How to use a Swift and a Ball Winder! (part one)

[TheUncleShelly]

Your video answered questions and suggested gifts for my wife. Thanks.

[radrian23pr]

As a new knitting person your tutorial was amazung, great info. Please keeo this great art. You inspire me

[sjewett02]

thanks for your knowledge

[busyhappyknitter]

Hi, I would like to see you do a video on entrelac knitting. Please respond back when you get a chance to , thanks alot. I love your knitting videos, I think that you're a great knitter. How long have you been knitting for? How did you learn to knit?

[zinnia231]

Thanks for the video it's just what i needed to see! And I agree with your second some shops are very rude!!!! They lost a good costomer with me I thought it was me but i am finding more and more from others the same problem! I do hope to see more knitting things cheers!

[karion100]

just wanted to know if you absolutely need a swift winder along with yarn winder?? I buy my yarn from the local stores and need to know if it is needed. I love ya videos.

[ravensky23]

@karion100 Sorry I didn't see your question b4 now. If you buy your yarn in skeins that have a center pull ball (pull the end in the center of the ball, most store bough yarn) you don't need it. it's when you buy handspun or hand dyed yarns and they some times come in hanks, a big circle of yarn separated by ties. This is when it is helpful to have my setup I'm demonstrating. Or a patient family member willing to sit and hold it while you wind by hand. ;-) Hope that helps.

[jturnrich]

Thanks so much! Just opened my new swift and winder and immediately tuned in to your video. The tip about keeping the yarn at a 90 degree angle really helped and wasn't mentioned in the winder instructions. Now I need to buy more yarn to wind!! :-)

[lbillingsley4]

thanks for the information and demo this will save my husbands arms lol

[penelopekc]

Thanks for a great demonstration. Just read all of the comments, but didn't see where you bought your ball winder. Since it works nicely for you, I might get one. I did hear you say that you got your swift from a company called Royal. Thanks for listing your sources. Some of us out here are novices! :-) And need all the help we can get.

[ravensky23]

Rhanks for you kind comments! If you Google the words "plastic swift" you'll find several sources. I bought one of mine at a garage sale cheap and the other online at Lacis I think. Overstock has one for $33 plus $2.95 shipping right now. Good luck!

[ravensky23]

I meant search for "plastic umbrella swift". Searching for just "plastic swift' gets you a lot of info on Taylor Swift's supposed plastic surgery. LOL Also sorry for the typos. No coffee yet at 7am and typing in the dark...

[penelopekc]

Bless you for your quick response and I hope your coffee is kicking in!

As it turns out, I ordered the plastic ball winder for about $20 from Knitpicks. It probably won't be as nice as yours, but I'm hoping it will be adequate for my light usage. I like that it can be handheld, as well as affixed to table top. I opted for the Beka yarn swift for $55 from Paradise Fibers. Liked that it is also a table top design -- Hope it works! Thanks, again.

[princetongirl896]

Thank you so much for this video. I received a swift & ball winder for Christmas, and didn't know how to get started. I truly appreciate your help! My stash will be much more orangized now.

[ravensky23]

You're very welcome! An organized stash is a GOOD thing!

[jerseehippee]

Thanks so much for this, I have 10 cones of alpaca yarn I need to organize somehow and have been wondering how to use this combo; whether or not it would be worth it to buy. I think i'm going to! ;)

[ravensky23]

Excellent, glad the video could help!

[MsMarieish]

Thank you so much for doing this video. I was given a knitting machine with many accessories. I buy my yarn on cones. I just bought a piece of equipment and the company sent me some free samples of yarn and they were hanks. I remembered I had these strange looking items (swift & ball winder) in my accessories I was given. I went to YouTube looking for a video to learn how to use my items and found you. I just wound my yarn and it was fun! Thanks!

[phil1987]

Tthank you so much for this! I found this video having searched for how to wind yarn, and now i want a swift!!!! Will be on the look out for one now! I have subscribed and will be coming back to watch more of your videos, thanks again. Take care xx

[ravensky23]

Hi Phil, thanks for watching! Yes, swifts are wonderful things. Owning a swift and a ball winder make life so much easier for knitters/crocheters. Thanks for subbing to me!

[ImJoyEllen]

I am a newbie and love this video! Do you have a cone winder and advice on kinds as well as how to run them?

[ravensky23]

No, I don't have a cone winder. All the cones of yarn I've bought, and I have more than I want to admit, were wound in a manufacturing facility on large machines. I don't know of any for home use. if someone else out there does, let me know. I can't believe there is a piece of equipment out there for the home that I don' have! LOL (says she with 3 spinning wheels, four looms etc. ;-) I've used the ball winder to make a ball off two cones before because I wanted to blend them. Happy knitting!

[jhlanglais]

ravensky23, thanks for the videos. I was having major problems with hanks and winding. I love cascade yarn, but got to do the hanks. Your video "How to use swift and ball winder" was SO helpful. So thanks a lot.

[ravensky23]

Glad the video was helpful. I got behind in responding to comments and hope you and no longer having trouble winding hanks of yarn. Let me know if you need any further help.

[pjnjs]

ok, I'm leaving a comment :) I found you by searching through knitting videos as I'm re-learning (learned decades ago, but never kept up with it and am trying to get back on the horse sort to speak..) Anyway - I love your videos and I'll be getting one of those ball winders!

[ravensky23]

Did you ever pick up a ball winder? If so, how did you like it? Sorry, but I got behind in responding to comments and missed yours.

[pjnjs]

I did - just like yours and I LOVE IT!!!! I should have gotten one decades ago!

[MinnieMay9]

That looks like a lot of fun!

[dianedtr]

Your are awesome! Thank you~ I just did a search because I needed to know how to use a swift.....you're so informative! I appreciate it!

[vnelson85]

this is a perfect, ive been looking for an easier way to turn a hank into a ball like that.

It would be great if i could get a closer view on the ball winder and how you start it out.

Keep up the awsome videos.

[Tinkerlove13]

That is cool!

[HowBadDoiWantThis]

Yessssssss, I love the knitting videos :) It's so inspiring to see your projects. It's nice to simply SEE another knitter doing something you love. I really enjoy your videos.

[realnutty01]

Yes as a child i remember my mum getting us to hold her yarn while she wound it into a ball.

[justinjoschko]

I LOVE your knitting videos! Looking forward to more. Thank you !!

[BlasianBombShell]

im here for your knitting videos. I LOVE your 3X3 ribbing video. I'm trying to learn how to do it!

[Neferkit]

What a wonderful gadget! I used to help my Mama wind yarn into balls the old fashioned way when I was a kid. Boy, my arms would really get achey and tired after awhile. :)

[ravensky23]

I never got to experience that. My grandma on my mom's side crocheted (she actually started me on this path of yarn addiction) but always bought the cheapest acrylic (shudder) from Woolworths, already in skeins. I imagine the arms would ache though!

[LatteSue]

I usually comment and I sub to you because I feel like you are someone I would hang out with if we lived closer. I just feel comfortable watching you plus you are one of my knit sibs! :D

Yes, I copied Brenda Dayne! heh

[ravensky23]

We would definitely hang if we lived closer! I feel like we already do that's to the videos. LOL at Brenda Dayne!

[LatteSue]

Debbie!! Come wind my yarn! heh I just bought new yarn yesterday and I need it wound into a ball because it's so fine, it's 2 ply lace. They wouldn't wind it at the store because it was a tiny store and they were having a sale and all the sale items were on the table they do that. :(

I am going to attempt to do it by hand today. YIKES! If I knot it and ruin it I'm going to jump off my balcony! ;)

[ravensky23]

Oh, be careful with that lace yarn! I don't want to read about your balcony jumping! I would wind it for you were we closer, that's for sure. Just wind that ball slowly and you should do fine. Let me know how it goes!

[shadow6326]

Deb!! OK..you have messed me up..I saw you finish the second ball then realized there was a part one..:) Looks like fun..I could do that part of knitting..lol..

How's the house? You guys still working hard? IRL trip soon?? :)

Have a great day!! Hi to Rafe!!!

[ravensky23]

That's ok Eva, I knew a two parter would mess someone up!

:-) The house is creeping along. My next vid was supposed to be about the ceiling, but we are almost done and I wanted to show some footage of it nearing completion. Still no idea when we can get away. We are working on a computer software conversion at work and I've been working every Sat. i haven't even got away to visit my granddaughter. It's sad! Hopefully soon!

[weeknightingale]

I WATCH BUT DON'T ALWAYS COMMENT. Oops! not shouting. LOL! Loved your poem and I enjoy learning new things like this video!

Best Wishes,  Karolyn

[ravensky23]

HEY DON'T YELL AT ME, KAROLYN! LOL j/k Thank you for letting me know you watch and the kind words about the poem. ((((jugs))))

[mysteryglo]

Hi Debbie! I love it when you do your yarn videos. When I buy balls of yarn I never know where to start pulling to start. Sometimes I pull from the center, but sometimes can't find it there and pull from the outside instead. Does it make a difference with the yarn? (back end vs. front end?) That winder set up is really cool.. I still have all that yarn I bought and haven't started on anything yet! :(( I need to get busy!

[ravensky23]

Hi Judy! I always pull from the middle of the ball. the exception it is two stranded knitting of multicolored yarn and then I use both inside and out at the same time. Keeps the bands of color the same. Some patterns call for that. I've had a lull in my knitting since moving into the house, too much going on. I hope to start on the shawl tonight though. I've actually been reading in what little spare time I have. I love that too!

[thizizliz]

Gotta tell you - I had no idea what either a swift or a ball winder was til you posted this. Good to know. Gosh that yarn is pretty! Can't wait to see what you make from it. And its fun to see the house becoming more functional too. Every time you post another one, it's cool to see the progress. :)

[ravensky23]

Well, glad I could educate! Sometimes it's good to remember that everyone doesn't know these things. I always think before I post something like this that people will be like..."Well, DUH!" Because they already know! I think I will be making a shawl from the yarn. yet another shawl that I will not wear! HA!

[LatteSue]

Sorry to but in here but I was shocked to hear that you don't wear them. Shame on you! ;) You should open an etsy store and sell them. You should also post pictures of all your beautiful finished objects on Ravelry so I can go drool over them! haha

[ravensky23]

LOL Sue, I do wear them when I'm here at the house and have cold shoulders, but seldom outside. I do give them away as gifts and wear them out in spring and fall on a chilly night. I just love to MAKE them, that is the obsession. I do really need to use Ravelry more, if I could just remember my log in information! ;-)

[capergirl1976]

Very cool video. Lots of great info. Thanks for sharing your know how with us. : )

[ravensky23]

Hi Alesha! Thanks for sitting through another knitting info epic. i only wish I couldn't tell you that part 2 is coming. LOL!

[Perroquet51]

I can't believe I sat through 10:22 of yarn winding. Not sure if that says something negative about me or something very positive about how well you hold the viewer's interest.

[ravensky23]

Dear God, Marc, you need a life! rotflmao! Thanks so much for watching me make two balls... of yarn that is!

[yoyomax12]

I've never bought yarn in hanks before, this was a very cool video!

[ravensky23]

Hi Tammy, thanks for watching! Hanks...Tom Hanks...LOL I kept thinking of him every time I said "hanks" in the vid! hehehe

[XlaviathanX]

That is so cool and makes it much easier .. Much Love ...Travis

[ravensky23]

Hey, Travis, I thought I was subbed to you all along and just realized I wasn't...DUH! Thanks for struggling through my knitting vids along with the other ones. You ROCK! ;-)