My buddy from the Portland book arts center told me my headbands looked like 'sad little worms'

He was right, I was just using leftover thread and not shaping them at all. Now I spend 15 minutes per book with proper cord and a bone folder to get that tight, rounded look. Anyone have a favorite thread weight for 1.5 inch spine books?

3 comments

3 Comments

keithlane16d agoMost Upvoted

Sad little worms" is such a perfect, brutal critique. I see that everywhere now, where one tiny upgrade in effort or materials totally changes the outcome. For 1.5 inch spines, I've had good luck with a basic 3-ply linen thread.

barbara_campbell7d ago

My first bookbinding project used some cheap cotton thread from a craft store, and yeah, the stitches looked exactly like sad little worms. Switching to even a basic linen thread made such a huge difference in how tight and clean everything looked. I mean, it's wild how one small change can make your work go from looking kinda amateur to actually professional. I still have a spool of that old thread I use for mocking things up, but seeing it just reminds me of those wimpy stitches.

umathompson15d ago

Your buddy's "sad little worms" comment is the kind of gentle roast that sticks with you forever. Keithlane is right about that tiny upgrade making all the difference, though I'm still using up my sad worm thread on practice signatures. For a 1.5 inch spine, I've settled on a 12/3 linen thread, it gives a nice plump look without being too bulky.