Take the marabou off the stem and always do this unless the stem is so thin it will not matter. I take probably 95% or more of my marabou off the stem. I would say with normal blood marabou about one feather each jig. Some have more and some less, but most one will do and I don't use the very end, but I do save it for tiny jigs and flies.

Stack you marabou as you pull if off the stem as I guess I just take maybe 1/2" off at a time along the stem. Once stacked enough pinch it together about where you want to cut it. Cut the end you tore off the stem to get what length you want and wrap your thread around and wrap it enough to have some from the head to where it will stop. This first layer is not like so you can't see through it. One little thing I do is unlike hackle where I start right up against the head, with marabou I start maybe 1/8" away from the head to trap it and wind back away from the head. Once as far back as the finish will be look at you jig from the bottom to see if you hook is in the right place or if it spun a little. If it spun this is the time to straighten it, Pinch it tight, then wrap tight until back to the head and maybe a time back to the other way and back to the head again. Enough so to spin it would be very hard.

Then finish your jig.

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