Took me three days to figure out I was using the wrong thread gauge on a 1920s rebind

I was trying to restore this old novel from the 1920s and kept snapping the thread mid-stitch. After two full days of frustration and six different needle sizes, I finally realized the original spine holes were drilled for a much finer gauge than modern linen thread. I had been forcing a size 25 thread into holes meant for size 35. Total time wasted was about 18 hours spread over three days. Has anyone else run into weird old book specs like that where modern stuff just doesn't fit?

2 comments

2 Comments

cole_patel415d ago

Were the holes originally sized for a specific type of silk thread from that era?

dianagreen5d ago

Blow those old holes out with a toothpick before you even thread the needle. That saved me a whole weekend on a 1910s textblock last year. The original holes shrink over time as the paper and binding materials settle, so even if you find the right gauge thread, you'll still fight it. A round toothpick fits perfectly in most vintage holes just work it through each one gently. Then hit them with a beeswax cake before sewing. The wax softens the paper fibers enough to let a modern thread pass without snapping. That's how I deal with 1920s and 30s books mostly, since those transition era binders used a mix of silk and cotton that left weirdly sized holes.