Stub Binding for Rounding and Backing with Hannah Brown
25 July 2026, London & South Regional Events 2026
Stub binding is a bookbinding technique that involves sewing book sections to narrow, folded pieces of paper, called stubs, instead of sewing the sections directly together. While not necessary for all books, stub binding can be a good solution for various problems.
Stub bindings are the perfect solution to binding books which are printed in the wrong grain direction, books with overly thick sections, miniature books, musical scores or books with illustrations that cross the gutter. The stubs allow each section to open freely and perfectly flat, also ensuring that no adhesive touches the actual book-block.
Where rounding and backing of a book sewn on stubs is desired, it is necessary to make individual stubs for each section so that they can still move independently of one another allowing the text block to have its spine shaped. Whilst there are many methods of folding stubs, this workshop will concentrate on one such method which can be adapted to suit the design of the book that it is being used on.
Cost:
- £35
- plus £8 materials fee
Date and venue:
- 25 July 2026
- 10:30-15:30
- Kentish Town Congregational Church, Kelly Street, London, NW1 8PH
Max number of attendees:
- 15
Tool list:
- You will need your usual kit of tools: scalpel, metal ruler, scissors, pencil, bone/teflon folder, masking tape etc...
- Folding gauge (we are using 12mm square aluminium bar (will be supplied)
- Bone-handled knife with no serrated edge, or something similar (will be supplied)
- Digital or analogue thickness gauge
- Cutting mat with grid reference on it
- Scalpel with a 10A blade
- Pliers (for changing blade of scalpel)
- Glue brush and PVA glue
- Needle pricker and/or bodkin
- Size 18 bookbinding needle
- Dividers
- Beeswax
- Bulldog clips
- Backing hammer
- Tabletop laying press
Hannah Brown
is a bookbinder working from her home studio in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, where she has lived since 2017. She is a Fellow of Designer Bookbinders, specialising in fine bookbinding and other bespoke commissioned works, using a variety of materials and objects to create unique, hand-crafted pieces from scratch.
Hannah favours materials and techniques traditionally used in bookbinding, such as leather, paper, gold leaf and gold tooling. With her crafts background, she is also keen to incorporate alternative skills into her work, including metalwork, textiles, printmaking and woodwork. She likes playing with colours and textures to create depth on her covers and uses a lot of embroidery in her binding work.
Hannah wants her bindings to be appreciated for their relation to the content of the pages inside, whilst simultaneously creating a tactile object to be handled and used. She is continually stimulated by the environment around her and finds herself always thinking ahead to the next binding!
Cancellations within 2 weeks of the event are non-refundable, as places may not be filled at short notice.
Please contact Kerry Negahban at [email protected] with any questions.
