<p>The method I have used all my life involves two people.<br />
One holds the yarn on the wrists, moving the hands such that they assist in unwinding and keep the yarn organized, the other does the winding of the ball and pulls the yarn from the partners hands, gently as not to disturb the lot.</p>
<p>I have used a one person version of this myself, it takes some practice and I think it requires the training of having been person one as well as the other in the two people method.</p>
<p>Hold the yarn on your arms about elbow level, making sure that the winding off side is on the outside and the top, bring your hands together while keeping enough tension on the yarn to keep it in place.<br />
Now start winding, undoing one loop of the yarn at the time at most, to avoid tangles.</p>
<p>The method my grandmother would use: two chairbacks.<br />
Put the yarn around two chair backs where the chairs are back to back, move the chairs away from each other till there is just enough tension to keep the yarn in place. If the chairs glide easily over the floor you may need to put something between them on floor level and if they tip backwards put something heavy on the seats.<br />
Or if your chairs and skein sizes allow, turn one or both chairs so the seats face each other.<br />
It will work easiest if you have an eye above the chairs to pull the yarn up from the chairs, but if needed you can work your winding above the backs.</p>
<p>Some extra twisting or a little untwisting of the yarn is to be expected, (which depends on the lay of the twist in the yarn and the way you unwind) but in twisted yarn it will not be much and might be taken up by how you wind your ball.</p>
<p>In the comments @Not The Face mentioned a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niddy_noddy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">niddy noddy</a>. I have never owned or even used one, so I am not sure how easy it is to get a skein onto one, specially if the skein has not been made on it. But I see that there are niddy noddies which can be adjusted in size and those might be useful for bought skeins.<br />
And I am also not sure how easy it is to use one to unwind when alone. But it would keep the skein in place when you unwind.</p>
<p>Checking out videos about making your own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8I5f2h-blI" rel="nofollow noreferrer">niddy noddy</a>, I also found videos about making or using your own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sSCN57dwCM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">skein winder</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNSEXRRxOzQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer">swift</a>.
I have not tried any of them, I mostly included them as proof that the information is there on internet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-17T00:21:17.217Z
Unfortunately I don't have anyone else to rope into helping (... no pun intended), but the kitchen chair method just might work! I'll have to try this weekend and report back :)
user812786
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T02:42:21.703Z
If you don’t have a nitty noddy, or can’t make one; the chair method works well. Good luck! Then fun knitting time. Niddy noddy
Not The Face
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T19:28:45.883Z
I never had a niddy noddy and never thought about it.
Willeke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-20T12:43:30.233Z
I ended up using the chair method and it worked out pretty well! There were some awkward spots due to twisting / the shape of the chair backs, but still much easier than what I'd tried before.
user812786
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-10T02:31:47.230Z
Chair backs, absolutely!
jcarlson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-11-16T20:58:45.620Z
2020-11-28T10:58:40.393Z
2020-11-28T10:58:40.393Z
Willeke
<p>You can also use your feet instead of the two-chairs solution (my chair backs have an unsuitable shape, the unfolded hank tends to slip).</p>
<p>Just sit on the couch, with your feet up (no shoes, obviously, and naked feet work best in my opinion), and put the unwrapped hank around both feet. Lean feet apart to tension slightly (prevent tangling); lean body forward and extend the yarn-guiding arm forward to unwrap the yarn.</p>
<p>Here's a visualization:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/L2Mfi.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/L2Mfi.jpg" alt="Using the feet as a yarn swift" /></a></p>
<p>As for the winding of the ball, either use your thumb as a base or, more comfortably, any kitchen implement with a round handle.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-26T08:52:02.197Z
2020-11-26T08:52:02.197Z
Jule
<p>Another option, depending on if you buy your yarn locally, or order online, is having them wind it beforehand.  We have a swift and winder and mostly wind our own, but occasionally when order from sites like Miss Babs, will have them wind it before shipping.  They usually charge around $5 skein to wind it for you.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-12T21:11:28.903Z
2018-11-12T21:11:28.903Z
RockRat
<p>You can visit your local yarn shop and use their swift and ball winder. It's likely to cost a little bit, but there are people who will gladly pay for the comfort of not having to do this on their own!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-22T06:52:52.693Z
That depends on having a local yarn shop, and them having a swift and ball winder. I would not know how to find one in a shop around here and I am blessed with 6 or more yarn shops within easy reach.
Willeke
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-12T15:28:12.620Z
@Willeke I’ve never seen a yarn shop that didn’t have a swift and ball winder available for customer use. If you ask the clerk, I’m sure they’ll point it out to you.
Marnen Laibow-Koser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-20T06:48:15.173Z
2018-04-20T06:48:15.173Z
jkadlubowska
<p>I recently acquired several hanks of yarn. They're very pretty and I can't wait to knit them up! Unfortunately I do not own a swift or a ball winder. I've only done this once before and it was a painful process - it took hours and tangled up several times.</p>

<p>What I tried was basically just arrange the loop on a flat surface and keep going around, but the hank kept twisting and strands would get tangled. I also tried using my feet to hold the hank, but that was really awkward and still slow.</p>

<p>How can I (quickly) wind a ball or skein from a hank, without special equipment?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-15T21:33:46.220Z
I know nothing about yarn but it seems like a bent piece of cardboard could serve as the swift.  Maybe duct tape both sides of an arch of cardboard onto a tabletop so it doesn't move, then wind the yarn around it.  Then when you are finished winding, you can bend the cardboard further (or tear it) making it easy to get it out of the middle of your loop.
Henry Taylor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T09:13:58.063Z
@HenryTaylor, perhaps you should turn your comment into an answer?
walrus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T14:14:26.073Z
@walrus, I was sort of hoping that someone who has some actual idea of what a swift does would get involved.  Like I said, I know nothing about yarn and couldn't field even the simplest followup question should the OP's need exceed my initial description.
Henry Taylor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T14:29:21.230Z
@HenryTaylor my understanding was that it was still good practice to answer, and hope that someone else provided another (better informed) answer later.
walrus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T16:02:54.307Z
@walrus, I just watched a youtube demo of a yarn swift and ball winder and I now see that the complicated part is not the stick lattice (swift) which holds the unballed yarn, it is the spinning spooler (winder) which must rotate on an angle lateral to the direction from which the yarn is being fed.  I'll add an answer once think up a better solution than my cardboard swift...  maybe using a hand-drill or mixer to spin the winder.  Thanks for getting me to look closer at this OP's need
Henry Taylor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T20:47:25.860Z
@HenryTaylor, I think your method has merrit, (and I have wound enough yarn alone to know,) write your answer now please and update it when you have more ideas.
Willeke
<yarn>
How to wind a hank of yarn without a swift?
user812786
# How to wind a hank of yarn without a swift?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-15)

I recently acquired several hanks of yarn. They're very pretty and I can't wait to knit them up! Unfortunately I do not own a swift or a ball winder. I've only done this once before and it was a painful process - it took hours and tangled up several times.

What I tried was basically just arrange the loop on a flat surface and keep going around, but the hank kept twisting and strands would get tangled. I also tried using my feet to hold the hank, but that was really awkward and still slow.

How can I (quickly) wind a ball or skein from a hank, without special equipment?

**Tags:** yarn

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I know nothing about yarn but it seems like a bent piece of cardboard could serve as the swift.  Maybe duct tape both sides of an arch of cardboard onto a tabletop so it doesn't move, then wind the yarn around it.  Then when you are finished winding, you can bend the cardboard further (or tear it) making it easy to get it out of the middle of your loop.  
> **username_2**: @username_1, perhaps you should turn your comment into an answer?  
> **username_1**: @username_2, I was sort of hoping that someone who has some actual idea of what a swift does would get involved.  Like I said, I know nothing about yarn and couldn't field even the simplest followup question should the OP's need exceed my initial description.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 my understanding was that it was still good practice to answer, and hope that someone else provided another (better informed) answer later.  
> **username_1**: @username_2, I just watched a youtube demo of a yarn swift and ball winder and I now see that the complicated part is not the stick lattice (swift) which holds the unballed yarn, it is the spinning spooler (winder) which must rotate on an angle lateral to the direction from which the yarn is being fed.  I'll add an answer once think up a better solution than my cardboard swift...  maybe using a hand-drill or mixer to spin the winder.  Thanks for getting me to look closer at this OP's need  
> **username_3**: @username_1, I think your method has merrit, (and I have wound enough yarn alone to know,) write your answer now please and update it when you have more ideas.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-11-16. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

The method I have used all my life involves two people.  
One holds the yarn on the wrists, moving the hands such that they assist in unwinding and keep the yarn organized, the other does the winding of the ball and pulls the yarn from the partners hands, gently as not to disturb the lot.

I have used a one person version of this myself, it takes some practice and I think it requires the training of having been person one as well as the other in the two people method.

Hold the yarn on your arms about elbow level, making sure that the winding off side is on the outside and the top, bring your hands together while keeping enough tension on the yarn to keep it in place.  
Now start winding, undoing one loop of the yarn at the time at most, to avoid tangles.

The method my grandmother would use: two chairbacks.  
Put the yarn around two chair backs where the chairs are back to back, move the chairs away from each other till there is just enough tension to keep the yarn in place. If the chairs glide easily over the floor you may need to put something between them on floor level and if they tip backwards put something heavy on the seats.  
Or if your chairs and skein sizes allow, turn one or both chairs so the seats username_4 each other.  
It will work easiest if you have an eye above the chairs to pull the yarn up from the chairs, but if needed you can work your winding above the backs.

Some extra twisting or a little untwisting of the yarn is to be expected, (which depends on the lay of the twist in the yarn and the way you unwind) but in twisted yarn it will not be much and might be taken up by how you wind your ball.

In the comments @username_4 mentioned a [niddy noddy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niddy_noddy). I have never owned or even used one, so I am not sure how easy it is to get a skein onto one, specially if the skein has not been made on it. But I see that there are niddy noddies which can be adjusted in size and those might be useful for bought skeins.  
And I am also not sure how easy it is to use one to unwind when alone. But it would keep the skein in place when you unwind.

Checking out videos about making your own [niddy noddy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8I5f2h-blI), I also found videos about making or using your own [skein winder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sSCN57dwCM) and [swift](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNSEXRRxOzQ).
I have not tried any of them, I mostly included them as proof that the information is there on internet.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Unfortunately I don't have anyone else to rope into helping (... no pun intended), but the kitchen chair method just might work! I'll have to try this weekend and report back :)  
> **username_4**: If you don’t have a nitty noddy, or can’t make one; the chair method works well. Good luck! Then fun knitting time. Niddy noddy  
> **username_3**: I never had a niddy noddy and never thought about it.  
> **username_0**: I ended up using the chair method and it worked out pretty well! There were some awkward spots due to twisting / the shape of the chair backs, but still much easier than what I'd tried before.  
> **username_5**: Chair backs, absolutely!  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2020-11-26. Score: 5

You can also use your feet instead of the two-chairs solution (my chair backs have an unsuitable shape, the unfolded hank tends to slip).

Just sit on the couch, with your feet up (no shoes, obviously, and naked feet work best in my opinion), and put the unwrapped hank around both feet. Lean feet apart to tension slightly (prevent tangling); lean body forward and extend the yarn-guiding arm forward to unwrap the yarn.

Here's a visualization:

[![Using the feet as a yarn swift](https://i.sstatic.net/L2Mfi.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/L2Mfi.jpg)

As for the winding of the ball, either use your thumb as a base or, more comfortably, any kitchen implement with a round handle.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2018-11-12. Score: 1

Another option, depending on if you buy your yarn locally, or order online, is having them wind it beforehand. We have a swift and winder and mostly wind our own, but occasionally when order from sites like Miss Babs, will have them wind it before shipping. They usually charge around $5 skein to wind it for you.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2018-04-20. Score: 0

You can visit your local yarn shop and use their swift and ball winder. It's likely to cost a little bit, but there are people who will gladly pay for the comfort of not having to do this on their own!

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: That depends on having a local yarn shop, and them having a swift and ball winder. I would not know how to find one in a shop around here and I am blessed with 6 or more yarn shops within easy reach.  
> **username_9**: @username_3 I’ve never seen a yarn shop that didn’t have a swift and ball winder available for customer use. If you ask the clerk, I’m sure they’ll point it out to you.  

---

