Need advice on getting yarn wound

[susanc]

That actually looks doable and not too bad - I may end up giving it a try!

[suzeeq]

You don't have to have a swift and ball winder. I drape mine next to me over the arm of the sofa and wind by hand. Doesn't really take that long and doesn't tangle up.

[fargo_knitting]

I tried using things around the house as a yarn swift and got pretty frustrated. I found this posting, went to wal-mart, spent $20 on 2 small cans of tinkertoys, and made a yarn swift in just a few minutes.

http://www.folkcatart.com/blogs/jen/?p=742

the wonderful thing is that my swift can be taken apart and fits in a small can when I want to store it. A plus for me because I live in a small 1 bedroom apt.

Just a thought....

[susanc]

Very ingenuous!

[bip]

I have a swift and winder. I use the winder all the time, but rarely use the swift. I often find myself winding yarn on public transit, so I just put the hank over my shoulder like a purse and wind into a center-pull ball. I do agree that using a winder from a hank w/o a swift is a challenge. I usually only use the winder w/o the swift when the yarn is in some sort of ball form, either a center-pull that was started, then frogged (so I'm re-winding) or a ball of yarn given to me that someone else wound into a regular ball.

[ADAllen]

I use the back of a chair ( i really want a swift) and this website for knowing how to wind it. My cakes really did turn out well this way.

http://knitswithballs.blogspot.com/2...pull-ball.html

Hope this helps

This is how I wind my balls too. I sit on the couch, put my feet on the edge of the ottoman, and put the hank on my knees. I usually like it because it is more time for be to admire and play with my yarn.

[PaperGirl]

ADAllen, thats what I do too. Everyone around here likes watching me knit, but no one wants to help me wind the yarn.

Blah.

Little Red Hen, baking the bread, thats what I feel like.

[susanc]

I was able to purchase the four hanks of yarn at a shop yesterday, so the lady wound them for me. I do have a shawl that I'm ripping out today, so I'm going to give this technique a try. I usually just wind the yarn back into a ball, but I'd like to have a center pull cake this time. I hope it works! I'll let you know!

Thanks to everyone for their great suggestions - you guys rock!

[susanc]

It worked great, except I need practice in winding to make it look nice! But it will serve its purpose and that's great! Thanks everyone!

[michellebreton]

Thank you to whoever posed the link about the homemade swift made from Tinkertoys. I showed my 9yo son the picture and asked him if he could make me one with his Knex pieces. He did, and it works great! I'll try to get a picture posted.

Michelle