While it may not be possible to always avoid splitting your thread, you can take a few precautions while you are stitching:
- When you insert your needle into a bead, try to aim for the edges of the inside of the bead. This way, you will be avoiding the thread that is already inside the bead
- Conditioning your nylon beading thread before you stitch is also a good way to prevent splitting thread
- You can also void splitting your thread by using a gel-spun or bonded beading thread like FireLine
Correcting a Split Thread
If you found that you have split your thread, it is important to correct it as soon as you discover it. It is usually easy to know when you have split your thread, since there is a distinct feel of the thread as you pull it through the bead.
To correct a split thread, you have to unthread your needle and rip or tear out the stitches you have done until you get to the place where you split your thread. Then, you can carefully slide the thread out of itself.
It is also a good idea to tear out a few stitches prior to the place where you split your thread.
After you have torn out the stitches, give your nylon thread another light coating with your thread conditioner. While this won’t “heal” the spot where you split the thread, it will help the fibers stick together.
Some beaders prefer to end the thread right after the place where the split occurred and then begin a new thread. This will make sure that there is not a weak spot in the middle of the beadwork.