My mom was cleaning out her closet and found this. She used to have a knitting machine years ago. It’s a ball winder that looks just like this one.
I thought I could use it to wind my hanks into balls, but don’t I need that yarn holder that looks like an umbrella/spindle? I have NO idea what it’s called.
I guess I could have a kid hold the hank for me while I wind it up?
The umbrella-thingy is a swift, and it’s great for holding the hanks as you wind them. You can hold the yarn and have someone wind or vice versa, though, it’s not mandatory to use a swift.
swifts are not crucial, they are just an aid to keep the hank in place whilst you wind. I use my feet!
You can make your own swift too…
http://www.craftydiversions.com/patterns/homemade_yarn_swift.htm
Swifts are great, but not mandatory as Ingrid wrote. I wouldn’t part with mine though. Between the ball winder and the swift the job gets completed in nothing flat.
Now that is a good idea…feet! And I have been getting DF to do it for me…
Great Idea!
The ball winder really isn’t mandatory either, but it’s fun to use and very efficient. In about five minutes you can wind enough yarn for a major sweater into neat, flattened “cakes” that don’t roll around when you knit with them. Go for it!
Oh, what a good idea. I can put dh to work. He can finally build something that I can use.:yay: :teehee:
Yes, a swift. That’s the word. Thanks!
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=purple]Her is another SWIFT that you can make…[/COLOR][/FONT]