Thread Question

[hosscomp]

Al S. recommends using unwaxed thread so the ends can be frayed easily. I never understood what he meant. Can someone explain?

[bdt46]

To make a waxed end (name for thread used in hand stitching) there are several ways to make them. Used to you could readily find Barbour's #10 unwaxed thread in balls. It was unwaxed, and in a single cord, and when untwisted a little you could jerk on the thread and each end would pull apart tapered. You would pull off and taper as many pieces as to how big a thread you wanted. They could be from three to ten chord for whatever diameter you needed. Now you can get unwaxed linen in however many cord diameter you want for a stitching machine. If you pull off the desired length and untwist the thread, with some effort you can achieve the same effect. When I use pre waxed poly thread of the size I need, I pull off the length I want, then scrape the ends of the thread with an awl or knife to achieve the tapered ends. I then rewax the thread and have tapered ends to put through my needles, and when the ends are twisted there is not a big knot behind my needles. Hope this helps a little!