Debate: Is expensive thread worth it or a total waste? I lost $60 on premium linen thread that kept snapping.

I spent $60 on high-end linen thread from a specialty shop, thinking it would make my bindings last forever. But it snapped on me 4 times during a single project, and I ended up using cheap polyester I had lying around. Has anyone else had good luck with fancy thread, or are we all just wasting cash?

3 comments

3 Comments

martinez.paul10d ago

premium linen thread that kept snapping" - that's the thing though, linen thread is actually known for breaking more than polyester if you pull too hard. It has less stretch so it can't take sudden tension as well. A lot of bookbinders I know only use linen for specific things like sewing signatures that need to lay flat, not for general binding where you're tugging and pulling. You probably just got the wrong type of thread for what you were doing. The $60 stuff might still be great for the right job, like if you're doing a coptic stitch where the thread shows and you want that natural look.

brian_hart10d ago

Honestly, what kind of book are you trying to bind? Like a thick journal with lots of signatures or a thinner one? I'm curious if the thread just cant handle heavier projects.

schmidt.iris10d ago

@brian_hart totally right, linen's a beast for flat lays but sucks for any binding that needs tension.