Loading…

TIL that a lot of people are using the wrong weight of thread for kettle stitch. | Bookbinders - nhfree.com

TIL that a lot of people are using the wrong weight of thread for kettle stitch.

I've been seeing a lot of photos online where the binding looks loose or the spine is already sagging on a new book. For the last year, I've been using 25/3 linen thread for most of my work, and it makes a huge difference. A friend gave me a spool of 18/3 thread to try, saying it was 'stronger', but it was too thick. It didn't pull the signatures tight enough and left ugly holes in the paper. I switched back to my usual 25/3 and the books just feel more solid, you know? The stitch holds everything together without damaging the pages. Has anyone else found that thread weight makes or breaks a project?

3 comments

3 Comments

maryh965mo ago

What about the paper weight though? I tried that 18/3 thread on some cheap 70gsm paper and it was a total disaster, it just shredded it. But then I used the same thread on some super thick watercolor paper for a sketchbook and it was perfect. Maybe the thread weight isn't the only thing, it's how it matches the paper. A thin thread on heavy paper feels weak, but a thick thread on thin paper just rips it. You gotta pair them right.

piperr585mo ago

Wait you used 18/3 thread on 70gsm paper? That's wild, no wonder it shredded. That thread is like rope for paper that thin. It's like trying to sew a t-shirt with yarn. I tried 12/3 on regular printer paper once and even that punched holes you could drive a truck through. You really do need a tiny thread for lightweight stuff.

margaretshah5mo ago

Totally see this everywhere. It's like using a heavy drill bit on soft pine, it just splinters the wood. Or watering a tiny seedling with a fire hose instead of a gentle spray. You see it in cooking too, a strong spice can completely overpower a delicate fish. It's all about matching the strength of the tool to the weakness of the material.