Your challenge seems to have been based on your opinion that if you prepared silk properly-with beeswax- that your bracelet would stand up to showers and hand washing for (at least) 30 days without stretching. Not very long, but it will be getting wet as you said and if anyone can make silk stay intact when wet, it would be you.
I thought I would meet your silk challenge with my thread of choice and raise you one. I expect my man made material and its stretch factor to last far longer than 30 days of continuous wear without stretching.
Since I whipped up a bracelet especially for this challenge, I will wear it when sweating, gardening, bathing and cleaning house. Maybe I will run it through the dishwasher once.
I am honestly interested in how various threading materials stand up to daily wear, rather than just accepting silk blindly. At the end of six months, after comparing the amount of stretch with the above photo, I will take apart the bracelet and look at the thread and the holes, so see how much wear and tear the pearls and the thread took. I will be observing, not only stretch, but how dirty it gets -actually how easily it soaks up sweat and dirt compared to silk- and if my thread of choice abrades the holes.
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Silk knots are the smallest. Silk compresses when being threaded through the end pearls. No reaming necessary. Natural fibers are better for the environment. Silk doesn't cut into your hands when you're knotting. Don't our online retail sponsors use the best? They all proudly advertise silk. Every one without exception.
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I am sorry knotty, but I find the above arguments flawed and without basis:
Silk knots are smallest compared to what? Other threads do not compress as much as silk? What about a braided thread that is hollow in the middle? Have you actually done comparisons? Or do you have some citations?
Reaming is only necessary if your thread is too big to go through a pearl twice. And silk users who have to ream (which should be about everyone on the forum who has to ream) should know that. After several broken reamers, I quit using them except for taking sharp edges off od cut gemstone beeads-not to ream them.
Why are natural fibers better for the environment? Silk uses dyes that aren't so great for the environment. Only undyed/unbleached fibers are better for the environment. Undyed silk is minus its one most popular quality, the ability to take brilliant dyes.
I know of no beading thread that CUTS into your hands when knotting. My thread of choice is rougher than silk when knotting, but does not actually cut. Another brand of my thread choice is as soft as silk and needs some waxing to keep it from tangling.
And I think we already dealt with the fact that the bigtime pearl sellers who string with silk do not wax it- even though it is cost effective to do so- therefore it is NOT properly prepared to stand up to the vicissitudes waxed silk can endure.
I am not positive my thread of choice will hold up better, but how will we know for sure without testing? Therefore, I too, am up for this challenge.