Courses
The Western Australian Craft Bookbinders Guild offers a range of courses at a small cost. These are held on weekends in Roleystone, and cater for both members and non-members. These courses are a great way to start your bookbinding, and are run on a regular basis. The courses run as a progressive series, so attending a number of them will help your skills, as a range of different binding styles and techniques are demonstrated. Some skills are repeated, so that you get opportunities to improve through the participation in a number of courses.
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All courses result in you taking one of more completed items home at the end.
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Check the list of courses below to see when the next courses will be run. If you cannot make a course that you have booked for, please contact the Secretary so that someone else may take up the place.
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You must be 18 years old or over to attend one of our courses.
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Weekend courses start at 9:00 am and go through to 4:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
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From 2025, all our courses will be held at McDougall House on Clydesdale Street in Como.
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You must register and pay in order to attend, and places are very limited. We have a maximum of 8 on most courses, and less on some that require specialised equipment.
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Payments must be made before the course starts, and are not refundable in the last 14 days prior to the course commencing. View our Refund and Privacy policies here.
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Details about what you make and techniques you will learn can be found on our Course Details page.
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February 2025 Beginners Course
Date: Saturday, Feb 8th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, Feb 9th, 2025 - 4:00 PM
This is a great introduction to making your own books using very traditional techniques. We provide all the tools and materials for the course, and discuss how you can get started on your bookbinding journey.
This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
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This course is now full. You may waitlist in case of withdrawals.
Takeaway: A pamphlet style book, a hardback multi-section book, a slipcase for your hardback book.
April 2025 Stab Binding Course
Date: Saturday, Apr 12th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, Apr 13th, 2025 - 4:00 PM
The stab binding course covers two different styles: the Coptic binding, one of the original Western style bindings, and the Japanese four hole binding. Both of these styles use very little glue, and very little in the way of specialist tools. This course is suitable for beginners.
This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
Takeaway: A coptic style exposed stitching book, a Japanese four hole book, and a wrap around case for the Japanese book.
March 2025 Intermediate Course
Date: Saturday, Mar 8th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to Sunday, Mar 9th, 2025 - 4:00 PM
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This course is an excellent introduction to some of the more intricate techniques required to make a traditional round back book.
You will also make a soft cover book in the manner of a paperback, but much stronger and more long lasting. If you have lots of paperback books that you need to repair, this is a must do course for you.
This course is suitable for beginners who have some craft skills, not necessarily in bookbinding.
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This course is $115.00 for the course, and all tools and materials are provided. This course takes place over a single weekend, for a total of 12 hours of tuition.
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This course is now full. You may waitlist in case of withdrawals.
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Takeaway: A perfect bound (paperback) book and a hollow back hardcover multi-section book.
Additional Courses for 2025
Courses for 2025 are now available. Courses are generally published approximately 4 months in advance.