Embroidery floss is made up of six strands. When you work with it unless you are doing a very bold statement, you divide them. There is a trick to it. Split the threads at one end. Say you are going to use two strands, holding two in one hand and 4 in the other have someone else run their hand down the center slowly. It will be twisting. If the other person can pull the bottom of the threads at the same time it divides them. It is possible to do it yourself. I do it and have for years but it sounded too weird when I thought to describe it. I guess I never stopped to think about the process.
Thank you Ellen in Florida for bringing it to my attention!