ben827•10d ago

Hand-sewn vs machine-stitched on a full leather cover, which actually lasts longer?

After binding two journals last December, one with a saddle stitch by hand and one with my sewing machine, the hand-stitched one already has loose threads while the machine one is still tight - is the extra time for hand binding really worth it for durability, or did I just mess up the tension?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicecooper9d ago

Did you use the same type of thread for both? Because if you used a cheap polyester thread on the hand stitch but a bonded nylon on the machine one, that could be the whole difference right there. I've had hand stitched books last way longer than machine ones when I used waxed linen thread versus standard machine thread that degrades over time. Also, were you pulling the hand stitches tight enough? Loose tension on a saddle stitch can cause the threads to work themselves out faster. What kind of needle and thread size were you using for the hand binding?

ben4029d ago

Wait, did you really have that same experience with waxed linen lasting longer? I switched to waxed linen thread for my hand binding about two years ago after getting frustrated with how fast my machine stitched books would fall apart. It's night and day honestly. The waxed stuff holds up way better over time and my saddle stitches stay tight without working loose. I use a size 4 needle and a thicker thread, around 0.8mm, and I pull each stitch really snug. That made a huge difference for me.