-to-find materials.

(64) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$100
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Binding books, Spells & Printing on Paper With Plants

Fiberhouse Collective @ 72 Nelson Street, Brooklyn, NY

Explore simple folding techniques to create your own pocket-sized books using freshly printed paper. We will be extracting texture and color from plants through several eco printing techniques. Eco printing involves heating water and plants in conjunction with natural fibers, resulting in whimsical patterns. There is no right way to go about it and everyone will have their own technique that works for them. Experimentation is at the heart of the...

(1) All levels 13 and older
No upcoming schedules

Bookbinding: Make a Fine Journal/Sketchbook

Manifesto @ 461 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY

*COVID-19 UPDATE: Hello from Manifesto! All of our in-person workshops + studio sessions are on pause for the time-being; you can 100% still book a workshop and work with us to reschedule your date. For Wedding Invites, Knife-Making + Business Cards - these blocks are for initial design sessions, which we can host virtually. You may request a consultation with us to discuss production of your items. Take care & be safe!  If you're interested...

(5) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$160
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The Handmade Book: An Introduction

BKC @ 33 Washington St, Brooklyn, NY

Students will learn the basics of hand-made book production and practice several simple binding techniques that can be done at home. This 3-hour workshop will provide an introductory glimpse into the art of making books.   Methods demonstrated will include pamphlet stitch, japanese side-stitch, and perfect binding.  Limited supplies for the class are provided by BkC, but feel free to bring any additional 2-D materials you'd like to...

(325) Beginner 13 and older
No upcoming schedules
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Reviews for Bookbinding Classes in NYC

Bookbinding Classes in NYC are rated 4.6 stars based on 2,052 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

  • Bookbinding: Make a Fine Journal/Sketchbook

    Anonymous review on 2/23/2020
    class was cancelled by instructor, but I’ll try again another day.
  • Bookbinding: Make a Fine Journal/Sketchbook

    Reviewed by Gabe C on 1/24/2020
    What a great way to disconnect and do something creative for a few hours! I was new to bookbinding, but the class is structured in a way that makes it easy to follow along. Arjun and Rose were great, the space is very warm and approachable, and the sparkling water and peanut M&Ms were a huge plus too! Definitely recommend...
  • DIY Hardcover Book: Case Binding

    Reviewed by Jacqueline C. on 12/14/2015
    Carolyn is a great teacher - friendly and patient - and the class was a lot of fun. Can't wait to try binding on my own!
  • Bookbinding 101: DIY Leather Journal

    Anonymous review on 4/27/2015
    Although I apparently lack the ability to make a perfect journal, this class was a ton of fun and the instructor was funny and patient with all of the students! I'd absolutely take it again just to see if my skills can improve.
  • Bookbinding 101: DIY Leather Journal

    Reviewed by Jenifer W. on 4/27/2015
    This was such a fun class. The atmosphere was really laid back and casual. The instructor was awesome and helped people individually without frustration. I loved the class and am looking forward to taking more classes with Brooklyn Craft Co.
  • Bookbinding 101: DIY Leather Journal

    Reviewed by Tiffany S. on 4/26/2015
    I really enjoyed the class! I arrived about 15 minutes late (issue with subway), but the instructor brought me up to speed in no time. She was very personable and gave lots of tips and techniques. I would definitely take another class at Brooklyn Craft Company!!
  • The Handmade Book: An Introduction

    Reviewed by Polina on 8/2/2012
    I liked the class. I kind of wished we learned one more technique. Something more complicated. The Japanese stitch was complicated and I really liked it but I wish there was something else. But otherwise I learned a lot and it was really interesting.
  • The Handmade Book: An Introduction

    Reviewed by Atul on 8/1/2012
    The course was good-- everything as described in the course description.

Discover the Best Bookbinding Classes in NYC

Bookbinding is a traditional art that has been practiced for centuries around the world. Ancient Egyptians recorded stories on pressed papyrus which they rolled into a scroll. Later, Turks created texts on parchment made from animal skins. The first paper pressed from plant pulp was developed in China. Even after Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1436, bookmaking remained a handmade process until the nineteenth century.

Modern bookbinding stems from early processes and uses a variety of materials and techniques. Bookbinding is one of the traditional book arts, which includes hand binding, fine printing, calligraphy, box making, paper decorating, and artists’ books. Bookbinders assemble individual sheets of paper inside a cover to make a book. 

Traditional and creative bookbinding is now practiced by enthusiasts in homes and studios. Some artisans sell their products in markets, boutiques, and online. Bookbinding incorporates a wide variety of techniques and materials to create unique and beautiful hand-made volumes.

Why You Should Learn Bookbinding in NYC

Learning bookbinding in NYC is a journey into an art that is both meditative and exacting. Making a finely crafted book requires hours of practice, and selecting unique covers, papers, and binding techniques stimulates your creativity.

Some bookbinders use their skills to repair and restore antique volumes or create beautiful and protective covers. Artists who practice bookbinding strive to create something new and unique that expresses their personal vision. Whatever your motivation, holding your hand-bound book in your hands gives you a sense of accomplishment. A handmade book is a treasured gift or the start of a blossoming cottage industry in the crafts.

Share your bookmaking journey with others at the Center for Book Arts in NYC. This nonprofit organization promotes the artistic practice of books as art. As the oldest nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the book arts, they offer education, preservation, exhibitions, studio access, and community building.

In-Person Bookbinding Classes & Schools in NYC

Coursehorse helps you find in-person bookbinding classes in NYC. Take a look at these classes that will grow your skills in the book arts.

Explore historical and theoretical aspects of zine-making and zine culture in Introduction to Zines at Penumbra Foundation in New York City. When you complete this one-day zine-making session, you’ll have the power to tell your own story into your hands.

Zine-making considers the visual flow of your publication, examines how images can complement or detract from one another, and experiments with layout and sequencing content. You’ll use tools like a bone folder, scissors, a blade, needle and thread, and a stapler to fold, collate, and bind your zine. The Penumbra Foundation is a non-profit photographic arts organization whose mission is to bring workshops, education, lectures, and events to an international photographic community. 

Fabric Printing at Super Silk Screen, Inc. in Astoria, New York will have you creating unique, one-of-a-kind fabric for your book covers. Submit their own graphic art design prior to the class and Super Silk Screen will make a silk screen from your artwork. You’ll learn how to print on fabrics using your design and you’ll go home with your reusable screen. Take home up to five printed items and a Certificate of Completion. Super Silk Screen, Inc in New York City makes silk screens for printmakers and product printers. 

Create a hand-bound book to collect your drawings from Accelerated Introduction to Drawing at The Decorus Atelier of Figurative Art in Brooklyn, New York. You’ll learn how to correctly start a drawing, use straight-line construction and comparison, and use the basic principles of light, shadow, and shading. This accelerated two-hour class is for artists of every level of experience who would like to improve their technique and gain confidence in starting a new piece.

Decorus Atelier of Figurative Art teaches classical methods of drawing, painting, and sculpture through rigorous traditional training. Students learn how to infuse their work with narrative and explore critical thinking essential to fine art.

Virtual Bookbinding Classes & Schools

Online bookbinding classes are a terrific alternative to in-person classes when you don’t have any local options. You can take bookbinding classes from expert teachers who are located anyplace. You can spend all the time you save on commuting working on your bookbinding projects, in the comfort of your home or studio. Ensure you can join your class without interruptions and that you have space to spread out your materials. Virtual bookbinding classes often require that you source your own materials before class begins. Use the materials list from your instructor to source items from local stores and online vendors.

In Virtual Interactive Japanese Ink Painting (Sumi-e) from RESOBOX, you’ll learn to create beautiful ink paintings for your hand-bound books on Japanese paper. Sumi-e painting, also called Suibokuga, is a style of ink-wash painting that originates in East Asia. It depicts the spirit or essence of an object or scene by using the fewest possible brush strokes. Viewing or creating Sumi-e is a contemplative form of painting. For this class, you’ll need liquid Sumi ink, Sumi-e (or Calligraphy) brushes, Washi paper (rice paper) or newsprint paper, a couple of containers with water, a couple of small dishes, and paper towels or rags.

You’ll create an art journal that reflects your creative journey in Beginner's Intro Art Journaling from The Art Studio NY. This live, online art journaling class is for total beginners or journal makers who need a creative jump start. A professional artist will guide you through creating your own authentic piece of artwork in this two-hour class. You’ll learn drawing basics, color fundamentals, watercolor painting, layering, and collage, with a focus on self-expression and creative exploration.

Beginners Art Journaling by The Art Studio in New York City is a five-session course that dives deeper into art journaling. You’ll learn how to use painting, drawing, collage, and mixed-media techniques to journal in your unique voice and perspective. The class covers how to layer and intuitively collage, express yourself with paint and meditative marks, use watercolor to channel your mood, tap into drawing with expressive marks, and explore the addition of writing, inspiring quotes, pictures, textures and other details to your personalized art journal pages. When you join the class you can get to know your classmates and fellow artists in a private community Facebook group for students only.

For either art journaling class, you’ll need 90-pound or heavier watercolor or mixed media paper, watercolor paints, pencil, eraser, glue (Modge Podge or matte medium), craft brushes, black marker (Sharpie Ultra point, Posca fine point, or Pigma Micron Pen), scissors, and collage elements (magazines, scrap papers, or tissue paper). Optional supplies include acrylic craft paints and a white Posca fine-point marker.

Learn how to create illustrated cartoons, graphic novels, or commercial book illustrations with pen and ink in Online Pen and Ink 101 from Pastimes for a Lifetime. You’ll learn how to select the best pens and papers for your projects, how to precisely represent textures, shading, and tone, and how to use positive and negative space. You’ll leave with a collection of black and white works of art, as well as receive a certificate of completion. Students enrolled in this class will need a Copic® 0.3mm multiliner black pen, a 9 x 12 inch bristol board, an 11 x 14 inch bristol vellum, a graphite 2H pencil, a 2H turquoise drawing pencil, a kneaded eraser, a 2-hole General® Metal Twin sharpener, a pen brush, and a Copic® multiliner brush.

Private Group Bookbinding Classes in NYC

Whether you’re planning a team-building activity for your workplace or coordinating a fun event for a getaway weekend, Coursehorse makes it easy with live online group classes that you can enjoy wherever you are. 

From private group bookbinding classes in NYC to a wide variety of other activities, Coursehorse provides classes that your group will love. 

You’ll learn to make Fish, Butterfly, Crane, and Jumping Frog with the creative art of paper folding in Virtual Origami Workshop. Whether you use your origami shapes as a bookmark, hang them on your wall, or simply leave them on your desk to show off your new skills, origami is fun to share with your others. Plus, kids will love the myriad shapes you create from just a simple sheet of paper. Paper folding skills are bound to fuel your creativity for bookbinding and the book arts. You don’t need any previous experience and all materials are provided. 

In Virtual Shibori Dye Workshop, you’ll learn how to make unique and beautiful fabrics for bookbinding or any other crafty ideas. The traditional Japanese art of Shibori twists, bunches, ties, and binds fabric before dying it to create unique fabric designs. You’ll learn the six classic Shibori styles in this one-and-a-half-hour class. No previous experience is needed and most materials are provided. Pre-wash the provided fabric before class time and have your own plastic bag and large pot for the class. 

Virtual Holiday Card Workshop will expand your paper art skills and delight your inner artist as you design your own cards. You’ll learn how to use paper collage, embellishing, and design to create beautiful cards. Show off your masterpiece in class and then send it off to a lucky recipient. This class is open to all ages. You’ll receive enough crafting materials to create ten cards; participants provide their own glue and scissors.

If you’re looking for a different course, Coursehorse can create a class just for you. Contact them through the Contact Us button on their website. Booking a class with Coursehorse is easy, even if you don’t know the size of your group. Select the minimum group size of ten, pay a deposit, and your date is secured. You can finalize your group size up to one week before your class. For just $50 extra, you can customize your event with added games, specific questions or a themed game, or another event with materials included.

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