Made in France since the mid-19th century, “Fil au Chinois” thread is a product of a different era, preserved over the years by the stringent needs of sewists and bookbinders. This Star Card is wound with 20 meters of Fil au Chinois Waxed Linen Thread, in a finer diameter and with less wax than typical bookbinder’s or upholsterer’s thread. It’s absolutely perfect for binding book signatures.

Another great thing about this waxed linen thread: it comes in so many colors! You’re not restricted to white, beige, or brown try binding your next book with bright cyan thread or sewing a seam with sunflower yellow.

A note about “Fil au Chinois” and the period illustrations on the packaging. “Fil au Chinois” means Chinese thread even though this product has never been made in China. In the 1800s, Europeans thought of China as the source of many interesting things they didn’t have at home, like spices and fine fabrics, and they named a lot of their products after Chinese themes during this time. That’s why the character representing this thread is a 19th-century mandarin in brightly-colored robes.