Bookbinding

Entry requirements: no prior knowledge of paper or bookbinding is required to take this course. It helps to have some experience with precise crafts, but as long as you have some fine motor skills you will be fine!

The oldest known book was made in 600 BCE, and the largest book in the world is five meters tall and four meters wide. Bookbinding is a craft that has existed for ages, and has many different styles and techniques. In this course, you’ll learn how to bind books by hand using minimal tools and materials, with no need for a special workspace. You’ll experiment with different binding techniques, discover the differences between paper types, and finish the course with several beautiful handmade notebooks of your own. We will finish the course with a trip to the University Library, where a curator of the special collections will show us medieval books!

What you will learn:

• Different binding methods, each with its own pros and cons
• How to create and attach a hardcover
• Which type of paper works best for which kind of book
• Inspiration and ideas to continue making your own booklets at home

The course fee includes the cost of materials.

Please note:
The final class will take place at the Utrecht University Library at Utrecht Science Park, in the Special Collections department.

About the teacher

Jasper Zijlstra (1990) is a “photographic explorer” dedicated to inspiring wonder and improvement through his work. He uses his camera to gain access to complex, unknown, or hidden worlds, ranging from sterile laboratories to personal stories. Since 2021, he has focused on making scientific research more accessible by collaborating with researchers to visualize their methods and results in new images. At Parnassos, he teaches both photography courses and – surprisingly – bookbinding.

For more information about the teacher, visit www.jasperzijlstra.com.