Book Binding Workshop

Make an unique notebook using traditional booking binding

This is a new craft we’re proud to introduce to your events. Paper was invented in China over 2,000 years ago, and traditional books were bound with thread, secured with special knots to hold everything together. In this workshop, you’ll learn to make a beautiful notebook using imported paper. Choose a Chinese imperial design or a signature Japanese pattern for your cover, then personalise it further with calligraphy or ink painting. It’s one of our signature workshops, rich in cultural heritage, and one we’re excited to bring to more people in London. If it sounds like a fit for your event, send us your request below!


Book Binding Workshop In London

how to organise?

our signature workshop

Our bookbinding workshop is often offered as one of the activities within a festive celebration – guests bind their own notebook by hand using a traditional threads and knots technique. For an extra personal touch, we can add a short calligraphy or ink painting session so guests can decorate their pages too.

PRICE

We typically quote for the whole event rather than a set fee per person for book binding alone — but as a guide, expect around £20pp for this bookbinding workshop.

SET UP

We bring everything needed to set up your space for book binding — for example, paper, covers, thread, awls and needles, ready to go. All materials included.

DURATION

Bookbinding alone will take 30 mins or less. Small calligraphy or ink painting can add on extra 10 -20 mins.

Why choose us?

who we are

We’re cultural educators at heart, and craft teachers by trade. Dear Asia workshops exist to share ESEA heritage in a way people can actually feel — through their hands, not just a slideshow. It’s the same care and pride that goes into every workshop and event, whatever the craft.

not just craft

Our workshops work for every skill level — instructors give hands-on help throughout, so everyone leaves with a finished piece they’re proud of. But the craft is only half of it. Underneath is the story: the festivals, beliefs and traditions that ESEA communities have carried for generations, and that we bring to life in the room with you.

one stop shop event partner

Our full time team are experienced event organisers. We bring together event facilitators and craft instructors, so you don’t need to source multiple suppliers yourself. On the day, we handle setup, materials and introductions end to end — you just need to book the room.

Thread Binding

Xianzhuang, or thread binding, became China’s dominant bookbinding method by the late Ming Dynasty, evolving from earlier butterfly and wrapped-back binding styles. Pages are folded, stacked and stitched through the spine by hand, producing sturdy volumes that remained China’s standard book format into the twentieth century.

Our client reviews

Read reviews from our clients to see how our cultural workshops have made a positive impact on workplace cultural diversity.

  • What a fantastic event. I have had several colleagues approach me to tell that it was their favorite event they’ve been to!
    Philippa Bradbury
    Mayer Brown
  • Everyone at the event gave the most positive feedback about the session and are dying to have you guys come back for other events.
    Nicole Chan
    Just Eat
  • I’m very pleased with how the workshop turned out. Everyone loved the mooncakes and tea, and had a fantastic time. Thanks for the quiz prizes as well.
    Isabela Gomes
    Slack
  • We’ve invited Dear Asia to run events for our teams two years in a row, and they’ve been fantastic each time. We definitely recommend them.
    Shahir Ahmed
    Universal Pictures

Book Binding Workshop FAQs

Want to organise a book binding workshop for your event? Let us help you.

Book binding brings together everything we love about ESEA craft — thousands of years of history, a genuinely meditative hands-on process, and a beautiful, practical keepsake at the end. It’s new to our lineup, but it’s already become one of our favourites to run, which is why we’re calling it out as a signature workshop.

Please see our photos, it’s slightly bigger than A5 size, 160mx260m to be exact. There are about 25 inner pages.

Yes — every guest can choose their own cover. We offer a handful of different Japanese pattern options, plus one traditional Chinese design, based on the pattern most widely used on official historical documents.

It’s a short add-on we’d genuinely recommend — and we don’t charge extra for it. We want every guest to have the full experience, and it’s well within our instructors’ skillset to offer it alongside the core workshop.

We use Xuanzhi (宣纸), or Xuan paper — a traditional Chinese paper originally from Anhui province, prized for centuries for calligraphy and ink painting. It’s part of why the paper pairs so well with our calligraphy and ink painting add-on, since it’s the same paper traditionally used for Chinese brushwork.

Yes — we can work with you in advance to personalise covers with a name, initials or a company logo, making this a memorable branded keepsake for corporate events.

Yes. Dear Asia holds public liability insurance for all workshops, and we’re happy to share our risk assessment and insurance documentation for your internal approval process — just let us know when you enquire.

Yes. Book binding is a seated, table-based craft, making it easy to adapt for guests with mobility needs. Let us know any specific requirements when you enquire so we can plan the setup accordingly.

Calligraphy workshop

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Want To Organise A Book Binding Workshop

Contact us to talk about it.