Craft Crochet Stitch Tutorials How to Wind Yarn With A Ball Winder & Swift February 28, 2012January 11, 2024 Jennifer Winding yarn is so fun and satisfying. I used to rely on my yarn shop to do it for me, and finally got some tools to do it myself when I ordered some yarn online and didn’t have that luxury. The umbrella swift and ball winder makes makes beautiful yarn “cakes” or you can always wind it by hand using the just the swift too. Here I’m winding some lovely sock yarn below, let’s begin… A ball winder and a swift are amazingtools to have of your knitting and crochet arsenal…they are ableto transform this skein… to this perfect little yarn cake,making it easy to pull yarn from its center. Got both of these at Knit Picks by the way… Lets get started… First you’ll need to set up yourequipment. You’ll need a table with a sturdy edge for both clamps.If you desire, place a piece of fabric in between to protect yoursurface (my table doesn’t mind). My particular model ball winder turns to the right, so Iplaced the ball winder on the right and the swift on the left about afoot or so apart. Be sure to get these nice and tight onto yoursurface, no wiggling allowed! Gently unwrap your skein all the way soit makes a large ring, Using the knob on the side to raise andlower the umbrella and the wooden screw to tighten, place the on theswift. I like to put it on the partially open umbrella, then openit up all the way so that the yarn rests comfortably, not too tight,but not so loose that it is saggy. Be sure there are no twists inthe yarn either. Some people like to snip the yarnbefore placing it on the swift, I like to snip it after it is alreadyon the swift. When snipping, it is important to knowthat all yarn comes bundled/tied differently, so be careful with thisstep and just snip the ties holding it together, not the yarn itself. Sometimes, you can even just untie it not even have to snip it. The yarn shown here is a different color from the ties… Now, if you don’t have a ball winder,you can skip the next part and wind it into a ball with you hand, orif you have a ball winder, keep reading! Ball winders are really handy becausethey save time and make a neat little “cake” of yarn with a handypull string in the middle, thus eliminating a ball rolling around. If you model has a swing out arm, besure to do so and take one end of the yarn and feed it through the metalring on the arm, then place it across the two notches on top of thecenter cylinder. This ball winder indicates thedirection (to the right) and as I said earlier, I therefore placed iton the right. Begin gently turning the knob on theball winder, going at a pace that it neither too fast nor tooslow…you will be able to determine your pace as you begin to wind.Both the swift and winder will both be turning as you turn the knob. Important tip: Sometimes you will haveto gently guide the yarn from the swift to the ball winder so it doesnot get caught on the swift’s “spokes.” Keep going until all ofthe yarn from the swift is on the ball winder. Almost done… When you are finished, carefully pull the center piece from when you began before lifting it off, otherwise it may get lost in the center (I speak from experience here!) Use both hands and gently slip the yarn cake from the ball winder. All finished! The nice thing about using an umbrella swift and ball winder towind your yarn is that you can either pull from the center or theoutside. Also, if you need to double up and hold two strands of yarntogether for a knitting or crochet project, you have both ends in oneplace. Some local yarn shops will wind your yarn when you purchasefrom their store, but I love to do it myself. Free Knitting Patterns Here! Free Crochet Patterns Here! Related Posts Baby & Kids Craft Crochet Patterns Easter Holidays & Seasons Seasons Spring Squishy Crochet Spring Bunny, Free Pattern + Video Tutorial March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Jennifer Craft Crochet Patterns Mother's Day Scarves, Shawls, & Cowls Shawls & Wraps Spring Birthday Cake Crochet Shawl, Free Pattern + Video Tutorial March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 Jennifer
I have the same ball winder and everytime I use it the yarn cake flies off or the yarn doesn't wind on nicely on the bottom. Any tips? [email protected] Reply
I have the same ball winder and everytime I use it the yarn cake flies off or the yarn doesn't wind on nicely on the bottom. Any tips?
[email protected]