Switched from linen to cotton thread for my bindings and wow what a difference

I used to think linen thread was the only way to go because that's what the old books used. But last month I was working on a restoration project for a 1920s novel and the linen kept snapping on me mid stitch. After about 5 broken threads I finally grabbed some unbleached cotton thread a buddy recommended and it glided through the signatures like butter. Cotton has more give and doesn't fray as bad at the needle eye which saves me time on rethreading. I also noticed my joints are closing up tighter because the cotton compresses easier. Has anyone else found that certain thread types work better for specific kinds of bindings? I'm curious about using Dacron or nylon for heavier books.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wesley15h ago

Linen kept snapping on me mid stitch" - man that makes me cringe just reading it. I've been there with that exact frustration and it's enough to make you throw the whole book across the room. Cotton thread really is a lifesaver for those older books with dry paper signatures.

oscarc128h ago

RIGHT? @the_wesley gets it. Cotton just works better. Life's too short for snapping thread.

milarodriguez13h ago

Oh I read somewhere that cotton thread has natural moisture absorption that actually protects the spine over time!