My polyester thread binding has held up better than linen ones.

Maybe tradition isn't always the best guide for materials.

3 comments

3 Comments

My old bookbinding teacher swore by linen thread, but I've had so many vintage books come apart at the seams. The linen just gets brittle. I repaired a set of encyclopedias with a strong polyester thread about eight years ago. Those books get pulled off the shelf all the time and the bindings are still tight. It's hard to argue with results.

lily_schmidt531mo ago

My grandmother's linen thread books from the 70s are all brittle and snapped. The polyester ones I bound ten years ago look brand new, even after being in a sunny room. It doesn't absorb moisture the same way, so it resists rot better over decades. Sometimes the modern synthetic is just the right tool.

the_elizabeth1mo ago

Had the same problem with some old cookbooks my mom gave me. The linen thread just turned to dust when I tried to fix a spine. Switched to a basic polyester thread from the craft store for the repair. Five years later, those stitches are still holding without any fade or weak spots. The older stuff has its charm, but it doesn't always last.