The Difference Between a Swift and a Ball Winder for Yarn
Knitters and crocheters use a swift and ball winder, which are tools to make yarn ready to use. These two tools are not essential for yarn crafts, but they do make short work of an important task.
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Yarn Swift
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Some yarn comes in hanks, which are loose circles of yarn. Before you can knit or crochet with the yarn, you have to wind it into a ball. A swift holds the hank at tension and rotates around an axis so you can accomplish this task. There are several types of swifts, and they are all adjustable, because there is no standard size for yarn hanks.
Ball Winder
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A ball winder is a small table-mounted tool that looks a bit like a elementary school pencil sharpener. You attach the yarn onto a spindle, and turn the handle. The spindle rotates in a figure-eight motion to wind a center-pull ball.
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Alternatives
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If you buy yarn in hanks, you don't need a swift and ball winder to wind it. Ask a partner to hold the yarn at tension, and you can wind the yarn around your fingers. Additionally, you can use a swift without a ball winder, but you cannot effectively use a ball winder without a swift, because the winder goes much faster than winding by hand.
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References
- Photo Credit Yarn Kitten Feet image by Chiaroscuro from Fotolia.com
