The Sewn Board Binding - Online - 2026WKSP-09-22

ONLINE: The Sewn Board Binding with Andrew Huot

In this workshop, you will learn how to make your own sketchbook using the Sewn Board Binding method. 

These books open flat for drawing, painting, or journaling and hold up well to repeated use. 

Books can be made to the size and shape most useful for you. The pages will be sewn, glued, and bound using simple tools you can recreate at home.

Andrew Huot is a book artist, bookbinder, printer, and conservator in Scarborough, ON, where he operates Big River Bindery, a studio for bookmaking, letterpress printing, and book conservation. He holds a Masters in Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a BS in Printmaking from Portland State University.

His artists’ books use photographs, linoleum cuts, and text to share the humorous side of everyday life around us. His artists’ books are in collections across the country, from the Art Institute of Chicago to Yale University. Andrew teaches online and in his own studio, taught at the University of Illinois School of Information Science and workshops across the US and in Canada at CBBAG, the John C Campbell Folk School, Book Arts LA, the International Preservation Studies Center, and the Guild of Book Workers, among others. His website is https://bigriverbindery.com/

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Location: ONLINE using Zoom

Dates:Tuesdays, September 22 & 29, 2026

Hours: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (EASTERN TIME)

Course fee: $130 members / $190 non-members

Prerequisite: none

Maximum Enrollment: 20

Registration closes Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 11:59 PM EST

This is a live workshop, but it will be recorded, and links will be made available for the registrants to view until available until December 31, 2026.  

TOOLS 

• Bone Folder
• Self-healing cutting Mat
• Craft Knife – X-acto, Olfa, etc.
• Awl
• Metal ruler
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue brush

MATERIALS

• Text weight paper – 32 sheets, 10” x 7” grain short (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm)
• Decorated endpapers – 2 sheets, 10” x 7” grain short (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm)
• 8 0 lb cover weight paper – 4 sheets 10” x 7” grain short (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm)
• 80 lb cover weight paper – 1 piece 8” x 3” grain long (20.3 cm x 7.6 cm)
• Medium weight Japanese paper – 3” x 8” (7.6 cm x 20.3 cm)
• Bookbinding linen thread – 25/3
• Book cloth – 9” x 4” (22.8 cm x 10.1 cm)
• Decorated cover paper – 2 pieces, 9” x 6” grain long (22.8 cm x 15.2 cm)
• PVA
• Glue Stick

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Online Workshop Process:

Materials should be prepared in advance of the workshop to the specifications which will allow participants to take the best advantage of the live format. Please review the technical requirements below prior to registration to be sure you can participate. Questions should be directed to workshop@cbbag.ca

Technical requirements for participation:

•  Access to the internet and to the Zoom application
• Screen large enough to follow instructor’s video feed (cell phone is not ideal)
• Microphone or Headset / Webcam
• How to join a zoom meeting information https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193

Cancellation policy:

Participant-requested cancellations will be accepted up to 3 days prior to the published cut-off date for registration and will be subject to a 10% cancellation fee (a minimum of $5). After that, the full fee will be forfeited. In the event of the workshop being cancelled by CBBAG, the workshop fee will be fully refunded.