Craft your vision

Supplies

The thread I use. The hardware I trust. All ready to ship from Switzerland. Not mass-produced, not flashy—just real materials that let your hands do the thinking.

Au Chinois linen thread from a tiny French mill, brass and stainless-steel hardware I trust to last, and components tested over years of making.

I’ve curated them for makers who value durability, precision, and hands-on craft. These aren’t shortcuts, and they aren’t mass-produced—they’re the real tools that help you turn ideas into objects that last.

Pick up a spool, a set of buckles, or a piece of hardware, and make something you’ll actually use for years. This is about thoughtful creation, not hype, and about giving your hands the best materials to work with.

Au Chinois Lin Câblé

Fil Au Chinois is sold in traditional 50 g quantities, which explains the different lengths per spool. The waxed, twisted thread is wound on ivory-colored plastic spools. Round thread, 100% linen, made in France.

I source my thread from Maison Sajou in Versailles and now make it available here in Switzerland for people who enjoy handwork. Please check the measurements, colors, and availability. I will continue adding products over time, so feel free to check back occasionally. If you have questions or are looking for something specific, you can contact me through the contact form.

I have read many different opinions about this thread online, some of which match my own experience. Yes, the thread is expensive, but the quality is very good. Compared with Campbell’s Satin Laid Linen or Coats Barbour, I find that Au Chinois gives me a more even stitch and performs very well.

I deliberately did not include vintage threads from SLI (Schweizerische Leinenindustrie AG / Hetex) in this comparison.

The thread holds well during saddle stitching and does not tangle as easily as some others. Re-waxing the thread occasionally during larger projects helps.

Personally, I prefer to wax only with beeswax. I do not find it sticky or unpleasant to work with. I use pharmaceutical-grade ivory beeswax sourced in Switzerland, which does not discolor white thread.

Below you will find a guide to the various sizes of cabled linen thread. Sold in 50 gram spools or 10 meter cards.

Number    Approximate Diameter     Approximate length

332 ….……..…….…… 0.77 mm ………..….……… 133 m

432 ….………..….…… 0.63 mm ………..….……… 200 m

532 ….………..….…… 0.57 mm …………...……… 250 m

632 ….………..….…… 0.51 mm ………….…..…… 288 m

832 …….………...…… 0.43 mm ……….…..……… 375 m