I Tried an Electric Yarn Winder - Should You Get One?

[@ewakraft5770]

Thanks for showing us, really interesting❣️ For me to expensive, and it winds to hard, so the strechines can be ruined. Also it is a joy for me to have the yarn between one hand to direct the tension manually.

[@cerwelt]

I have a handmade swift made from pvc pipe. Hubby made it. I like the control of a hand winding ball winder. The electric one looks like trouble to me. Your swift looks really heavy. Plus hubby says that changing the speed of the winder causes the tension to change. That could be the reason you get the wonky extra winding above and below. He used to be in the oilfield and they would wire, tubing and other things. He said the tension needed to remain constant or they would have issues. Just a thought.

[@catherinecrawford2289]

I was thinking this too, but as it applies to bobbins in a sewing machine.

[@TuulaMaaria]

You are so right about my swift. I rarely use it, would need to get a new light one! Also changing the speed in the middle seems to cause problems. I liked the machine so I will learn to use properly! 😊

[@cyndihuber2456]

What a clever idea. THAT would be useful! ☀️🌈☀️

[@debmorgaina3913]

I’m still undecided about the electric winder. I appreciate your demonstration.

[@theastewart6721]

Hi Tuula. Thank you for showing us this ball winder. I had an electric one a while back that was awful. Now I use my Stanwood Ball Winder and Swift and they do the trick. But if I ever want to get another electric one again, I’ll definitely consider this one. Thank you again.😊

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! There are probably quite some differences between the various brands out there. I haven't tried any other so can't say!

[@Ticolme819]

Hello Tuula. Thank you for the video. I have a manual winder. Sometimes it's not so nice to me. I use it more when I have small balls of yarn. I'm afraid I would end up with a huge mess if I used an electric one. I find that when I wind the yarn into balls a form of meditation. It really helps quiet my mind.

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thanks for sharing! Yes, winding yarn by hand can be relaxing!

[@missangie1562]

Thank you for your honest opinion. I do believe a heavier swift will make a difference on the ball winding process as well as changing speeds during the winding process. I also find slower speeds tend to make the cake/ball messy and fall apart while also making odd shaped cakes. That being said. At least you didn’t have to wind them urself and they may not be pretty but they are useable. Thank you lovely lady for your informative videos. ❤❤❤❤

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you so much! You are right, definitely need a lighter swift. Could also let it go at a slow speed. Since there is no need to stay by it while it is working, can just go away to do something else so it doesn't need to be fast 😊

[@Anna-jl1rx]

I use my knees half lying down on the sofa, knees bent. It works 😃

[@TuulaMaaria]

Oh, I also use my knees norally, learned that from my mother already as a small girl, but I sit up normally!

[@nadinejones9703]

Very interesting but I don’t use a ball winder of any sort, have two but it’s relaxing to me to ball my yarn by hand… thanks for sharing this product..❤️🌼

[@suebigger5097]

Good Morning 🤗 I don’t use hanks, but it was interesting seeing how it worked. Always like your videos, they are very informative in what to do in crocheting and yarn related projects. Have a good weekend and will look forward to your next visit🥰

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! You too!

[@user-bj1dq7zh4o]

Tuula, you are right, the swift cannot be oiled, but you can always try to rub with a bit of a candle or a tea light. Makes a difference!

[@TuulaMaaria]

That's a good idea, thank you! I'll try that!

[@sallystevens2947]

Hi Tuula! This was a great tutorial! I like the honeycomb pattern of the ball! I know with wool it is best not to have too much tension so as to stretch the yarn. Also I only ball up a hank of wool when needed. That's just the way I was taught as a hand spinner of wool. If the skein winder was more freely moving that could lessen the tension on the ball winder. Thank you and take good care!❤

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! 😊 Yes, definitely need to get a new swift! I want all balls to be centre-pull, that is why I will probably redo some that I have wound by hand in such a way i can't get the yarn from the middle.

[@chrisannlittle]

Great video!!! The look on your face was priceless as the yarn wound. I have a winder that I love, but it’s so cool to see other products like these. Thank you for the review 😊😊❤❤❤

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! I suppose my expressions show that the video is genuine, I hadn't practised it! 😀

[@missapippin9020]

I have a manual winder. I think I might stick to that Thank you for the review Tuula

[@sabinabirnie3761]

Oh bless you Tuula, at the end of the first winding, as it was going writ reminded me of a whirling Dervish 😂 thank you for sharing this with us.

[@sabinabirnie3761]

As it was going around, auto correct!

[@TuulaMaaria]

😅 I suppose that is what it does look like!

[@Scorpio_Love_11]

I have recently purchased one of these electric yarn winders however I haven’t tried it out yet. I can’t wait to get my room set up so I can get mine set up and start using it.

[@TuulaMaaria]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@ASquareGranny]

Thank you for sharing your honest review! 😊

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! This was a fun video to make! 😊

[@catherinecrawford2289]

I loved this video! This was a very complete test. I liked seeing the cotton ball bounce in the bowl haha. I asked for one for Christmas, thank you Tuula Maaria!

[@TuulaMaaria]

Lovely! That's a great idea, asking to get it for Christmas! 💗

[@angieh3036]

Hello hope you’re doing wonderful today. It looked like it did a fine job! Thank you for sharing ❤

[@TuulaMaaria]

Great, thank you!

[@Knits-WIPs-N-Chains]

I think I prefer my manual winder. I just wish I had bought the one that wound bigger balls.

[@TuulaMaaria]

There are so many different kinds!

[@ewakraft5770]

I am looking for a winder that wound bigger balls. Can't find one. Do you have a suggestion?

[@TuulaMaaria]

@@ewakraft5770 Unfortunately not, I haven't used them at all until now.

[@donnamarielandry1649]

From the Southern California Eastern Desert. I’ve been crocheting for about 50 years now as I find it calming & it keeps me out of the refrigerator. Thank you! I’ve been considering something like this for a while.

[@bettymarshall2702]

Love that quote, "keeps me out of the refrigerator".

[@TuulaMaaria]

That's so well said, keeps you out of the refrigerator!! 💜 Never thought of that part of crocheting!

[@jentrejo7008]

I got one gifted for my birthday this year. My fiancé said I can make bundt cakes while I crochet at the same time. I managed to get all my yarn organized, i love this winder!❤

[@TuulaMaaria]

Lovely, glad to hear it can work long term! 😊

[@DeeZukowski]

Great news about the organization! I'm wondering how many bundt cakes got made, though.

[@jentrejo7008]

@@DeeZukowski 😂 I’m honestly too embarrassed to say. Each of my storage drawers can hold up to 14 sm-md bundt cakes or about 8-10 L or XL bundt cakes I have 12 drawers total and all are full. 🙈

[@ewakraft5770]

❓️sorry my English, but was it a bunt cake?

[@jentrejo7008]

@@ewakraft5770 my apologies I spelled the word wrong i meant to write “bundt” cake. I call my wound up yarn bundt cakes, because they kind of look like them. 😂

[@debrathacker306]

I love them

[@melodied4314]

For a "Yarnie" this looks like a time-saver. 😊

[@SwatisCrochetART]

Shoutout to the OG 🔥 & Craft is epic ❤

[@TuulaMaaria]

Great!

[@peggyharwell3674]

Hello from Tennessee, USA. My concern is that once yarn is wound and is allowed to just sit, the fibers stretch. Am I incorrect in my assumption? You always have interesting and informative videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@bambinaforever1402]

U know what does not stretch? The one u buy AND USE. At once.

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! Yeah, I'm not sure if it stretches, will have to see!

[@Fimbleshanks]

@peggyharwell3674 You are correct. If you don't use the balls soon after winding, the fibers can become stretched, which can effect the gauge of the yarn (the outer yarn can also potentially become more stretched than the inner yarn, adding to gauge problems) and the overall end product. This is part of why yarn isn't often sold in ball form. When I researched for the one I got (though it is hand operated) I learned it's important to wind the balls slowly and loosely so that the fibers aren't too stressed. I initially had the idea that I could downsize the amount of space my yarn box takes up by winding everything, until I learned of these issues. Ms. Tuula, I'm concerned that the weight and drag of the swift added to the fast speed of the winder put a lot of stress on your yarn. It seemed there was a lot of pulling going on, rather than just winding. I definitely am not an expert, but I recommend doing some extra research on the do's and don'ts of yarn ball winding if you haven't. Thank you for the video, though! I wish my winder had the amount of winding space on it as the one you have in the video! Looks like a good product.

[@descendantofsomeone]

Thanks for the review! It was pretty neat and interesting to see!

[@TuulaMaaria]

Lovely, thank you!

[@userpharnorth]

As a weaver I have a swift and a manual winder. Love using them, thanks.

[@TuulaMaaria]

That's probably why I have got this swift, I used to do a lot of weaving.

[@userpharnorth]

@@TuulaMaaria What sort of weaving? I would be interested in knowing.

[@Happyhippy70]

I will always do mine by hand cause I look for glitches in the yarn and weak spots.

[@TuulaMaaria]

That works well, only it is harder to get good center-pull ones by hand.

[@E_LithaBeth]

I would be careful that the tension on the yarn as it is pulled from the swift doesn't take too much effort. I have an older Royal hand winder which slips its little plastic gears if it has to pull too hard. And then I always wind twice. Once to get it off the swift and into a ball and once to wind from the ball so the tension is more controllable. (Always, of course, being careful I am winding the yarn in the same direction if there are color changes the order of which will make a difference.) Really, I am not too impressed with this winder with all its little plastic parts that look like they could break or get lost and a motor that might get over-stressed and burn out needing replacement, but would have to try it myself to be sure. Thanks for showing it to us though!

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you! You are right, there definitely are concers both about stretching the yarn and the machine itself, I will take my time to see what works best!

[@veroniquecastel9582]

I recommending getting a yarn winder - it saves a lot of time and makes neat yarn balls. I love mine - it’s hand cranked.

[@TuulaMaaria]

Yes, both work the same, hand and electric ones!

[@cyndihuber2456]

Hi Tuula. Your winder was fighting your swift. Maybe putting some wax on it and standing it up would help. It seems like the first two have very stretched fibers now. Maybe you should rewind them like you did the ball. Just hanging out inside the bowl. Warm hugs and Happy Crocheting from Florida ☀️🌈☀️

[@TuulaMaaria]

You are probably right! I can rewind those and get a better swift or try to get that one work lighter.

[@ruthlister2598]

Looks good to me Tuula 👍🏻

[@TuulaMaaria]

Great, yes, it can be useful! 😊

[@cindycampbell4994]

I have a manual one, I like it but a few times my red heart 4 ply would get tangled under the winder and I had to cut it ,but I think it’s because my winder is too small and can’t handle all the yarn

[@TuulaMaaria]

Oh right, yes, winders don't always take enough yarn!

[@shirin_shad]

I bought an electric one years ago and recently fond a manual one at the thrift store. Love both of them but I always hold the yarn to ensure it can be pulled in with the same (minimum) force. I don't have a swift though.

[@TuulaMaaria]

That would be one way, just holding the yarn, not using a swift!

[@lynnock8003]

I also have a wooden swift. I rub a smallish chunk of beeswax along the central dowel to ensure the rotating parts move freely. Perhaps this would help you too. 😊

[@TuulaMaaria]

Thank you, I need to try that! 😊

[@rebeccareese73]

i'm buying myself one and giving it to my husband so he can give it to me for christmas lol

[@TuulaMaaria]

That's a great idea! 😄

[@rebeccaboothe4825]

Are we supposed to do this to all our yarn. I've got a hand crank one, but I don't use it. Even with Hank's I just lay them flat.

[@catherinecrawford2289]

I have all these leftover yarns in various stages of tangle and age. I'm going to get one to sort out that mess for my leftovers.

[@ChrisTina-ln4yk]

Oh! How does it work laying a hank flat? Do you crochet it that way or do you wind it from flat?

[@TuulaMaaria]

I always do if the yarn is in a hank, never with balls and cakes. It is possible to just lay it flat, I have occasionally doen that with very chunky yarn. But so easily gets tangled and hard to store when you put an unfinished project aside.

[@rebeccaboothe4825]

@TuulaMaaria true. Laying it flat I can twist it up like it came. I'm very careful with it 😉

[@mermaidstears4897]

I live with two cats and a three year old bandit who loves to steal Grammy’s yarn. I’m picturing laying my yarn flat and calculating who would get to it first-the toddler or the cats! Lololol

[@creativian68]

This might be a good way to save money for people who don't have any gear for this. You don't nesessarily need to get a swift. You could hold the skein around your forearms.

[@TuulaMaaria]

That is actually what I have done until now, I had to go to get the swift from my basement locker for the video, I haven't used it, and I don't have a had winder. I hold the skein around my knees and wind by hand, learned that from my mother as a small girl. But I do find this electric one fun to use!

[@marcy7162]

I’m watching the first ball being wound, and it looks to be under quite a bit of tension. That will need to be re-wound more loosely, otherwise, you will be in for a big surprise when you get your finished project wet.

[@TuulaMaaria]

Yes, I already did that, several other people were saying the same. I need a better swift or try to get that one moving more lightly!

[@partyfiesta1557]

I bought Caydo’s I-cord machine. I am a bit disappointed. It twists the i-cord while it’s making it and it’s very slow. I was planning a scrappy blanket with i-cord to make it fast and extra squishy but I’ll have to figure out something else to make it efficient. Hugs, Adrien

[@TuulaMaaria]

I actually have the Caydo i-cord machine too, they sent it at the same time. Haven't tried it yet and I am not under obligation to make a video of it. But I'm curious to see how it works, good to know what challenges there is likely to be!

[@partyfiesta1557]

@@TuulaMaaria I will do more tests perhaps the yarn thickness I chose was not the best suited. I hope you will enjoy it

[@bambinaforever1402]

Wow. I buy all my yarn ALREADY IN BALLS or whatever u call it. The same price

[@catherinecrawford2289]

Many yarn suppliers sell them in hanks, or those loose skeins. Also, many people don't want the store bought skein to tangle, which happens the further down the skein.

[@ASquareGranny]

Exactly! Or, much to my embarrassment, I dropped my skein & my “voted today” sticker (unrealized at the time) was stuck to the yarn…”feels like bliss” fuzzy yarn…it was a tangled up MESS with a sticker in the middle! Ooof. Lol. Once I fit it figured out, winding it up was magnificent! I do also, seem to notice that the wound up yarn takes up way less space than a skein and/or hank as I have a big variety of styles (skeins f/manufacturer in different sizes and styles, hanks of hand dyed yarn in different sizes and weights, etc). 🧡

[@KDM__19]

​@@ASquareGrannyI love it. Ahahahahaha

[@TuulaMaaria]

I buy a lot of them too but often high-quality wools, alpacas, silk mixes etc and always hand-dyed ones are on hanks.

[@rebeccareese73]

unwinding your yarn will show you if there's any mistakes in the yarn, colour errors, huge knots, etc. i once bought orange yarn, but the wound up end was green. once it's unwound, you need to wind it again and that is where this comes in. it's perfect for those with hand issues that find winding yarn difficult

[@sueridge6921]

what an odd contraption would rather do it by hand.

[@TuulaMaaria]

There are new gadgets coming out all the time! 😊

[@vicentacastillo363]

🥰👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😍🧶😘👍🏼❤️