Here's a working sail loft in 1892 when schooner sails were still sewn entirely by hand. One of the tasks of a young apprentice would be to prepare and supply the waxed sail twine to each workman. A good stitcher would sew a single row one hundred yards a day. This was done with three foot lengths of cotton sail twine. A modest size schooner sail of 1500 sq' would be made up from twenty five to thirty strips of canvas, known as "panels". It's the Washburn Sail Loft in Thomaston, Maine.