How to Find the Center of a Skein of Yarn

Be the master of your yarn.

A skein of yarn resembles a small loaf of bread. The yarn is mechanically wound with one end on the outside and the other tucked inside. To knit or crochet with a skein, you can take the yarn from the outside, but then the loaf will flop around rather awkwardly and potentially stretch the yarn out of shape or roll under the sofa. A better way is to find the end on the inside of the skein and pull it from the center.

Instructions

1. Examine the ends of the skein --- there should be an opening on each end. Sometimes the outside end is tucked inside one of these openings. If it is, pull it free.

2. Hold the skein horizontally and push your index fingers into each opening. Try to touch your fingertips together. One opening may feel more snug than the other.

3. Use your index fingers to rotate the skein by making circles with your index fingers inside the skein. This motion willl widen the inside space in the skein.

4. Remove your index fingers. Use two finger of one hand to reach inside the looser of the openings.

5. Feel around for a small bundle of yarn and pull it out. If you did it right, you'll have the end with a small amount of yarn. Or you may have a large pile of yarn. If that's the case, just wind the excess yarn around the outside of the skein.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a hit-or-miss process. Some skeins do not give their center away easily.

References

• Lion Brand Yarn: How Do I Find the End of the Skein or Ball? How Do I Pull from the Center?
• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting"; Barbara Breiter and Gale Diven; 2003