Longstitch Bookbinding with Guy Begbie

Spend a full day exploring the craft of bookbinding at Frankenstein Press in Bristol, guided by expert tutor Guy Begbie. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create your own cloth-covered, multi-section hardback book using traditional longstitch sewing techniques. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience, the workshop introduces a distinctive binding structure in which the cover and pages are sewn together, with exposed longstitch and decorative chain stitching along the spine. You’ll also explore creative possibilities within the pages, incorporating pull-out sections, gate folds and simple paper engineering techniques. These elements make the structure particularly versatile for artists’ books, sketchbooks and other creative projects. What to expect: - Step-by-step guidance in hardback construction, longstitch sewing and decorative spine stitching. - An introduction to creative page structures, including pull-outs, gate folds and paper engineering. - Insight into the historical origins of longstitch binding and its contemporary applications. - Expert tuition from Guy Begbie, an internationally exhibited book artist, bookbinder and printmaker with over 25 years’ teaching experience. - A relaxed and supportive day of making, with a one-hour lunch break. By the end of the workshop, you’ll take home your own handmade cloth-covered hardback book, along with the skills to explore this versatile binding technique independently.