FOBA 2026 - Erin Fletcher - Envelope Binding

Focus on Book Arts 2026

Erin Fletcher
Envelope Binding - Friday-Sunday, June 26-28, 2026

Read more about FOBA 2026 on their website!
https://focusonbookarts.org/2026-foba-conference/

Workshop Description:

Finding inspiration in a 15th century limp vellum binding where the cover was constructed like a wallet, Belgian binder Clara Gevaert slowly began to develop her Envelope Binding structure. This simple yet rather elegant structure requires very little adhesive and each cover is folded out of a single sheet of handmade paper into a self-locking “envelope.” The book opens relatively flat and is suitable for lightweight text blocks.

In this workshop, students will create three variations of the Envelope Binding structure. The first two will utilize handmade paper for the covers while showing solutions for binding a thin versus a thick text block. For the third model, students will explore Clara’s layering technique using dyed Tengucho and undyed Kozo tissues to create a more translucent and dynamic cover.

Materials/equipment to be provided by students:

• Acrylic fluid paint
• Blue tape
• Bone folder
• Craft knife
• Cutting mats, large and medium size
• Dividers
• Glue brush, small
• Wide paste brush (about 8”)
• Needle – No. 25 sharps
• Pencil
• Pin vise or awl
• PVA
• Scissors
• Rulers of different lengths with metric measurements (12”/300mm and 20”/500mm)
• Scalpel (with #23 or #25 blade)
• Triangle (with 90° angle)

Optional:

• More Beeswax
• Punching Cradle
• Teflon Folder