July 18, 2005
Ode to the yarn ball winder
A wonder of modern knitting came into my home last week.
and there is only one question: How did I get this far without it?
I used to think that owning a swift and ball winder was an unnecessary extravagance. They seemed rather pricey and space consuming. Then I started Kool-aid dyeing, and unraveling sweaters, and washing coned yarn, basically producing hanks of yarn. Winding yarn into balls by hand is an awkward and time-comsuming activity. By the time the the yarn was finally ready to knit with, I'd already had enough of it.
So, after a couple 50% off sales at Joann's, I was set. First I ordered the swift. That was cool. It made winding yarn a bit easier.
But its nothing compared to the ball winder. Check it out. It turned this (the recently-dyed yarn for the Hot Lava Cardigan):
into this:
in less than 5 minutes! (I know, we've all seen it at the LYS, but its kinda thrilling regardless)
The ball winder: what an invention! I just love how the yarn winds up into a nice organized shape. Before long, I wound up anything that even vaguely needed it - partial skeins left over from old projects, previously hand-wound yarn.
My previously messy stash:
turned into an orderly, organized collection.
I even attached the orignal labels to little half-skeins.
Everything that I sent through the ball winder emerged renewed with life, ready to be knit. Exhausted center-pull skeins stood up again and appeared new. Yarn that I used to think of as "some red yarn leftover from my dad's gloves" turned into "Lambs Pride Worsted, half skein, Spice". Ready for a project.
Thinking about buying one? Ponder no more. Its completely essential.
Comments (30)
Genius, isn't it? I'm thinking I need one of those. My stash is getting out of hand and needs a little spring (err...mid-summer) cleaning.
Posted by Annie | July 18, 2005 2:37 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 14:37
I. AM. SO. JEALOUS. I've been wanting one for a looong time but Brad already knows how much they cost so I'll have to sneak it in or lie and say it was on sale. But then I'll feel guilty everytime I use it. Well, maybe I'll just feel guilty some of the time that I use it. Mostly, I'll be thinking "this is so cool". haha! Men just don't understand...I try to explain that a ball winder and swift are forever - there are yarns sitting in stash that I don't use because I'm too lazy to go through the hassle of winding. So, in the long run, we're saving money that I would have spent on new yarn. Yes? ;-)
Posted by Vicki | July 18, 2005 3:03 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 15:03
OH it is addictive isn't it. My sister got one for christmas and I have borrowed it since then! I wind everything in site!
Posted by carolyn | July 18, 2005 4:19 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 16:19
Dude, Totally. I don't know how I got along with mine, it really is a life altering experiance, and it never gets old. I work with a lady who says you know you're a life-long addict when you own knitting furniture.
Posted by Julia Vesper | July 18, 2005 4:28 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 16:28
They sell swifts at Joann's?!?
One teeny weeny caveat about ballwinding - okay, 2 caveats, actually - 1) try not to add too much tension to the yarn while it's winding because even though the center will collapse and loosen it up a little bit, I've had stretched yarn that shrank more than it should have after swatching and dressing; 2) if you are compulsive like me and wind a ball more than once (ie, wind a looser tension ball!), this could have peculiar effects on twist that are especially noticeable with single ply yarns.
A supplementary technique - I recommend you learn to use a nostepinde, it's good for winding small lengths (think leftover yarn) when you don't want to dig out and set up the ballwinder.
Posted by June | July 18, 2005 4:37 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 16:37
Darn it. I've been thinking about these items and wondering if I could hold off for a while longer, apparently not. I must go surfing and see what I can find, since I now know they're essential! :)
Posted by Stephanie | July 18, 2005 5:21 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 17:21
This weekend I spent a little quality time with my ballwinder. I thought i was getting a little OCD about it, but it looks like I wasn't alone!
Posted by lori | July 18, 2005 7:12 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 19:12
I felt the same way as you. Then I bought 3 hanks of gorgeous yarn at Stitches West and knew that I didn't want to spend 3 hours balling them up. Yarn winder? I've been deprived! Swift? Checking the eBay auctions right now!
Posted by MJ | July 18, 2005 8:17 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 20:17
It's also one of the easiest ways to mesmerize children. My nephew *loves* the swift and ball winder. Very handy when he comes to visit...
Posted by Sara | July 18, 2005 8:45 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 20:45
Maybe I'm the only one. I have a ball winder, just like you, also from Joann's, and I LOVED it, for a very long time. And now, I don't use it anymore. I got tired of using center-pull balls because once they're halfway used up, they collapse and tangle (just like your brown silk). Using ball-winder wound balls from the outside is very awkward. So I've switched back to hand winding. Go figure!
Posted by grumperina | July 18, 2005 8:51 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 20:51
i LOVE my ball winder. i'm telling myself i don't need a swift (as i have my husband!) but i would really like one... jealous!
Posted by cori w | July 18, 2005 8:58 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 20:58
I have that same ball winder! I love it so much I can't stand it. It used to take me at least 30 minutes to wind a ball before. I used to also think that a swift and ball winder were an extravagance but I bought one with a gift certificate. I totally agree with you - they are both completely essential!
Posted by marichan | July 18, 2005 9:22 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 21:22
welcome to 1970! :P jk yeah I was exactly the same, I wound everything in sight. Even those leftovers that I knew I would never knit, now they are pretty stashed away in a box. The sad part is I left some things in hanks so that I would have something to wind later, sad right?!
Posted by yahaira | July 18, 2005 9:26 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 21:26
Gee is my birthday in a few weeks? I think so! Happy Birthday to me...
Posted by Christie | July 18, 2005 9:42 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 21:42
very essential! around the knitty boards, we, meaning Wendy/Zibiboisgood, determined that these are 'yarn cakes.' yum!
Posted by helen | July 18, 2005 9:59 PM
Posted on July 18, 2005 21:59
How funny that you posted this today. I just used my Joanns 50% off code to get a ball winder! I can't wait till it gets here!
Posted by Angela | July 19, 2005 2:14 AM
Posted on July 19, 2005 02:14
I am totally with you--my DH got one for my birthday last year, and I love it. It really helps me organize my stash... I was just using it last night :)
Posted by Lolly | July 19, 2005 7:57 AM
Posted on July 19, 2005 07:57
Yeah, once you get the swift and ball winder you can't be without them. They are such timesavers.
Posted by Colleen | July 19, 2005 10:05 AM
Posted on July 19, 2005 10:05
oh yes, i've wanting one for so long.. you just totally convinced me! did you get a swift? or is that optional?
Posted by blossom | July 19, 2005 11:37 AM
Posted on July 19, 2005 11:37
The ball winder! After I got mine, I went through my stash and wound every ball I could find. I still don't have a swift but I haven't really felt the need for one.
Posted by sharlyn | July 19, 2005 1:23 PM
Posted on July 19, 2005 13:23
JoAnn's has an online coupon for www.joann.com for 50% off that's good through 11:59 p.m. PDT 7/20/05. Coupon code is: JULH550 (you should get a pop-up on the home page also). The ball winder can be found at:
http://www.joann.com/search/search_results.jhtml;$sessionid$HSN0DBQAAIKLEP4SY5NBIHR50LD3OEPO?CATID=3&keywords=ball+winder&_requestid=812175
Or just do a search for ball winder.
Posted by KatieLiz | July 19, 2005 2:00 PM
Posted on July 19, 2005 14:00
Ooooh, pretty pretty yarn! I also adore the color you managed for Hot Lava Cardigan. No matter if it's not the perfect mint, it's a stunning color. That yarn winder might be just the ticket...I'm turning into a hank buying junky with all these people who are selling awesome hand dyes online now.
Posted by Sarah | July 19, 2005 4:44 PM
Posted on July 19, 2005 16:44
So glad you have the swift/winder combo. I have had mine for three years and could not have made it without them.
Good luck in your marathon training!
Posted by Jenny | July 19, 2005 6:37 PM
Posted on July 19, 2005 18:37
I couldn't agree more! And it's kind of addicting too....but I see you already found that out. :)
Posted by Tara | July 20, 2005 7:51 AM
Posted on July 20, 2005 07:51
giggle- I did EXACTLY the same thing when I got my swift and ball winder! An evening of frenzied winding. I had so much fun and it was so satisfying, although my boyfriend thought I was bonkers.
Prepare yourself for post winding depression though, as you realise that there is no more yarn to wind for a while... at least, until the next dyeing/shopping/unravelling frenzy. A whole new reason to add to the stash!!
Posted by Di | July 20, 2005 6:09 PM
Posted on July 20, 2005 18:09
yes, the yarn winder seems to have a universal effect on is new owners. yarn skeins big and small... beware!
Posted by jess | July 20, 2005 8:14 PM
Posted on July 20, 2005 20:14
I have a deep, loving personal relationship with my ball winder. I bet that you thought that was stupid until now, didn't cha?
Posted by stephanie | July 22, 2005 8:40 AM
Posted on July 22, 2005 08:40
Seriously? THAT'S YOUR STASH?! You need to start buying MORE yarn!! ;)
I too am in love with the swift and ball winder, but I think the SWIFT is the key part. THAT'S the part that makes it speedy! Then again, I got the ball winder first. So MAYBE, you need BOTH to achieve true yarn zen.
Posted by Lara | July 22, 2005 2:29 PM
Posted on July 22, 2005 14:29
I love my ball winder and swift too! Children are indeed mesmerized by it. And one warning: don't get going too fast while winding a ball, or it will fly off. The whole ball of yarn ended up over the balcony into the living room below. The cats loved it.
Posted by Lorette | July 24, 2005 9:01 PM
Posted on July 24, 2005 21:01
OMG! Don't you just LOVE it? I just recently got one too. Now I don't kow how I possibly waited so long to get it.
Posted by ck | July 25, 2005 2:51 PM
Posted on July 25, 2005 14:51