Hello, my lovelies!
I was sitting at the university library yesterday with my love (as he downloaded his latest photography program) and as I didn’t have a darning needle with me and couldn’t work the sewn bind-off on my Pretty Thing Cowl, I needed something to do.
So I decided to figure out/create a demonstration for you on how to wind a center-pull ball with your hands.
Video and written version is first and then scroll down for the VIDEO.
1. Start with a skein of yarn (this is a wee skein I dyed into a gradient as a test to see if this would be feasible to make and sell full time. That’s still up in the air.)
2. Spread the skein out. So it doesn’t get tangly (tangley?) you can wrap it around your knees or have the closest person you can find to hold it. (Note: If the closest person to you doesn’t know you, they might give you a strange look when asked to hold your yarn. If only they knew how lucky they were). If you have a swift and you’re near the vicinity of said swift, you can use that. As I was at the library, I tried the knee technique and then opted for my boo to hold it.
3. Clutch the tail with your hand and begin winding the yarn around your thumb. Start off loosely or your thumb will turn blue and fall off. Or at least feel like it. You can turn the skein around your thumb if need be, but make sure to keep it on your thumb the whole time.
4. Ta Da! Promised center-pull ball is done! Once popped off your thumb, you will have a tidy, perfect little ball of yarn.
To speed this process along you can invest in an actual ball-winder, which I have and love, but this thumb-method is great if you’re out and about. Or as I like to say, oot and aboot. And although I did a small ball, you can do larger balls as well.
Here’s a video showing you how fun this is, and how to use a swift and ball winder if you want to invest in those!
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First yarn: Sugar Ribbons Superwash Dewy Dk Yarn:
http://www.expressionfiberarts.com/products/sugar-ribbons-superwash-dewy-dk.html
Second yarn: Spilled Wine Pearlescent Superwash Merino Silk Worsted:
Our colors are limited edition and come and go so they may not be available at all times for you.
The ball winder I used: Stanwood Needlecraft Large Metal Yarn/Fiber/Wool/String Ball Winder, 10-Ounce
Swift (the umbrella thing): Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder, Medium
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So there ya are! I hope you get some use out of this tutorial!
Enjoy your day and be blessed!!
“Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also – if you love them enough.” – George Washington Carver
❤❤❤
Chandi
I always thought I was cheating using my fingers. But I use my forefinger and take the yarn off sooner. I just pinch the loops a little and wind looselyonto that instead of winding the whole thing on my thumb. I once had a woman comment on how “unusual” and “quick” my knitting style was when I was only rewinding a loose ball. -_-‘ oops…
Oh, nice!! I just discovered this method so it’s good to know others have similar techniques!
Awesome! Thanks so much for this! I will definitely be trying it out! A ball winder is on my wish list though;)
I learned this technique in 1976 from a friend and still use it …
I just wanted to say that I enjoy your site, LOVE your dyed fibers and wish so much that I wasn’t allergic to almost all of them.
Thanks, never thought of that.
Oh, I’ve never thought of doing it like that. I use the thumb. If I want to wind from inside, I use a stick thingey (don’t know what it’s called) I bought at a craft fair.
I use my knees while sitting “Indian Style” to stretch the skein around. Then, instead of my thumb, I use my index and middle finger to wind the yarn around. I don’t hold the yarn from the middle of the ball at all, but keep an eye out for it, so it doesn’t get twisted into the ball. Also, I turn the yarn around on my fingers to get the “ball winder” look. Eventually I end up with the ball on my index finger and finish that way.
I love winding the yarn myself because then I get the feel of ALL of it. AND when you give something as a gift I know that I’ve touched all the fiber with my love. 🙂
I’m going to try it. I love little tricks. Also Love your site, the colors you create for your yarn and personality. Thanks
I use my knees to “hold” the yarn, wrap the skein’s wrapper around my large cookie-stirring-spoon, leave a few inches of yarn hanging from the bottom, and wind the yarn around the wrapper.
This allows me to wind up to a 1000 yd skein of lace-weight into a nice neat easily used “ball”!
Thanks! I’ve wondered without a ball winder how I could do it! Swift & ball winder are on my wish list.
Thank you for the tutorial! I received 2 Peacock Feather hanks for Christmas from your site and wasn’t sure how to go about using them properly. Now i can just wind them like this, yay!
I use the back of a chair and the tube from a roll of tin foil it is just the right size about and inch with a notch cut to put the start of the yarn and start winding. It works great until I can afford the swift and winder. for left over yarn I some times use a small pill bottle and put the end inside then replace the lid to hold the yarn still. As they say necessity is the mother of invention
I love the pill bottle idea. I have plenty of those, lol.
Thank you, I just got a winder for Christmas!! So excited to finally get to use it!! 🙂 Nice to know of other ways to do it when my winder might not be accessible! Thank you so much!!
I recently discovered how to make a yarn ball with a empty toilet paper roll!
You are so adorable! I didn’t know about the thumb way. I use a size 17 needle and start wrapping along part of it and holding the tail. and Just keep going until it resembles a cake. Works pretty well. I can’t wait to get a swift and a winder, but I never knew what swifts were good. I’m going to bookmark the ones you use.
Chandi:
You are so darn cute! Thanks for the tutorial! I find winding yarn very relaxing! I’m envious of all those cubbies of yarn behind you! We have a rainy dreary day here in St. Louis, so I’m going to buy some BRIGHT colored yarn today!!
Hahaha! Yarn barf 😉 I have a swift my dad made for me, so I’m lucky, but before that I would use the back of two chairs to hold the yarn. Place them back to back, place the yarn around the backs and place the chairs far enough apart to create tension. It frees you up to move with the yarn.
Okay-first off, I LOVE your skirt. I want it! Second, I just had this issue the other night, I tried to wind up some of my yarn and it was a huge mess and kept unraveling. It was fate that you created this tutorial-Yarn God Fate I tell you! 🙂 And, I love the bloopers at the end! You are the best Chandi! 🙂
I like you ball winder. What brand is it?
Stanwood
How do I subscribe? Would love to!
Hi, I feel so smart since I used a chair to wind up 2 skeins into more useable forms, but next time I will try the ball method. I had wound them onto an empty paper towel roll, which works but is not as easy. i always try to be sure to keep from pulling the yarn tight so I don’t stretch it and ruin this beautiful blue Chandi yarn!
Chandi you are such a blessing! You have such a great spirit and personality, always so exhilarated and happy. I always look forward to your videos, they’re the best and I learn from you. My next purchase is a yarn swift. Thank you for another great video! Have a fabulous weekend
I have an Amish swift, I wonder if that works with a winder? I’ve been doing it by hand wrapped around a smooth pencil or pen, but I’ve been doing that for the five years that I’ve been knitting and It’s time for an upgrade! My balls are always lemon shaped, that’s just how I learned. Curious about actual spherical balls, but I don’t know that I’d prefer them. If you can’t afford a winder yet, like me, even just having a swift makes it go faster and easier because the yarn being wrapped around any ol’ object will still cause more problems than something that’s moving around as you pull. However, the only downfall I find with the Amish swift is that it’s not as adaptable to the diameter of your hank, so sometimes to get the tension right some of the pegs have to be wider than others which isn’t ideal. Still prefer it to not having a swift. Either way, with Netflix and wine + winding is Devine.
I’ve long been a knitter who always had trouble with my first row of any pattern. The ridge turns out larger at one end. Casting on is a problem also, as it serves and sets up for the first row. Thus, i tend to knit tighter thinking that will cause my first row not to have a open stitches at the end. This is so hard to describe, but i tried. Wondered if you had any helpful hints..that is, if you can understand what I’m describing.
In addition, Chandi, i love the sight of your yarn and think your yarn looks luscious. I hope to buy some soon. I keep looking at your yarns and have a longing to purchase what i belive to be, some of the finest yarns around! Cost has been prohibitive because I’m on a fixed income and I just wind up not having enough to make a purchase. Sometime, though, I’ll just do it!
As for winding, in the past, I’ve used the back of a chair to place the yarn, winding onto my little ball winder. Going slow, I’m able to have a nicely wound skein. Oh, i attach the winder to a stool. And, that seems to work very well also.
I’ve also used the, have a friend hold her arms out method, placing the opened hank around her arms, then roll into a ball. Honestly, so far, I’ve liked the friend method,, because you have someone to talk to while winding the yarn.
Have a lovely day to all. And Chandi, keep it up. You’ve a huge business, which I’m sure will continue to make and sell your beautiful yarns. You have a good day and thank you for putting out such delicious yarns and ideas to put your yarns to use.
Thank you, dear! It’s hard to know without seeing up close and personal. If you can get to a local yarn store, they should be able to see what’s happening and help. Glad you love the yarns!
I always look forward to seeing the gorgeous colours your yarns portray.I enjoy watching the tutorials and find them very helpful.Keep on doing what you are doing.xxxxJenny?
thank you sooOoo much for this! i’ve already ruined 2 skeins of yarn from your website by trying to wind them inforrectly 🙁 so hopefully no more big hot messes!
I LOVE watching your videos! I wind on my swift and ball winder, usually, but if I’m traveling or something away from home, I use this hand method to make my center pull balls. Great when I want to use a new skein but don’t have access to my ball winder. Lol
Got an easy way to find the ends of a regular skein of yarn. It used to be you could find both ends and do double knit from one skein. I haven’t had a skein that I could do that from for a long long time.
Hi Chandi! I’m crocheting all the time now thanks to you. ? I’ve tried winding the yarn the way you show in this video but I keep getting snarled clumps out of my center pull. Any ideas on what I’m doing wrong? A mllion thanks.
Lynn, I would just try winding more loosely! 🙂 Chandi
Chandi, I see you have a matching skirt and headband. I was curious if you sew also?
A little…. I try my best. : )
I do it with full-size skeins while sitting at my computer or watching tv. I put the skein around my neck like a lei (have to be careful that my long hair is secured), and use a slightly different technique. I start by wrapping the yarn around my three middle fingers (start out somewhat loosely) and leave a 6-inch long tale that I’m careful to keep free of the skein. Works very well for larger amounts of yarn.
I wish i read this before starting my skull scarf with my beautiful Raven yarn!!! U should see the birds nest if a tangle i am SO determrnd to get out!!!!!! Thank you!
Thank you Chani! I will try it
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I love the thumb way as I don’t have room for the machine. This will be a big help!
HELP!!! I have five skeins of Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere. The skeins are tied in four places. Each tie divides the whole skein into to parts. The yarn between the ties is interwoven and doesn’t pull apart to make a single large loop. I have wound one skein into a ball and it was torture to weave it in and out of the mess. What is the secret? I am unable include a photo that might explain better. Let me know how to send the photo if it will help. Please respond to [email protected].
Thank you
Hello!!
i found you on YouTube.
i love the way you teach the tutorial.
thank you so much!!