Linen Thread source

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Hello everyone,

I have been handstitching leather for about 20 years now and I have alwasy used the Natural colored linen thread from Tandy Leather Co.  The two most recent batches I have gotten (ordered months apart) have been of terrible quality.  The stitching is clumpy and breaks up before I can even finish a line of stitching.  I have written to Tandy about the issue and they said they will pass the info along. 

My question is, do any of you have suggestions for another source for linen thread?

Regards,

Coryjoe

[hanshi]

I'm with you on that.  Stuff seems really hard to find.

[Chris Treichel]

A few years ago I switched over to using waxed hemp thread with leather as its more common (beading isle in most craft stores) and is a lot tougher than linnen thread. But for some things I do still use linnen thread and SmilingFoxForge.com sells some pretty good stuff.

[John Archer]

Coryjoe...Google up www.beadshop.com .... search for Irish Linen Cord. They have a large selection of colors.

John.

[LRB]

I have not tried them myself, but check them out and see what you think.

http://www.royalwoodltd.com/cat14-17ar.htm

[James Rogers]

http://www.campbell-randall.com/shop/index.php?route=product/search&filter_name=Barbours


Don't skimp on your linen thread.

[Chuck Burrows]

Agree with James - the Barbour's linen is some of the best available for general leather work of all types and while the initial cost may seem high, in the long run it's a lot cheaper than the small roles available from other vendors such as Tandy - been using it almost exclusively for 50+ years.

GOOD hemp thread is also available from several sources and is a very good thread as is silk thread (I use silk for beading/quilling on certain projects, been using the thread that bamboo fishing pole maker's use) - all are also PC/HC if that's a consideration

Another source for good linen thread in fine sizes see here
http://www.fineleatherworking.com/linen-thread - this is exceptionally nice pre-waxed thread

for hemp
http://www.condetrading.com/other.html

[david50]

yarns@bellsouth.net
901-324-2878

best i've found

[RoaringBull]

http://www.europeanpapers.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=EP

Excellent quality and good prices.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Thanks everyone, lots of good information here.

Coryjoe

[TPH]

http://www.campbell-randall.com/shop/index.php?route=product/search&filter_name=Barbours


Don't skimp on your linen thread.

Ditto.

[EricEwing]

I'm glad I read this thread (no pun). In the short time I have been making things, I noticed a steep difference in quality and color between an earlier purchase of linen thread from Tandy's to a recent one. The brown thread in particular seems to be even harder to work with than the white. Thanks for posting links to these other suppliers.

[Pete G.]

Log Cabin Shop

[teakmtn]

Looking at Barbour's linen thread. What do the Sizes 3 cord, vs 4 cord,vs 5 cord signify? Is 3 larger than 5 or vice versa? What would be the diference of using right hand twist vs left? When would you use one over the other? Or would you? Just pick one and stay with what works?

[JV Puleo]

Its commonly used in hand book binding.