| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Inkmama
Seriously Hooked
891 Posts |
 Posted - 03/29/2006 : 10:15:09 AM
|
I was wondering if I need to buy both, or do you only buy the ball roller dealybob if you want center-pull balls of yarn. Is a Swift enough? (Of course my 11 year old son doesn't want me to buy one because he wants to continue doing it for 25 cents a skein....; }
Barbara
Writing blog: http://penonfire.blogspot.com
Knitting blog: http://knittingonfire.blogspot.com |
|
|
MMario
Permanent Resident
2202 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 10:20:48 AM
|
I wouldn't buy a ball roller if I didn't have a swift. I doubt you could feed it smoothly and evenly enough manually to make it worth while using.
The swift would of course enhance either manual ball-winding or using the ball-winder.
MMario - I don't live in the 21st century - but I play a character who does. |
 |
|
|
Laura Ver
Seriously Hooked
656 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 10:36:41 AM
|
The swift is the main tool but I almost never use mine without the ball-winder. A mostly plastic ball-winder is just fine, by the way, so it doesn't have to add a significant cost to your investment in a swift.
Laura |
|
|
|
KellyKnits
Permanent Resident
USA
1608 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 10:44:09 AM
|
I would buy both but I just love things like that : )
you can make a swift easily if you or someone you know has woodworking skills
Kelly
http://pieceofstring.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
BLN3320
Permanent Resident
USA
3808 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 10:48:49 AM
|
Hi, Barbara: Both is what I like. That is just my opinion. I can see your son's point about "losing" his job. Industrial revolution all over again but then just think when he is up to his eyebrows in sports you will have the swift and ball winder to use. How about this, when you get it teach him to use it then when he doesn't want to you will be all set. Take care. Beverley 
Bev |
|
|
|
Inkmama
Seriously Hooked
891 Posts |
|
|
fleurdog
Chatty Knitter
106 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 11:21:22 AM
|
I've actually been getting by quite well with a ball winder alone. I found one for cheap in a thriftstore, but haven't run across a swift yet! I find it requires a little more attention and goes a little slower without a swift, but the ball winder alone works just fine.
"Waddaya expect me to do, sit home and knit?"
-line from film noir classic |
|
|
|
carol940
Chatty Knitter
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 11:35:12 AM
|
I opted for the ball winder first. My rational is there are many other options for holding the skein, but nothing winds quite like a ball winder. I don't know that one could wind fast enough to make a swift worth it without a ball winder.
Carol
NoVA |
|
|
|
KromGal
Gabber Extraordinaire
594 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 11:57:06 AM
|
| Yeah, my husband was totally bummed out when he lost his job holding my yarn, but he got over it, and the swift works so much better! Especially if I want to wind something in the middle of the night or when he's at work. You can do without the ball winder if you learn to use a nostepinne...when I travel, that's all I take. In a pinch, you can wind a BIG center pull ball on your index finger or thumb, too! |
|
|
|
Kelly B
Permanent Resident
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 12:05:28 PM
|
| The ballwinder is all I've needed so far. I'm still perfectly content using a lampshade for a swift. I use the winder frequently to rewind storebought balls when I can't find the stinkin' middle - don't need a swift for that; I also love it when ripping - don't need a swift for that, either. |
|
|
|
mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
|
|
NaProus
Permanent Resident
1828 Posts |
|
|
KL
Permanent Resident
6041 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 12:36:49 PM
|
Having both at our store, and obviously using it muchly; I always question the tension both generate while in use.
I am often worried about the tension as I wind for a customer-so far, no complaints. What do you all feel about the tension??? KL |
|
|
|
sachis2112
Warming Up
54 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 12:38:15 PM
|
I personally opted for both, but not without trying just the ball winder alone. I was spending so much time untangling knots I got when winding from a hank that it was worth it to me just to shell out the money. I got the cheapest one I could find (metal and plastic) but I would recommend going for the big, wooden one if you can afford it. Mine will have trouble with larger hanks and the wooden one is simply much more sturdy. When I have a little more $ at my disposal, I'll go for the expensive wood.
-Sachi
http://sachis2112.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Anweknit
Warming Up
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 1:10:00 PM
|
Hello, At the risk of being thought "dim", could you tell me why it is really necessary to start a ball of yarn from the centre? In UK most of our yarns are pre-wound and we start on the outside. Surely if you start all the balls of yarn you have wound from a skein from the outside it won't make any difference? I know that if you mix the starting points the twist of the yarns will differ.( I have been knitting for over 50 years----I know I am a wrinkly ! )I did buy a swift on a visit to USA because I bought a lot of skeined yarns at the time.
Anwen |
|
|
|
cats
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 1:24:40 PM
|
| Center pull balls and skeins don't roll around really when you pull yarn from them. When you start from the outside and pull yarn, the ball rolls around a lot. |
|
|
|
gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7254 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 1:33:06 PM
|
I would be lost if I didn't both the winder and swift.
Wanda |
|
|
|
Inkmama
Seriously Hooked
891 Posts |
|
|
mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
|
|
chellethinques
Permanent Resident
USA
1431 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 2:29:05 PM
|
Wow! I'm in the minority here - I'd say go for the swift first. My handy dad built me one (similar to the Mama Bear model...) that is a table top model with adjustable pegs and it comes apart if I need to store it. (I don't - it's part of a nice "tableau" on a vintage dresser with a basket of yarn and jar of wooden needles.) I opted NOT to get the ball winder for a few reasons:
1. I hate plastic.
2. I have used many, many balls wound on the winder at my LYS and they end up sort of overspun - they twist terribly and kink up constantly, which is hugely annoying. It also messed up the lay of my final fabric - in the round it developed a twist.
3. I like handwinding. It's a nice, contemplative time to get to know the yarn.
4. You can handwind a center pull ball. I am requesting that handy dad craft me a nostepinne to facilitate this.
Guess I'm weird. :) |
|
|
|
blwinteler
Permanent Resident
USA
3145 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2006 : 2:40:34 PM
|
I would like both. I am going to try to get in touch with my father and see if he can make me a swift for my b-day. I have been using my knees for a swift and an empty tp roll for a ball winder. It is tedious, and I am a stay-at-home mom with little me time, so a swift and ball winder would be wonderful for me to have.
Take care!
Brandy
My finished projects
[img]http://members.cox.net/blwinteler/th_TeamVegas2.jpg[/img] |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
