Getting Kinks Out of Carded Silk Thread

[Dawno]

I have cards of Gudebrod Champion Silk thread (size F) and want to know if there's a good way to get the kinks from it being folded around the card out before I start beading/knotting with it.

[Polly]

I have heard of a few methods.
Some people recommend ironing the cord. I'm allergic to ironing (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) so I've never tried this method.
You can also unwind the cord and hang it from the top of a door, with something a little bit heavy clipped to the bottom end. Leaving it overnight seems to work fine. If you don't have pets or kids in your work area, you can hang up a couple this way at once so they are ready when you are.

However, I've had fairly good luck just using carded cord as-is, and not worrying about the kinks. They seem to work themselves out. I definitely had no problems with the card's thread kinks when using a tri-cord knotter and pearl beads. And also I had no problem when using seed beads mixed with 6mm and larger gemstone beads.
But if I was stringing a necklace strand with only light-weight beads (seed beads or small pearls, unknotted inbetween) then I would probably wish I had pre-stretched the cord.

[lushbeads]

I use a curling iron to straighten out the cord.  It works well and I don't have to drag out an iron and an ironing board!

[Dawno]

Thanks Polly and Lushbeads! I never even thought about the curling iron idea - and I have one of those really large barrel ones that I think would be just right for the job.

[Polly]

ooh, that would even be worth buying a curling iron for!
That sounds much quicker and easier than anything I have seen or tried.
Great suggestion, thanks!

[Dawno]

  Yep, and they aren't all that expensive either. I probably have 4 of them in the back of drawers - haven't used a curling iron on my hair for ages.

[Tiara Boom DA]

Hi All from the UK - my first post! Any tips on straightening the needles that come with the carded silk thread?

[Luann Udell]

Roll it between two blocks of wood, or a block of wood & table top.
If it's really kinked, you might have to start with one end and sort of work your way up. 
Works with head pins, too, but you have to let the head part stick out past the blocks.