terry that braid in the picture is that crappy polypropylene rubbish ,, you could just melt each tag end and splice that crap without using a bodkin e.t.c. .. The Braid that You have will probably be 100% nylon 16 plait and as tight as a crabs arse ..
A small incision with a sharp instrument will sort your problem though and save the blood , sweat and the bad language , keep the mole grips for the teeth ..
Regards..