Working with Yarn

[fluffy_rainbow]

My sister and I knit, crochet, and sew. Recently, we have been purchasing specialty hand-dyed yarns from a local merchant and we seem to be running into some trouble balling it up. Most yarn comes in skeins, but specialty yarns are usually bundled in hanks. Does anyone know of a method to ball a hank of yarn to where you don't have the middle of the hank knot up on you? I know you can commission another person to drape the yarn over their hands, but what about when we're alone and don't have assistance? These knots are a pain.

 

[Daily Miracle]

When I'm alone, I sit on the floor with my legs out, and I drape the hank around my feet. Some people use a lampshade (dust it off first). Other people have used the back of a chair, or the legs of a chair that's flipped upside down.

A lot of yarn shops have a swift and a ball winder in their store, and they'll do it for you or show you how to use it so you can leave the store with a ball instead of a hank.

 

[Monaila]

Wow... I love crochet, knitting, sewing and crafts. I just learned the sewing as beginners on last week.

 

[hischildsindik]

Get ingenous with this, you could use 2 full 2 liter bottles spread apart enough to place the hank over them... how about 2 dowels stuffed into some floral foam and glued to a board... even a piece of cardboard the right length could help. I hate knotting, so I can empathize. Have fun playing.

 

[RadicalRabbit]

I tip a chair upside down and spread the hank over that.

 

[labellady]

I don't have any advice to help, sorry. What do you use the speciality yarn for? What do you crochet or knit? afghans? sweaters? And what kind of yarn is it? Just curious.....

 

[DarkGalaxy]

I enjoy knitting or crocheting afgans. I have all colors and sizes of afghans, and have given them away as gifts.

 

[Stormi]

I've used my feet for that. It works for me.

 

[symphonyb]

I simply can't get the hang of crochet. I have bags of beautiful yarns,remnant etc.I even got a stitch book.This is very different than knitting.I just can't do it and wish you lived close to me,like next door

I enjoy knitting or crocheting afgans. I have all colors and sizes of afghans, and have given them away as gifts.

 

[RevPennyAnnie]

I love design afghans and blankets. I have books filled with different stitches I try one in a swatch if I like the way it comes out I will try to design a blanket or afghan.

 

[Redneck Crow]

My sister and I knit, crochet, and sew. Recently, we have been purchasing specialty hand-dyed yarns from a local merchant and we seem to be running into some trouble balling it up. Most yarn comes in skeins, but specialty yarns are usually bundled in hanks. Does anyone know of a method to ball a hank of yarn to where you don't have the middle of the hank knot up on you? I know you can commission another person to drape the yarn over their hands, but what about when we're alone and don't have assistance? These knots are a pain.

Here's how you do it. You start winding the yarn around your index finger, leaving a 6-8 inch "tail" of the very begining of the yarn in your palm. When that has gotten bulky, remove it from your finger, turn it 90 degrees or so, and start wrapping that way, maintaining the tail. Wind it with very little tension, but not sloppy loose. Continue turning, forming a ball, always maintaining that "tail". When you've finished winding the entire skein, tuck the last end, not the "tail," under the last row or two of winds.

Not, the tail does it's magic. What you have is a ball of yarn that works like a pull skein. Knit or crochet from the tail, and the yarn will feed from the center of the ball. Works like a charm if you don't make the tension too tight or too sloppy.

 

[Starr SDA Living Word]

THANKS FOR THE TIPS, AND GOD BLESS!

 

[symphonyb]

this is what i do also,it works well for me. good luck.

I tip a chair upside down and spread the hank over that.