Fine, Four-Strand Floss for Needlework

Made in northern France since 2010, Retors du Nord is a premium embroidery floss that's glossier, finer, and smoother-stitching than the mass-produced competition. Made from pure, long-staple cotton (those are the longest fibers from the mixture in a cotton harvest), this thread is noticeably glossy and well-defined.

Retors du Nord is twisted in a four-strand configuration that's easy to separate into two twisted pairs of two strands — the most common number needed for cross-stitch designs. It's presented on a neat Sajou paper card, which improves upon the standard skein by giving your floss a tangle-proof backing.

This set has 12 curated pastel colors in a retro Sajou box. 20 meters per card. 100% cotton.

About Maison Sajou:

The Sajou brand is a revival and a celebration of the traditional French textile industry. The story of Sajou begins in the mid-19th century, when Jacques-Simon Sajou was the first French entrepreneur to print embroidery patterns on a large scale. The company had a long and storied history, but like many textile businesses, it was defunct by the 21st century.

The modern Maison Sajou was re-founded by Frederique Crestin-Billet in 2005 — initially as a reissue house for original Sajou patterns, but eventually as a complete supplier of haberdashery and threads of many kinds.

Sajou's threads are made in partnership with another historic company: Toulemonde in Lille, at the north edge of France. Toulemonde is one of the world's oldest textile companies, with continuous family ownership stretching back to 1903.