I want to first thank everyone on this board who has answered my previous questions. I’m a new knitter and have completed a few projects, scarves, my first hat and a set of baby booties, so thanks to everyone for helping me along the way!
My next question is probably one that gets asked a lot. What is the best way to unravel a skein? Most of the yarn I’ve used has come in big balls so I haven’t had to do this yet, and I’ve heard horror stories about yarn getting into huge knots. Any advice on how to do this would be much appreciated, I’m about to start some Christmas presents and have lots of yarn waiting to be unraveled.
If it’s a center pull ball, I usually stick my finger in the looser looking end and pull out a small amount from what feels to me like the center of the skein. If I’m lucky the end will be there. There is inevitably a little extra “yarn vomit” that comes out, but it’s usually not too much and it gets knit up pretty quickly. Sometimes it just seems impossible, though.
Another tip I’ve read: If you don’t mind knitting from the outside end, you can put the skein into a plastic ziplock bag with a little corner snipped off. Thread your working yarn through the little hole you made and seal the bag. The yarn will stay clean, and won’t roll around as you knit.
Do you mean yarn that is in a hank like this? If so this type of yarn needs to be wound into a ball before using. Using a ball winder would be the the fastest most efficient method, but you can do it by hand using Amy’s instructions. I don’t have a ballwinder myself so this is the method I use although I’ve never had to do an entire hank.
I bet you are right that she’s talking about hanks instead of skeins. :doh: It makes more sense that she would be concerned about knots with hanks.
If that’s the case, just make sure you drape the yarn around something before you start winding. I just got a swift (a good investment), but I’ve heard swivel chairs work well. In the past, I’ve used chair backs and even my knees.
Before I got my swift, I used a lampshade. Just unscrew the finial so the shade can swivel on the post, put your hank around it, and begin winding. It turns nicely.
Of course, the two hands of a willing friend also work.
BillSpace wrote:
Before I got my swift, I used a lampshade. Just unscrew the finial so the shade can swivel on the post, put your hank around it, and begin winding. It turns nicely.
Brilliant idea!
It’s not perfect. If you get moving too fast, the lamp shade (at least the one I was using) starts to levitate like a helicopter and eventually can spin itself right off the post.
Also, some hanks are bigger (in circumference), so they slip right over the shade.
Also, the shades in my house tend to be (ahem) covered in cat fur, which can make your yarn likewise.
Before my swift I would promise my husband brownies if I could use his hands for ten minutes…his attention would drift and a chair might have been more stable.
:pout:
I get my husband to help and he is all proud of himself saying that he is knitting now! hahaha. He ALWAYS mentions to people when they ask if I knit something and he says, “and I helped with the string!”. (yes he calls the yarn ‘string’)
I used my stearing whele and Stick Shift to keep tension (yes I was parked at the time)
I have also used one knee and one foot
then I can lift and drop with the end of the hank I am working on
like when the kids do the ~ with their hands for me to get around each hand
i HAVE asked for a wooden Swift for Christmas
hope someone hears me
and yes my LYS knows which one I want
I use my office chair. It has arms. It swivels. But I like the lampshade idea. cept I don’t have a lampshade that big. Hmmm… Goodwill here I come! :happydance:
http://www.craftydiversions.com/yarnswift.pdf [color=indigo]Here’s directions to make a wooden swift like the Mama Bears. I have one of those and just love it. It was more expensive than a cheap umbrella swift and less expensive than a wooden umbrella swift.[/color]
You guys have the best ideas! I successfully unraveled it last night (was going to try the lampshade) but used a swivel chair instead. Thank you thank you thank you!
Goodwill here I come! :happydance: