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Last week I shared a tutorial with you on How to Make a Slip Knot, and in it, I mentioned another tutorial I wanted to share – this one! When I work a project, and am left with a jumbled mess, or when I reach near the end of a skein in a project and find a jumbled mess, I use this technique to wind the jumbled mess back into a neat, ball of yarn to be used to either finish the project, or store until next time.
This technique would also work if you purchase a skein of yarn that needs to be wound into a ball, and you don’t have a ball winder, though the process would take quite a bit of time. I would also suggest a longer beginning section, and a few more winds before turning so the ball doesn’t grow too quickly.
For this tutorial, I am using Lion Brand’s Wool Ease Thick & Quick in the Marble colorway, but this technique works with any weight yarn (or thread or floss) that you want to be able to use pulling from the center.
You will also need a large knitting needle, or crochet hook, or something similar, but I find the knitting needle to work best for me.
I am not creating anything new here, but I did take the time to take the photos, edit them, and put this tutorial together, so please respect my work. Do not pin or share any of the tutorial images – just the main photos. Provide the link for others to find my page (helps out me and my blog with the traffic). Do not copy and paste my work anywhere. Thank you!
Photo Tutorial:
First thing you’ll do is place a slip knot onto a knitting needle, close to the flat end – this is to prevent the yarn from falling off as you wind.
During the whole process, you’ll need to hold the tail with your thumb to keep it out of the way…
…And wrap the working yarn around the needle about two inches long (or longer depending on how much yarn you are winding) working a few layers, and ending on the right side.
Once you are comfortable with the foundation, turn the needle upright (with flat end on top), and wrap the working yarn diagonally downward.
Wrap in the same direction two more times, stacking the wraps.
Rotate the needle clockwise about a quarter, and wrap the working yarn again diagonally downward…
…And wrap two more times, stacking the wraps.
Continue rotating, and wrapping… A nice ball will form.
Once you’ve reached the end of your working yarn, tuck it into the ball to secure.
Carefully pull the ball off of the needle. Now the beginning tail (attached to the slip knot) is your center pull, and you are ready to use or neatly store until then!
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Writing a second Entry for Your neat Giveaway: Like was the crocheted Chic Tank Pattern! Thanks for Sharing!
I really like the Chic Tank too! I have a new top I pattern tested for my friend Helena (who has a free crochet pattern for it) that I will be sharing to the blog next Saturday. Thanks so much for visiting Linda! Good luck!
Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays 🙂 Hope you can join us today.
Thanks, Claire! Hopping over now 🙂
That’s brilliant, I would never have even though to try this!
I actually hadn’t thought about it until fairly recently when I started buying yarn from a local yarn shop, and the yarn needed to be wound into a ball before able to work with. Now, all my scraps are organized, and easy to use.
Thank you, thank you.
Now I just need to try it …- but my yarn will produce a lot bigger ball than what you have ended up with. (I am sure I will be very tempted to remove the knitting needle well before the end of the ball-making procedure, in order to keep winding the bigger ball of yarn.)
Hehe! I know what you mean. It’s not as important once you get the ball shape going, but I still like having the needle to hold as I work.