Have you ever heard about a yarn winder but not even tried to know what it is? Do you want a better way of winding without using your hands? It is at this point that a yarn winder rescues you!
You must know it isn’t all about winding your yarn as a crafter. It is about winding with zero stress. To help you learn more about yarn winders, read along as we discuss in detail what a yarn winder is, its benefits, and things you should consider when deciding to get one just for your easy and faster winding process.
Are Yarn Winders Worth It?
Yes, having a yarn winder is the best. Winding by hand is time-consuming, and the fabric likely ends up in hassles of tangles, twits, and knots, making it look scattered and unsuitable.
Yarn winders are helpful tools for knitting and crocheting, making turning any ball type into yarn cake easy. Yarn cakes always have a center where the yarn unwinds neatly and can be made to sit on a tabletop or stacked for storage due to their shapes.
They allow crafters to wind their yarn cakes and are a convenient and comfortable tool that can be used by anyone who works with yarns. A quality yarn winder is easy to use and inexpensive.
What Do I Consider When Choosing A Yarn Winder?
The yarn winder is to wind yarn, but they vary based on your budget and choice.
When choosing a yarn wonder, here are factors to consider based on what you want to use it for:
1. Your budget
Choosing a yarn winder should be based on what you can afford, and note that they all perform the same function.
A manual yarn winder still requires the hands-on process where you will have to be cranking the wind and controlling the pressure or tension; they are, however, easy to use and cost-low, unlike the electric yarn winder, which costs more. Unlike the manual, an electric winder must be positioned at an electricity supply outlet. The manual can be placed on a table or a countertop inside or outside.
Many wood yarns have good looks when displayed in a craft room. A wooden yarn winder is stronger than a plastic yarn winder. Polished wood lasts longer than plastic. Plastic yarn winders are more common because wooden yarn winders come at a premium price. They are more available and affordable; some are metal or nylon, enhancing their durability.
2. Desired Yarn Cake Size
All yarn winders have their ball-winding capacity. A large yarn winder possesses a high capacity. Some yarn winders, which are considered the less expensive, can hold an average skein of 3.5oz – 4.0oz (100g – 120g), while the larger one can hold up to 9.0oz- 10.0oz (250g – 280g) and there are maximum sizes that can hold up to 16.0oz (450g) of yarn.
Consider the size of the yarn you need for future purposes (you might need a larger one later on) and the storage space for the large yarn winders.
3. Organization and use
A good yarn is easy to assemble, so you can get to winding right. Some yarn winders have clamps built-in to attach them to a table. Ensure the clamp opens wide enough when using wider tables.
The best yarn winder has easy-to-use, non-scratch-free padding to prevent them from damaging the tabletop; look for one with a strong base. A quality winder has a smooth winding process.
4. Yarn Swift
It holds the hank of yarn during the winding process to prevent it from tangling. There are two types of yarn swift: umbrella and tabletop. The umbrella yarn swift is designed as an umbrella and is relatively easy to store, while the tabletop yarn swift requires extra space for storage.
5. Skein or Hank
The type of yarn packaging you’re starting with is essential. A Skein yarn is a machine wound. The way they are pond makes it quite challenging to pull out from the middle without it knotting or tangling, but a longer skein allows you to pull from the center.
It then begins to lose its shape as you use and to prevent it from getting tangled if it is a middle-pull skein, you need to re-wind it. A Hank yarn, also called a twisted hark, is loosely wound into a large ring shape, and the yarn loop is twisted on itself. It is mainly preferred or easy to store and ship. A hank yarn cannot be used for knitting or crocheting until it is rolled out or winded to form a ball or cake.
6. Tension
Some yarn winders require the yarn to be held to provide extra tension during the winding process. Electric yarn winders are designed to regulate pressure. Ensure you choose a version that can provide pressure while the tool works.
7. Table Clamp
On the table, you’re attaching your yarn winder; the table clamp should give your yarn winder a firm grip along with the base material but not damage the tabletop.
8. Crank System
If you go for a manual yarn winder, the crank system should be smooth and have even tension when not used. It should seem like it goes off when you place a yarn and wind.
What Are The Benefits Of A Yarn Winder?
Using a yarn winder is best, and here are the benefits of going for one:
1. Saves time
A yarn winder tends to be time-saving and enhances work efficiency. Considering that quite a large number of skeins do have an invincible yarn tail, i.e., a yarn tail that you won’t be able to find or even see, or when found, once you pull, the yarn begins to tangle. Using a yarn winder helps to lessen the situation.
Firstly, it prevents tangling. A high-end yarn comes in hanks rolled into a circle and twisted on itself. The yarn must be untwisted into a big ring to prevent a hank rolled into a ball from tangling; otherwise, the long strands would rub together. Secondly, a yarn winder can start the winding outside of a skein.
When you wind from outside, it reduces “yarn barf,” which occurs when the yarn is pulled from the center, causing it to fall out. In addition, using a yarn winder helps to prevent Several times, when the yarn is removed from the center of the skein, the whole middle falls out and causes tangling known as “yarn barf.” Using a yarn winder helps to prevent this.
2. It is faster
It creates a center or middle pull cake, which is easier to manage because you don’t need to run after the ball or skein when you pull the yarn. The flat bottom of the ball wrapped by the yarn winder helps the yarn to remain in place while it is being used. A yarn winder is faster than using hand winding for this process.
3. Detecting defects
When you get a skein, there are no visible flaws because it has been wound into a ball, and sometimes, the yarn has been cut and knotted to another to keep the yarn together. A yarn winder allows you to check your yarn properly for any flaws before you start working. If defects are found, you can deal with them before using them.
4. Maintains elasticity
When you wind a ball with too much tension, it causes strains on the fibers and cause them to stretch out. However, if you’re careful when hand winding, storing it over time in such conditions causes damage to the fiber.
A yarn winder will wrap the yarn so that it is tight enough to keep the ball together and loose enough to let the fibers retain their original form.
A Step By Step Guide On How To Use A Yarn Winder
It isn’t difficult when fixing your yarn winder. Carefully follow the steps below:
- Clamp the winder to the table. The bottom part goes under the table and is tightened with the wheel.
- Pass the yarn through the feeder by lifting the metal and locking it back in place. Start by placing the yarn under the feeder.
- Lift the yarn up and to the left to pull the yarn between the two loops.
- Bring one of the ends to the right and down.
- Then, pull the yarn back to the left, and it goes through the feeder.
- The yarn should be placed over the slit and lightly pulled down to tuck it in.
- Start turning the crank holding the yarn with one hand against the winder, and as the winder turns, it secures the end place.
- Keep turning the crank until you’ve winded the desired amount.
- Lift the yarn off the winder. Make sure you get hold of the yarn across the middle before lifting it off the winder.
Conclusion
Now you know that yarn winders are better ways of winding without using the hand, which makes them worth it; however, many benefits derive from using a yarn winder. Still, most importantly, it is time-saving and stimulates your work efficiency.
In addition, if you have a small quantity to wind, a less expensive winder is best for you, but for an enormous amount, you will need to go for a larger yarn winder, which is quite costly.
A yarn winder is highly recommended for you if you always buy hank, while for skein, it isn’t that necessary.
If you enjoyed this, kindly share it with your family, friends, and colleagues.