Weekly Bookbinding Report: first day of employment

Week one as an apprentice bookbinder at York Bookbinding

Today I started my employment at York Bookbinding where I will work for one day a week in the bindery. They plan to train me up on the job and are arranging an apprenticeship for me. This may then lead to a full time position once my MA course is completed.

York Bookbinding is very different to the previous bookbinding jobs I have had as it is far more traditional. They also do a lot more repair work, which I am very interested in and excited to learn.

The bindery business is joint with a printing business called McRay Press. I don't expect to be working there much, but they may use me at times as I have experience in professional printing.

Picture of the old York Bindery, back when it was in York University.

An artists impression of a bookbinder at work.

Week one accomplishments:

• Successfully sewn a book using the Coptic stitch and Kettle stitch.
• Used the cradle to sew two books.
• Worked on a live job.
• Met the rest of the team.

New skills acquired during week one:

• Using the cradle to sew up a book.
• Learnt how to do the side stitch, or, Japanese stab binding.
• Rounding the spine of a book.

What I need to improve on:

• Ensuring that holes go all the way through the sections.
• Pace of sewing.
• Weavers knot.
• Rounding and backing skills.

From the notebook:

• Always tap the head
• Work front of the book to the back
• Sew like you're playing the harp
• Everything to the inside and going up
• Join thread using the weavers knot