If you love working with hanks of yarn, a yarn winder and swift can be game-changers in your crochet or knitting journey! They help you transform messy (or neat) hanks into perfect, center-pull cakes that are easy to work with. If you’ve ever struggled with tangled yarn, this guide will show you how to use a yarn winder and swift like a pro. I’ve also created a comprehensive video tutorial that shows you how to use a yarn winder and swift in action, which you can find here.

Learn how to use a yarn winder and swift now, or pin it for later here!

What is a Yarn Ball Winder

A yarn ball winder is a tool that winds yarn into neat cakes, making it easier for knitting and crocheting. It saves a huge amount of time compared to winding yarn by hand. You can find manual ball winders as well as automatic ball winders.

What is a Yarn Swift?

A yarn swift is a tool that holds a hank of yarn in place while it is being wound into a usable ball. It allows the yang to unwind smoothly, preventing tangles and knots that can be a result of trying to wind a hank of yarn by hand, without the swift.

Both the yarn ball winder and swift clamp onto a lip of a table or other flat surface, and when used together, they save time and frustration!

Why Use a Yarn Winder and Swift?

• Speeds up the process of prepping yarn
• Prevents tangles and knots
• Makes yarn easier to store and use
• Creates center-pull cakes for smooth crocheting or knitting

Where To Buy a Yarn Winder and Swift?

Aside from walking into a local yarn shop, yarn winders and swifts aren’t easily found in stores. Fortunately, you can find a lot of options online.

I use this yarn ball winder which I found on Amazon and have never had any issues with it. There are a lot of them out there that are very similar to this one. If you want to try for an automatic yarn winder that does the winding for you, I’ve heard good things about this one, but I have never used it myself, so the results are up for grabs as far as I’m concerned.

It didn’t take me long after buying a yarn winder that I realized how extremely beneficial it would be to have a swift to go along with it. I went into my local yarn shop to have one of the amazing ladies there give me an in person tutorial on how to use the yarn winder and swift together and went home and bought this one. I have used it for over 3 years now with no problems, so I feel confident recommending it to you!

If you’re ready to go all-in on the yarn winder and swift combo, you can find them sold together as a bundle as well, like this one. 

Ok, so now let’s talk about how to use them! If you want to watch it in action (rather than reading the steps), head to my video tutorial here.

How to Use a Yarn Winder and Swift

Step 1: Set Up Your Yarn & Equipment

1. Secure the equipment to a stable surface – Both the swift and the yarn winder need a lip to clamp on to, so any solid surface with a lip should work. You need to be able to space them apart by about 3 feet so the swift can spin unimpeded. 
2. Expand the swift – Lift up to open the umbrella-style swift until it’s taut but not overly stretched. It works best for me to leave it a little loose until I drape my hank over it, then I tighten it up all the way.
3. Secure the hank – Untwist your hank of yarn and place it over the swift, so it forms a loop around the center of the swift. At this point, lift up and tighten the swift to securely hold the yarn in place. Run your hands around the hank, straitening out all the strands of yarn as best you can if you see any that are twisted up.
4. Find the yarn ties – Most hanks have one or two places where the loop of yarn is secured with a little tie of yarn (often one of the ties will have the tag attached). Snip those loops. One of them will probably be the 2 yarn ends tied together. Use one of those ends to feed into the winder.
5. Thread the yarn – Your winder will have a thin metal arm with a loop on top that will guide your yarn. Take the yarn end from the swift and pass it through the yarn guide on the winder and secure the yarn end into the notch or slit on the winder’s spindle.

Step 2: Wind the Yarn

1. Start winding slowly – Turn the handle on the yarn winder at a steady pace.
2. Keep an eye on tension – Make sure the yarn moves smoothly from the swift to the winder without pulling too hard. It helps to hold tension on the yarn coming from the swift while you are getting started.
3. Adjust the swift as needed – At times you’ll have to babysit the yarn on the swift because it can become tangled or just need a little help to spin smoothly. If the yarn gets stuck, work with it as needed – this is very normal.
4. Finish winding – Once all the yarn is wound, tuck the outside yarn tail into the cake a bit, and carefully slide the cake off the winder, keeping track of the center pull (the yarn tail you attached to the notch on the winder’s spindle). That center pull is where all the magic happens!

Step 3: Store or Use Your Yarn Cake

Your yarn is now in a neat cake, ready for your next project! Here are some important tips about storing your yarn cakes.

• Use yarn cakes within 2 months or so – Storing yarn (especially natural fibers) wound into tight cakes can stretch the fibers and cause it to lose it’s elasticity, damaging the yarn. If you’ve stored your cakes for a while, consider re-caking them into much looser cakes for longer term storage to preserve the yarn.
• Roll up the yarn band or label and tuck it into the center of the cake so it doesn’t get lost along with all that valuable info on the label! To know more about what all that valuable info is, you can learn all about how to read yarn labels here.
• Store your cakes in a bin, basket, on shelving, or in your project bag to keep it clean and tangle free.

Tips for Success

Wind slowly, especially at first, to prevent tension issues.

• Wind slowly, especially at first, to prevent tension issues.
• If your yarn cake is too tight, wind it again more loosely as storing yarn tightly wound can damage it.
• Always check for knots or snags in the yarn as you go along. I like to correct these with the magic knot ahead of time if possible, so you know your cake is 100% ready to go when you need it.

DIY Yarn Swift Ideas

Don’t have a yarn swift and not interested in buying one? I’ve got you covered too. Here are some easy DIY ideas to use instead.

1. A Chair Back:
   • Drape the yarn hank over the back of a sturdy chair.
   • Make sure it’s spread out evenly so it doesn’t tangle as you wind.
2. Someone’s Hands:
   • This is the old school method! Have a friend (or a willing family member) hold the yarn loop open while you wind.
   • My step dad told me that this was his role for his mom when he was just a little guy – she’d make him sit there and hold the hank while she wound it into a ball with her hands – no yarn winder.
   • This works best if they gently rotate their hands as you pull the yarn.
3. Your Own Knees:
   • Sit down and place the hank around your knees.
   • Slowly spread your legs apart slightly to keep the yarn taut while winding.
4. Over a Large Book or Box:
   • Find a book or box that’s slightly smaller than your hank’s diameter.
   • Slip the loop over it and adjust as needed while you wind.
5. Two Dining Room Chairs:
   • Place two chairs back to back with a small gap in between.
   • Drape the yarn loop over both chair backs to hold it in place.

FAQs About Using a Yarn Winder and Swift

Q: Can I use a yarn winder without a swift?
A: Yes! You can hold the hank manually or drape it over a chair, but a swift makes the process much easier.

Q: Will winding yarn change its tension?
A: It shouldn’t, but winding too tightly can stretch the yarn slightly. If this happens, let the yarn relax before using it.

Q: Can I wind partial skeins of yarn?
A: Absolutely! A winder works for full hanks, leftover yarn, or even tidying up messy skeins. I’m constantly re-widing yarn as it makes me enjoy the making process best when I have well-behaved yarn.

How to Use a Yarn Winder and Swift Video Tutorial:

CONCLUSION ✨

Using a yarn winder and swift makes prepping your yarn a breeze, ensuring you spend less time untangling and more time crocheting! Do you use a yarn winder and swift? Let me know your best tips in the comments!

Keep this guide on how to use a yarn winder and swift for later reference here: