How to Hand Wind a Mini Skein! | Knitty Natty

When you're opening a new mini every day for advent, you don't want to take the time to pull out your swift and ball winder. Learn how to hand-wind a 20-gram mini skein in ten minutes or less!
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[@debradockendorf3155]

My mom was fussy about yarn balls. She said that the ball needed to be squishy to keep the yarn from stretching. She always told me to wrap over a finger or two. This allows the yarn to relax after winding. She wouldn’t let me wind her yarn until my practice yarn ball was just right.

[@jackiethompson1787]

I love hand-winding! My grandma taught me how, which makes it a fun way to remember her. Great tips for managing the skein!

[@KnittyNatty]

Aww that is so sweet!

[@beanaasz4069]

A few years ago I learned to wind yarn using my thumb as a nostepinne. It produces more of a cake and you can either use it as a center pull or outside pull. I enjoyed the tutorial on managing the skein. I always seem to have a problem with that. I think I am too impatient.😊

[@christinegiroux8471]

I use my newel post and a chair to hold my mini skeins while winding. Lots of creative ways to do it!

[@sharbear1968]

I’m addicted to mini skeins. It’s all your fault 🤣

[@heathertucker7056]

I find winding wool very therapeutic! Helpful video, thank you x

[@debbieharrison567]

Thank you, Natalie, this was very helpful. I was wondering how I was going to wind my skeins from my Advent Calendar.

[@knittingghost]

I hand-wind all of my yarn. I just leave it in the hank/skein form until I need it for my project. This was a great tutorial - very clear and easy to follow!

[@KnittyNatty]

Yes! I've heard it's best for the yarn to remain in hank form until you use it too. I guess it can stretch if stored in cakes? Not certain on that though! Thank you so much!

[@knittingghost]

@@KnittyNatty I've heard that as well! If not, oh well. It doesn't bother me keeping hanks around. 🤣

[@jessiandknits8294]

Thanks for sharing! I hand wind all my skeins and use the back of a kitchen chair so it doesn't get too tangled on my desk. Thanks for reminding me of the cross legs and knees trick, that would work for me too.

[@annee4193]

I’ve been hand-winding hanks and leftovers etc for decades. I finally decided to order a yarn-winder like the one we had growing up and a Swiff. I do love the look of a hand-wound ball of yarn though ❤

[@lavendercottagefibrearts]

i ordered a swift in black friday sales but until it arrives this video will be super helpful!!

[@laurendardick3382]

So helpful! Thank you for all of the suggestions and tricks.

[@KnittyNatty]

You are so welcome!

[@sunshineandewe]

I love this!! I just did this for the mini for my advent self-striping skein from Woolens and Nosh and I so much prefer this for a mini than winding with a swift. I feel like the ball is more secure then using a ball winder and swift. Thank you for sharing!!

[@lindsey-brooke]

Wonderful tutorial and a great reminder to me to wind patiently and not be tempted to pull the ball through the skein when I hit a glitch! This time of year, I love to open my advent yarn calendars each day and wind the mini skeins by hand while watching Vlogmas videos!

[@KnittyNatty]

Aww I love that! I like to do the same!

[@binarystar11235]

Thank you! This is so clear and practical! No nonsense :-)

[@KnittyNatty]

Glad you liked it!!

[@maricarolmagill8764]

Thank you for solving a problem I didn’t know I had. 😁 I’ve planned a project I thought I could do, looked into the techniques needed, and obtained the needles for my first yarn advent. It didn’t even occur to me I would have to do something with the hank each day. 😂 Also, Since I am a self-taught ball winder, your way of starting was so much better than what I’ve been doing!

[@glazedtalons]

You could wind a full-size skein with this method as well. 👍

[@mariemunson6087]

I am knitting a tee for myself. 1st time knitting myself something in the round. I'm using drops nord, it doesn't grow very quickly! I'm used to a dk weight. Love your podcast xx

[@KnittyNatty]

That sounds fun!! Thank you!

[@terrioxford2119]

Thank you, SO HELPFUL! ❤

[@KnittyNatty]

You're so welcome!

[@deborahschmidt7179]

Love hand winding very relaxing - I also sometimes put the skein around my neck and knit from that then make a ball with the remainder this is especially great for mini skein projects.

[@KnittyNatty]

Ooh that's a great tip! Thank you for sharing!

[@annee4193]

Yes I’ve used my neck too 😂 I mean it works right 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@mariemunson6087]

Thank you x

[@KnittyNatty]

You are so welcome!

[@carolbrown4378]

But you can't pull from the center

[@sylviacentanni7439]

Pulling from the center of a cake sometimes produces more knots than just pulling from the outside! So winding a ball of has its advantages. Thanks Natalie for the video.

[@sandrabrown8917]

Long winded I learn this when I was 5year old very patronising and boring

[@zarac2107]

Thanks Natalie for this tutorial, it was super helpful and just what I was looking for! 🧶😘

[@KnittyNatty]

You are so welcome!