There is a longing for the tactile satisfaction of craft in an age where pixels and screens rule. From the humble hands of scribes and binders from the ancient world to the contemporary aficionado, letterers, diary-keepers, poets, and writers, the act of binding one’s thoughts in the material has been an intimate and revered process. Enter the near-legendary art of Japanese Stab Binding — a simple yet elegant way to produce books that are a testament to the harmony of form and function. This traditional method, with its roots deep in Japanese bookbinding history, offers a unique possibility to anyone looking to create their own journal or photo album, and it will be further explored and crafted in a special workshop event.
The Craft and Its Legacy
Japanese Stab Binding, or “oshihi chōyō“, goes beyond mere utility; it’s a blend of practicality and aesthetic that has been passed down through generations. In this exchange, it’s not just the book that carries the weight of time but the tools, the motions, and the very act of making itself, which encapsulates a heritage worth rekindling. The process begins with the selection of materials, each chosen not only for its strength but also for its cultural resonance. The combination of bookboards, fabric, and paper becomes a canvas for one’s narrative. In this exploration, we pay homage to the craft that gives word form and matter to the fleeting whispers that language encapsulates.
Supplies and Tools: The Ampersand of Tradition and Modernity
In the Japanese Stab Binding Workshop, the participants will traverse this symphony of old and new, a place where tradition isn’t fossilized but rather reinterpreted through contemporary means. The event supplies an array of fabrics, ranging from traditional indigo-dyed patterns to modernist geometric prints, allowing each participant to infuse their own identity into the object. The provision also includes linen cotton canvases for the book board, offering a durable yet flexible surface. The thread and needle, which are in tandem with the fabric and board, will craft the signature stitches of Japanese binding.
Journey through the Stitches
The heart of the Japanese Stab Binding process lies in the multiple stitch patterns, each with a name and a purpose. The workshop is a guided exploration of these magical loops and ties — the Tortoise Shell, the Hemp Leaf, and the Noble — to name just a few. These stitches not only secure the book but elevate it into a work of art. Each attendee will be led through not just the motions but also the meaning behind these intricate patterns. In this act, the participant transcends mere fidgeting to a statement of intent — a maker with a message.
Crafting Your Words
Finally, the attendees will have the chance to select and stitch their mini 5×8-inch journal. They are not just learning but crafting — infusing the personal into the enduring, each indentation and loop a representation of their passage through the craft. They will have created an item that isn’t just an accessory for their writings but a vessel—carrying an echo of the timeless into their everyday lives. The journal becomes a mirror, reflecting not just the writer, but also the writer’s relationship to tradition and to time.
Join the Binders’ Gathering
This is more than a workshop; it is a gathering of binders, scholars, and enthusiasts. An event designed to provide an experiential understanding of a craft suspended between two worlds — the past and the future. It is an invitation to weave your thoughts and intents into a tangible object, to connect with a culture that is distant yet profound. Japanese Stab Binding Workshop is a sanctuary for the mind that roams free in the realms of words and a call to the hands to make meaning in the material.
Join the Binders’ Gathering at 2423 Crabtree Blvd., Raleigh, NC, on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 11:30 am to 01:30 p.m. and enter the sacred precincts of bookbinding. Bridging the chasm between desire and creation awaits the seeker, the curious, and the artist within you.
