How to Make a Center-pull Ball of Yarn

Have you ever noticed that some skeins of yarn have a tail that pulls out nicely from the center? That's much easier to work with than a skein or a ball that's unwinding from the outside and constantly turning around as you pull yarn from it. Or worse, rolling away from you!

Winding a center-pull ball of yarn is pretty easy, although it might feel awkward at first.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   tail hanging down

   Hold the end of your yarn so a little tail about 4 inches long hangs down from inside your fist. In other words, across your palm. This tail will hang there throughout the winding process.

2. 
    
   start winding

   Wind some yarn around your thumb, making sure not to catch the tail in it. Wind the yarn loosely enough that you could turn your thumb inside this little tunnel of yarn. This first layer of yarn will be perpendicular to your thumb. Other than that, it doesn't matter which direction you wind-whichever way is most comfortable. (Left-handed knitters, see tip below.)

3. 
    
   second layer, at 45-degree angle

   Now you're going to change the direction of winding slightly, winding diagonally across the first layer of yarn. The yarn should go across your thumb at about a 45-degree angle.

4. 
    
   third layer, after turning the ball

   After winding a bit at the new angle, give the little ball of yarn a 1/4 turn on your thumb (counterclockwise if the ball is on your left thumb). The tail will travel with the ball as you turn it; that's fine, it doesn't have to stay in your fist. Just make sure the tail always dangles free. After you turn the ball, wind a bit more at that same 45-degree angle.

5. 
    
   almost there

   Continue turning the growing ball of yarn 1/4 turns and winding at the 45-degree angle.

6. 
    
   There you have it, a center-pull ball.

   When you get to the end of your yarn, simply slip the ball off your thumb and fasten the end you just finished winding to the outside of the ball. That tail you left dangling is the yarn you'll start knitting with.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to wind loosely, so the ball will turn easily on your thumb but also so you don't pull all the stretch out of the yarn.
• If you're left-handed, you can certainly wind the ball on your right thumb. Just have your diagonal winding going off to the right rather than the left.
• I like to tie the end to a few strands on the outside of ball, rather than just tucking it under. That way, as you use yarn and the ball starts to collapse, that other end won't come undone and create a tangled mess.
• If your thumb gets cold, you're winding too tightly.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 5/11/2009 Thanks for the center-pull ball of yarn instructions. I've never done this but have often rolled into a regular ball of yarn. 5*

[PearlsWisdom]

on 3/4/2009 Well written article. You explain it very well.

[staysik]

on 2/23/2009 Great article and very well-illustrated and written.

[lxlunat1cxl]

on 2/13/2009 very informative! i like the pictures! keep up the good work!!

[lastgunslinger]

on 2/12/2009 Nicely written! Thanks for sharing. 5*