Hemp Cord, 3-Strand — 25 m

Description

Three-strand hemp cord for raised-band and recessed-cord sewing. Cord sewing is the older structure and still the stronger one for a book that will be opened hard: the sections are sewn around the cord rather than through a tape, and the cord ends are laced into the boards, which is a mechanical fixing rather than an adhesive one. Hemp is specified over jute because it is stronger and far less prone to the acid-catalysed embrittlement that turns old jute cords to dust in the joint. Firm laid, so it keeps its round section under the thread instead of flattening into a ribbon and losing the band profile. Frayed out at the ends before lacing in; the fray is what lets the cord be laid down flat under a pastedown without a lump.