Saturday, April 29, 2006

What do I need . . .

. . . to turn these things into one of these?

Anyone . . . Bueller . . .

I did manage to change the skein on the right



into this ball


all by my lonesome without benefit of handy tools or, well, just another pair of hands. It took a very long time and turned into the Herculean task of unraveling the Gordian Knot (which, unlike Alexander, I did not cleave in twain.)

So I ask, what tools do I need to turn an annoying skein into a much friendlier and more tractable center pull ball?

9 comments:

Tati said...

I haven't a clue. Tried checking ebay?

Seitherin said...

I haven't a clue either tho' there are lots of lovely devices for sale. I'm just not sure, aside from a ball winder, what I would need. Oh, and a new table or desk I could clamp the ball winder to since none of the furniture I own has a lip.

Tati said...

I now remember. Back in the "old" days, all yarn came like that. One woman would put her hands inside the "roll" if you will, tensioning the yarn "apart" while the other woman would begin rolling it up. Works well because the person holding the yarn can move her hands in the direction of the person rolling to accommodate the roll off process better.

Oh Geez I've rambled.

Get the prodigal son to hold it :-))

Seitherin said...

I can remember holding the yarn as my mother wound it into a ball when I was a little girl. That used to be so much fun. Unfortunately, the Prodigal and I rarely see each other these days so it's hard to pin him down to help. I suspect he wouldn't find it all that much fun to do anyway.

Robyn Wade said...

A yarn swift and ball wa=inder are the tools to make this go extremely smoothly, but if you can only get one and you don't have a person to hold the skein with you wind, I suggest going with an umbrella swift. BTW- That is some very lovely yarn you have there.

Seitherin said...

A swift and a winder, huh? OK, I'll keep my eyes open for them.

Roseunicorn said...

If the yarn works better in a ball why don't the companies just sell it that way????

Seitherin said...

The yarn I buy comes from individuals not mass-producers. Krystal always winds her yarn for me, but I haven't asked if either of the others would do it. I don't buy their stuff often enough to really worry about it.

But I'm still kicking around the idea of dying my own. If that ever takes off, I'll need the tools to wind the yarn for myself.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I bought Royal Ball winder on Ebay and I'm really in love with ;) This one from this seller :
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8284687639&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

If you look description you can see the swift too. I don't try this one but it's in my project.

And you can trust this seller, it's very fast shipping and great price ;)
Good luck!