Conditioning Thread

When a project calls for conditioned beading thread it means thread that has been stretched and coated with a wax.  This greatly reduces tangling and makes sure that gaps don’t appear in the beadwork after it has been worn.  Bees wax and Thread Heaven are the most common products used.  Bees wax is heavy and great for projects that call for very stiff tension.  It is too sticky for some people, but best used whenever working in brick stitch or free-form vessels.  Thread Heaven is a synthetic wax that is less sticky and hypo-allergenic.

Condition Nymo or other beading thread by placing the thread between your thumb and the wax and pulling the thread through.  I usually repeat this step.  Then press the thread firmly between your thumb and forefinger and pull the thread through quickly.  The tension created between your thumb and forefinger does two things: it stretches the thread, and it creates heat and helps work the wax into the thread.

TIP: Always condition your thread in one direction starting from the end of the thread as it comes off the spool.  I generally leave my thread on the spool as I condition it so that I don’t mix up which end is which.  This is because thread has a directional grain from the spinning process.  If the thread is conditioned against the grain, it tends to plump-up and catches the needle when doing multiple passes through a bead.

TIP: You can also use a large tube curling iron or hair straightener to condition your thread instead of using your fingers.