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Make Your Own Book Cloth

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

Thursday, December 18; 6–9pm CT

In this in-person workshop, learn the traditional method for making book cloth with wheat paste, fabric, and Japanese paper.

Making your own book cloth allows you to work economically with materials you may already have (or can thrift), achieve a wide variety of colors and patterns, and integrate fabrics with personal or historical value into your artwork. We’ll start by discussing various glues and pastes and strategies to prevent glue stains on the cloth. Samples of book cloth will be shown but most of the workshop will focus on making 14 x 10-inch pieces of book cloth. 

A selection of fabric will be provided and participants are welcome to bring their own fabric, too. Instruction will cover the types of fabric that work best for book cloth, including smooth, woven fabrics made from cotton, linen, and silk. Knits, textured fabrics, wool, or synthetics are not recommended. Participants are encouraged to bring questions about book cloth and individual projects.

Wear clothing that can get dirty. Participants need to return to pick up their book cloth on Saturday, 12/20, or later in The Shop at MCBA to allow it to dry flat overnight.

Level: Beginner. All skill levels are welcome. 
Certificate: 3 hours, Category D


Pricing

$70 | $35 Scholarship | $105 Pay-It-Forward

$25 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 12/15 at midnight (CT).


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December 17

Paper Wreaths

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December 20

Letterpress 2: Setting Type (December)