CRAFT DRAFT Live Workshops

 In May 2026, this course will examine the art of Moroccan geometric design—at-Tasṭīr—with particular emphasis on three configurations of Tnashri (twelvefold) patterns as evidenced in historical Moroccan manuscripts. The study will focus on circular, square, and rectangular compositional frameworks, analysing their structural logic and aesthetic principles.

Delivered online across three sessions, the course will engage with examples drawn from diverse historical periods, thereby situating these geometric forms within their broader cultural and artistic contexts. 

In addition to interpretive analysis, the course will introduce the technical processes underlying their construction, with specific attention to the traditional Moroccan artisanal Hasba method as a guiding framework for pattern tracing and execution.

Through this combined analytical and practical approach, participants will gain a deeper understanding of both the symbolic significance and the geometric sophistication of Moroccan manuscript illumination.

The course is intended for artists, designers, architects, and scholars of geometry seeking a rigorous, historically grounded approach to Islamic geometric pattern.

**Required Tools:**

- Professional Drawing Compass with a 0.5mm mechanical pencil

- Divider (essential for precision)

- 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil for line drawing

- Metal Rulers (30 cm & 50 cm)

- A3 Sheets of Drawing Paper

- Eraser

**About the Instructor:**

Hamza El Fasiki trained as an apprentice under his father since 2011 at the Dar-Attamania Studio in Fes, Morocco, where he earned an Ijazah in the art of at-Tastir and a guild-recognition in the crafts of metal engravings and leather bookbinding. He also holds an MA degree  in Moroccan Cultural Studies from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes, where his academic work centered on the cultural history of traditional Moroccan crafts. Hamza is an Andalusian oud musician and a published author.  His recent publication includes a book chapter titled "Sacred Space: Geometric Patterns in Moroccan Art," featured in the anthology *Perspective: Selected Essays on Space in Art and Design* (2023).

For the duration of 5 weeks, we will learn about the history and techniques of Islamic bookbinding through the case of the Moroccan style known as at-Tasfīr. In this 5-Week online course,  you’ll be guided step by step as you create your very own bound journal, complete with book-cloth, a flap and deckle-edged paper. By the end of the series, you’ll walk away with a beautiful handmade notebook — and quite possibly a brand-new hobby.

This course unfolds over 5 online progressive sessions, starting with a lecture exploring four foundational historical sources in the art of Moroccan bookbinding:

• Bakr al-Ishbili (1231 AD / 629 AH)
• Ahmed al-Matrifi (1593 AD / 1001 AH)
• Ahmed as-Sufyani (1619 AD / 1029 AH)
• Abdelaziz ar-Rasmuki (1655 AD / 1065 AH)

It is followed by hands-on workshops covering:

• Moroccan bookbinding techniques
• Moroccan end-band sewing 
• Cover design, amd
• End-Paper attachements

This course is taught by traditional Moroccan bookbiner and author Hamza El Fasiki who integrates lectures, discussions, and live bookbinding instructions using traditional techniques combined with available modern tools and materials.

The course is intended for bibliophiles, bookworms, artists, designers, bookbinders, scholars of the art of the book and anyone seeking a rigorous, historically grounded approach to Islamic bookbinding.

**Required Tools:**

Each session includes a list of particular tools and materials. The complete list is provided below. Most of these items can be found at home or at a nearby stationary store. After registration, you'll receive recommended web links for specialized bookbinding tools and materials. Don't worry — there will be plenty of time to gather all the necessary supplies before the sessions begin.

**About the Instructor:**

Hamza El Fasiki trained as an apprentice under his father since 2011 at the Dar-Attamania Studio in Fes, Morocco, where he earned an Ijazah in the art of at-Tastir (traditional Moroccan geometric patterns) and a guild-recognition in the crafts of metal engravings and leather bookbinding. Hamza has traveled across 18 countries in four continents while sharing Moroccan crafts and culture. He also holds an MA degree in Moroccan Cultural Studies from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes, where his academic work centered on the cultural history of traditional Moroccan crafts. Hamza is also an Andalusian oud musician and a published author.  His recent publication includes a book chapter titled "Sacred Space: Geometric Patterns in Moroccan Art," featured in the anthology *Perspective: Selected Essays on Space in Art and Design* (2023).