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East Asian Side-Sewn Bindings 1

  • Minnesota Center for Book Arts 1011 South Washington Avenue #100 Minneapolis, MN 55415 United States (map)

Saturday, January 30; 10am–4pm CT

In this in-person workshop, we’ll focus on proper text preparation and traditional sewing patterns for side-sewn bindings.

Side-sewn, or stab-bound, books feature a stack of single sheets secured with decorative, exposed stitching along the spine. Although often referred to as “Japanese stab binding,” this structure developed across East Asia—including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam—and dates back to at least the 15th century during the Ming dynasty and the Sengoku period. These bindings continue to be made today.

Learn how to create punching templates, prepare the text for sewing, and sew the different patterns. Through step-by-step demonstrations, guided practice, and visual handouts, sew several foundational patterns, such as Four-Hole (Yotsume Toji), Noble Binding, and Tortoise Shell.

By the end of the workshop, participants will complete three or more side-sewn books and gain confidence in sewing traditional patterns accurately.

Level: Beginner. All skill levels are welcome.
Certificate: 6 hours, Category A, B, or D

Pricing

$147 | $74 Scholarship | $221 Pay-It-Forward

$30 materials fee

Scholarships are available for individuals facing adversity as it relates to identity, income/wealth, and lack of access to arts resources. The Pay-It-Forward rate (tuition, plus 50%) supports MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available. We leave it to you to choose the rate that is meaningful to you based on your income, wealth, and privilege status. MCBA members receive a 10% discount on tuition.

Please note: Registration closes 1/25 at midnight (CT).

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