Laura, Use your torch to slowly melt the ends, Use A “Leather Glove”,
and while hot, roll it with your fingers, to take out the flare. If
it is ugly, saturate a clean section just up from your ugly end with
super glue -let it dry for an hour or so and put the cord on wood
rubber or leather, and trim the end ( use a new single edge blade)
with a rocking motion to get a clean cut, and hopefully - you-got-it.
You can smooth the ends when your project dries completely.
Stephen Wyrick, CMBJ
Gemmologist