How To Use A Yarn Winder

Learn how to apply a yarn winder to easily make a ball or cake of yarn with two ends (too known as a centre pull ball). There's besides a guide to find the all-time yarn ball winder for your project.

If you knit, crochet, spin your own yarn (or actually do any kind of fiber craft), then chances are you may be interested in a yarn winder. Sometimes the yarn you lot're working with gets tangled or you demand to work with two ends at a time. Or sometimes you may but want a small-scale portion of a larger ball of yarn (while traveling, for example).

A winder allows you to have 1 a hank, skein, cake, or ball of yarn and make it into a tidy ball of yarn with ii ends (a center pull ball). I love mine so much I've included it in my recommendations for the best knitting and crochet gifts.

You tin likewise use a winder with a yarn swift to make it easier to turn a hank or skein into a ball.

Notation: Some links in this post may contain chapter links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.

What is a Yarn Winder?

A yarn winder is used to make a "cake" of yarn that can be used from both ends. Some knitting or crochet projects may crave to strands of yarn. Instead of buying two sets of yarn for your project, you can use a winder to make a single ball from which you can use two strands.

The balls of yarn that winders make are likewise nicely wound upwardly so they don't tangle, which is typically what happens when you endeavour to use a hank or skein from the shop.

Which is the Best Yarn Winder?

Surprisingly enough, there are dissimilar kinds of ball winders. Factors include the fabric, durability, and size of the ball of yarn (technically, cake of yarn) you want to brand.

Hither's a summary of the best ones to choose from:

Best Overall: Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder (Amazon or Knit Picks)
Best Budget Friendly: 3.5 oz Winder (Amazon)
Best for Large Amounts of Yarn: Large Stanwood Yarn Winder (Amazon)
Best Advent: Wooden Ball Winder (Amazon)
Bonus: Jumbo Yarn Ball Winder (Amazon)

Best Overall - Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder

This yarn ball winder from Knit Picks is the best overall considering of its toll, durability, and colors.

It can current of air upward to 3.5 oz of yarn, which is standard.

The imperial and white colors are just beautiful, relative to other yarn ball winders on the marketplace so personally, I retrieve this one is the prettiest. But looks aside, it's too very durable. Other winders can feel flimsy and the metal feeder can fall over while using it. But that doesn't happen with this one.

So if you tin trounce out just a couple more than bucks for this one, this is the one you desire to become.

Store information technology on Amazon
Shop it on Knit Picks

Best Budget Friendly - three.v oz Winder

This is the actual one I commencement purchased as a quick and inexpensive yarn ball winder. In add-on to the yarn brawl winder, you get a few extras including some plastic needles, thread trim, and sew markers.

It'southward the standard 3.v oz size so you're non missing out on anything in terms of size or function.

The only drawbacks are the lxx's colors and the metal feeder tin occasionally fall during apply, which is mildly abrasive.

Shop it on Amazon

Best for Big Amounts of Yarn - Large Stanwood Yarn Winder

Naturally this one is going to be pricier, but you can go a whopping 10oz of yarn onto it. That'southward almost 3x the size of a standard winder.

And so if you're looking to air current large amounts of yarn into a ball, this is the one yous want to get.

Store it on Amazon

Best Appearance - Wooden Yarn Winder

For something unique, you tin get also get wooden ball winder. While most winders are made of plastic, this one is made of beautiful wood.

It works the aforementioned as whatever other ball winder, with the added benefit that you don't have to attach information technology to a table to use it. But place information technology on the table to utilize.

The drawback is that information technology takes up more room, but since it's made of woods it'south at least beautiful to wait at it.

Store information technology on Amazon

Bonus - Jumbo Yarn Ball Winder

Here'southward a bonus recommendation if y'all're looking for a big yarn ball winder, but at a lower price. This one will air current up to 8 oz of yarn and so it's roughly double the size of a standard winder.

Shop it on Amazon

How to Use a Brawl Winder to Make a Centre Pull Ball

Attach the Winder to the Table

Commencement past attaching your yarn ball winder to the edge of the tabular array. This is the one I'm using, simply you tin can go above to my list of the best ones. And since creating this tutorial, I've upgraded to the Knit Picks winder.

There'south typically a role that sticks out on the bottom (I'm pointing to it in the image). This office goes under the table. Then use the bike on top to tighten.

Laissez passer the Yarn through the Feeder

Lift the metal feeder and lock it in place. Typically you lot'll be able to lift it upwards then pull information technology out to lock it.

If y'all're super coordinated, you can only feed the yarn through the feeder. For the rest of us, still, they've designed the feeder then you lot don't accept to be so coordinated.

Start past placing the yarn nether the feeder.

Then lift the yarn upwards and to the left.

This volition pull the yarn between the two loops.

Bring one end over to the right and down.

Then just pull the yarn back to the left and you'll take yarn that goes through the feeder.

Attach the Yarn to the Winder

In that location is a slit at the top of the winder. Place the yarn over the slit and pull down lightly to tuck it in.

So start to turn the creepo.

I like to concur the yarn with i hand against the heart of the winder. This way as the winder turns, information technology will secure the cease in place.

Keep to plow the crank until you've finished winding the amount of yarn you desire. Be certain to keep the tension even on the yarn as y'all plough it.

Tip: If the feeder falls downwardly, make certain information technology's secure and locked into identify. The other choice is simply hold it with ane hand.

Lift your yarn off of the winder.

If you want a heart pull ball, grab the yarn that'southward beyond the eye post earlier lifting off.

Now y'all have your new cake of yarn.

Get the latest DIY tutorials, reviews, and crafting updates

You'll never be spammed and tin unsubscribe at any time

And you can see with this cake below that you now have access to both ends of yarn.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Keep the Feeder Standing Up

You can either concord the feeder upwardly with your hand or pull it out and turn it to brand certain it locks.

It tin can too aid to accept the yarn come in from the left instead of the correct. This way the pressure is in the direction to continue the feeder upright.

What to Do if the Yarn Starts Winding Effectually the Base of operations

If the yarn is getting caught under the base of operations of the winder, that likely means the yarn was besides loose. I notice this happens because there's an consequence unrelated to the winder. Since I typically apply a yarn swift with it, it'due south because the yarn got caught on the swift.

If you're winding directly from a ball or skein, check information technology every bit the tension may have changed.

More Yarn Projects and How-To's to Try

Sentro Knitting Auto Reversible Hat
How to Use a Yarn Swift
How to Use a Niddy Noddy
Glow in the Nighttime Milky way Dream Catcher
Knitting Machine Guide

Become the latest DIY tutorials, reviews, and crafting updates

You'll never be spammed and tin can unsubscribe at whatsoever fourth dimension

How to Utilize a Yarn Winder

Larn how to apply a yarn winder to easily make a ball or cake of yarn with two ends (also known every bit a center pull ball).

Yield 1 Centre Pull Brawl of Yarn

Project Time 2 mins

Total Time 2 mins

Instructions

Adhere the winder to the table. In that location's typically a part that sticks out on the bottom (I'm pointing to it in the paradigm). This function goes under the tabular array. Then use the wheel on top to tighten.
Lift the metal feeder and lock it in identify. Typically you lot'll be able to elevator information technology upward and then pull it out to lock information technology.

Outset by placing the yarn under the feeder.

Yarn
Then lift the yarn up and to the left.

This will pull the yarn betwixt the two loops.
Bring one end over to the right and downwards.
Then simply pull the yarn back to the left and you'll have yarn that goes through the feeder.
Place the yarn over the slit and pull down lightly to tuck it in.
And then start to plough the crank.

I like to hold the yarn with one hand confronting the middle of the winder. This manner every bit the winder turns, it will secure the end in place.
Continue to turn the crank until y'all've finished winding the amount of yarn y'all want.
Lift your yarn off of the winder.

If you want a eye pull brawl, grab the yarn that'due south beyond the middle mail service before lifting off.