Knitting Basics Library: Rolling a Ball of Yarn

You might think that rolling a ball of yarn is the most basic of knitting basics, and needs no explanation. Nope. Nothing is free from the opportunity for mistakes. I know this, for I have made most of the mistakes possible. I write this basic guide to rolling a yarn ball, in hopes of saving you from some terrible snarls and tangles. Literally.

Before starting into the nitty gritty of yarn rolling, I will briefly visit the controversy surrounding it. (Surely you did not think that millions of knitters could agree on anything)! For there are some folks who say that yarn should not be rolled into balls. The idea behind this is that yarn rolled into a ball is in constant tension, much like a piece of elastic pulled to its maximum stretchiness. Like that piece of elastic, yarn will lose its springiness if held taut, and make inferior knitted objects which will hang limply and dejectedly from their sorry recipients. Do not be alarmed however, dear knitter! It is my opinion that this concern is valid, but overstated. Yarn can be rolled into a ball without harming its integrity, with just a modicum of care.

When to roll a ball of yarn

Not all yarn needs to be rolled into a ball. A lot of yarn can happily live in its current state of skein even whilst being knit. If you have yarn from a major producer, it has been wound on a machine and is designed to feed from the center, snarl free. In popular usage, this machine wound yarn is referred to as a skein (though technically skein just refers to a length of yarn). Usually you can stick your finger in the end of the skein and easily locate the end of the yarn, pull it out, and start knitting.

Some yarn comes in what looks somewhat like a squashed ball, flat on top and bottom. This is a center pull ball. Again, you simply find the loose end in the middle and start knitting. The only reasons I can think of for rolling a ball of yarn from either a skein or center pull ball is if it has been mauled (such as by a cat or small child) and you are concerned it will tangle, or if you just want to feel the yarn go through your fingers one more time...

When you have yarn that comes in a hank, it must be rolled before you can knit it. Do not try to knit from a hank. It will snarl and take you forever to untangle. Don't ask me how I know, just trust me on this. Often yarn that come from small production spinners or dyers comes in a hank. It looks somewhat like a coil of rope. When you untuck the end of the coil, it will untwist and you will find a large circle of yarn.

How to roll a ball of yarn

This large circle of yarn must be placed over some object so that it does not become tangled while you are rolling. You can recruit friends or family to place their hands the proper distance apart to hold it. Or you might find the back of a chair just right. Or you could slip it over your knees while sitting watching TV. It will help if the yarn is slightly taut, but not tight.

Snip or untie the little bits of yarn holding the circlet together, and you are ready to roll. Starting the ball might be a bit tricky. It can help to wrap it around a piece of paper for the ball's center. The yarn wrapper is convenient for this purpose, but make sure to make a note of yarn care instructions if you will be needing them before you finish the ball. Remember as you are rolling that you do not want to roll tightly. Let the yarn flow loosely through your fingers too avoid stretching it. Simply keep wrapping the yarn until you run out of room to wrap more without going back over what you just wrapped, then turn to a different angle and wrap some more.

Tools of the trade

There are, of course, special tools available to make ball rolling easier. There is the swift, a contraption that looks like a cross between a drying rack and an umbrella. It is adjustable to hold your hank of yarn just right while you are winding. There are ball rollers where you just turn the crank and end up with a lovely center pull ball.

A hand tool which assists in rolling a ball is the nostepinne. I recently tried this ingenious tool at my sister's house, and was charmed as this simple bit of carved wood assisted me in making a beautiful little center pull ball by hand. The nostepinne is magic, and now on my wish list. Swifts, ball rollers, and nostepinne can all be found at Paradise Fibers in the spinning tools section.

I invite you to share your yarn adventures and misadventures over at the Garden and Hearth Knitting discussion board. Happy knitting!
 

~Theresa Lansberry

Theresa Lansberry is primary knitter for James (her husband of 11 years, and counting), her six children, and Einstein the hairless dog. She obsesses about knitting in the heartland of America, Peoria, IL.