How to undo a hank?

[crazykntter83]

Not really sure if I worded that right lol. Anyway. I'm finally getting my first order of yarn from knitpicks today. I ordered their Options Nickel Plated interchangeable needles a few years back, and I'm very satisfied with them. So, I'm very excited about the yarn! I have one skein that is in a hank, and I'm not sure how to go about unwinding it. Is there any special way? I just want to make sure that I get it unraveled right so I can get it into a ball. Thanks for the help ya'll!!!

[MerigoldinWA]

Have fun with your new yarn.

The hank has a bit of a twist in it, almost knot-like. Carefully untwist it so that it becomes a big wheel of yarn. There will be several places around the circle where it is tied to keep it neat. Cut or untie those. Find the end of the yarn and have someone hold the circle (like in the olden days) or put it on a chair back. Roll it off the loop into your ball. I have put mine over a swivel computer chair. Then as I roll it into a ball I keep spinning the chair around. Works pretty well.

[Little Audrey]

You can also put the hank over the arms of a chair - just be sure not to twist the hank!

[suzeeq]

Or the back of a dining chair.

[Sunshine's Mom]

Do you have a yarn swift and ball roller? If not, I would suggest you take your hanks to your local hobby store or yarn store and ask if they could roll it for you. That would be the easiest thing if you've never used a hank before. That way you could see what they do.

You will HAVE to roll the hank into a ball before you can use it. It can be done manually. Here's a video that shows how a hank should be untwisted. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4Evj...4FD71D590B2AD1
Although she rolled it into a ball, it was not a center pull ball.

Have you rolled center pull balls before? There are lots of videos online that show how. Amy has one on this site that shows how. That makes it much easier to work.

Have fun with your new yarn. I love yarn that comes in hanks. It seems so decadent somehow.

[crazykntter83]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'm gonna try the method shown on the youtube video, where you just put it around your knees and see if I can do that. Wish me luck!!! I'll be nervous when I do do it lol.

[suzeeq]

I drape it over the couch arm and sit beside it, it can get old not being able to move around if it's around your knees -- at least for me, I'm a squirmer...

[crazykntter83]

hmmmmm. That's a good idea Sue. I tend to squirm around a lot, and usually like to have my legs drawn up under me, so it could get uncomfortable. Thanks for the idea.

[KatzKnitter]

Or a lampshade that can spin around its finial.