Winding Yarn into A Ball - Why?

BroomRider · 03-16-2006, 12:07 AM

Hi. I am new to knitting and am wondering... is it necessary to wind the yarn into a ball? Why can't I just pull it off the skein (sp?) as I knit? I am sure there is a reason, but I am missing it.

Thanks.

brendajos · 03-16-2006, 05:23 AM

regular skeins you can do that, though i find when i am trying to pull the end out of the middle that i pull out so much other yarn that it is just easier to rewind it.

however, if you get yarn that comes in a hank like this you will need to rewind it or you will end up with a big mess of a knot.

sfavereau · 03-16-2006, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by brendajos

however, if you get yarn that comes in a hank like this you will need to rewind it or you will end up with a big mess of a knot.

Oh my goodness, isn't that the truth! I wasn't even trying to knit with it, either. I was just trying to wind it into a ball without a swift. UGH! An hour later, I had ONE ball. So now I use the back of a chair and it works nicely. So my first experience with a hank was horrific, but it's gotten better.

feministmama · 03-16-2006, 06:20 AM

I wind into balls no matter what. I hate the way skeins flop back and forth and many times those center pull things (like lambs pride) end up getting stuck and trun inot yarn vomit anyway. And if I have to frog, I'd rather frog back into a ball then try to wind around a center pull log or one of the floppy skeins.

quirky · 03-16-2006, 07:09 AM

Quote:

yarn vomit

Ya what she said!

A ball is just easier - plus when you have a skein you cant really turn it easily (if you are working from the out side). But throw a ball into a basket or a bowl and just tug on the yarn, the ball will roll around letting you pull off as much as you need.

sfavereau · 03-16-2006, 07:21 AM

Right now, I'm in love with center pull balls. I used Amy's video and my thumb to wind the ball and a chair back to hold the hank.

I actually find that the lamb's pride center pull log things work well. Yes, they do vomit a bit, but once you've worked through that, the rest of it works nicely. I don't work out of a basket or bowl though... I just set the skein on my couch and pull as necessary. :D

Shandeh · 03-16-2006, 12:32 PM

I guess I'm a rebel, because I've never wound my yarn into a ball. I figure it's a waste of time, because you have to deal with the skein while you're winding, right? May as well only deal with the skein once and knit with it.

I've only had trouble with one skein, and I've been knitting for over 3 years now.

Cristy · 03-16-2006, 01:37 PM

I prefer center-pull balls too although lately I've been working from skein b/c I still haven't unpacked my swift and yarn baller from the move...

HeatherFeather · 03-16-2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

I just set the skein on my couch and pull as necessary. Very Happy

me thinks you have no kitties in the house to help you then??? lol....

nicolethegeek · 03-16-2006, 04:00 PM

Since I discovered Amy's video on winding a centre-pull ball, I'm addicted to making them! I hated how my balls would travel all over the place, and even putting them in a basket or something would create trouble. I hadn't bought any wool that came in hanks before my STR, so balling my wool/yarn wasn't completely necessary. Now I'm finding reasons to do it! I will wind up frogged yarn, the ends of my skeins after a project. I will even wind up a nearly finished skein since I find that it "feeds" better than fighting with the "floppy skein end syndrome". I must admit that I feel like little Jack Horner when winding a ball... a plum on my thumb!