Workshop: Introduction to Japanese Book Binding with Barbara Setsu Pickett

Learn how to build and hand-stitch your own books using the four classic Japanese book binding techniques. Start by sewing together your instruction manual with the most basic stitch. Make a second book using one of the variations: the reinforced corners, the tortoise shell, or the hemp-leaf pattern. Learn about paper grain and how to align the grain to strengthen the book’s spine. Students can purchase a bookbinding tool kit or bring or borrow tools from the teachers. Useful tools and supplies to bring are small scissors, a snap-blade craft knife, a self-healing cutting mat, a metal ruler or straightedge, a pencil/sharpener/eraser, darning needles, needle-nosed pliers.

Barbara Setsu Pickett is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon where she headed the Fibers Area for 33 years.  The focuses of her research and creative practice are velvet weaving, shibori, natural dyeing, and the book arts.  Among her awards are a Fulbright Research fellowship in Italy, a Rockefeller Bellagio residency, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Gladys Krieble Delmas for Studies in the Veneto fund and Institute of Turkish Studies.  She was the Artist-in-Residence for the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco where she wove Japanese-style velvet and sewed Japanese-style books.   

She and her son Michael formed the Mihara Shibori Studio in 2005 and they create highly textured silk scarves in distinctive palettes expanding on the Japanese traditional shibori techniques.  They have taught workshops in Istanbul and Seoul and in October 2016 were invited to participate in the Korean Society of Fashion Business conference and fashion exhibition. 

DATE: Friday November 13, 2026. 9am – 4pm

LOCATION: Ruthie’s Weaving Studio. 4701 SE 24th Ave Suite Z, Portland, OR 97202

MATERIALS FEE: $7, to be paid directly to the instructor at the workshop, includes the paper for covers and text bodies, bookbinding threads, bees wax. The optional Bookbinding Kit, $25, includes bone folder, binding clips, bees wax, darning needles, storage box

WORKSHOP FEE: PHG determines workshop fees on a sliding scale based on the number of participants. Here is a sampling of estimated workshop fees by number of participants:

• 6 – $200
• 12 – $100

As a reminder that while the total cost varies by number of registrations. We have 12 spots available. If we receive more than the minimum registrants, as is typical, and your deposit is higher than the final workshop fee, we will refund you the difference. Conversely, if the workshop fee is higher than the deposit, we will invoice you for the difference. The PHG policy for workshop cancellation is described in the PHG Workshop Policy document posted on the PHG website here: https://portlandhandweaversguild.org/archive/education/workshops/workshop-policy/.

You must be logged in to register for this workshop. Workshop registration is currently limited to current PHG members only.