HELP A question for anyone who knows how to knit?

Question

I just started to knit (really- just took the class) I have a question that probably is kind of a "dumb" one...

How do you get a knitting "ball" All I see are these sphere shaped things that they come in... do you have to wind up a ball out of these?

Answer 1

I always wind my skeins of yarn into balls. Sometimes the pull out skeins come out in knots, and it's easier to untangle it before knitting. Also when it is in a ball, you can make a hole in a coffee can lid, and pull the yarn through and begin to knit. It keeps the yarn clean and cats away from it. Oh yeah, I forgot to say the ball goes in the clean can, and then put the lid on, and pull your yarn through.

Answer 2

I always take my paper that is wrapped around the yarn when i get a new skein, fold it into a small square, and find the end of the outside of the yarn. Then just wrap it around and turn, wrap more, keep turning and wrapping until you have a ball. Now, this does several things....

1. You can sit anywhere and have the ball loose in a box, or a knit basket (one that opens and is made of cloth and wood), or just throw the ball away from you (like I do) and knit till the ball is at your feet, then throw it again.

2. If your yarn is a dye lot one (some say on the paper NO DYE LOT, others will say the color of the yarn and the dye lot number (which if you need another skein, you need to get the same dye lot number), with the paper that has all the information on it fold small and the yarn is wrapped around it in the ball, you will always know when your finished which color, dye lot number, ounces, brand of yarn, etc... is there, you did not throw in trash by mistake, and no trying to match the dye lots. (if you use say sky blue dye lot 101 on something, and you need more, you think that 103 will work, you will find that it is not the same color, however, most find this out after they have worked part or all of a skein into the project your working on.

Hope this does help you!

Answer 3

No question is dumb. so don't be afraid to ask, it's how we all learn. If you decide to wind your yarn into a ball, be sure it isn't too tight as the yarn will stretch and will affect your finished product. Some people use an empty perscription bottle to wind a ball with a center pull thread, which keeps your yarn ball from rolling away. Put a short section inside the bottle, put the cap on and start rolling the ball. When finished, remove the cap, and the bottle and start your project with the end of the yarn stuck inside. A lot of the more inexpensive yarns are designed so you can start with a "center pull" yarn.

Also, welcome to the knitting family!

Answer 4

Some yarns come in ready-to-use skeins, albeit not a round-ish ball. Examples of yarns that come in pre-wound skeins and balls can be found in craft stores like Jo Ann's and Michael's. These do not require winding into balls, unless you like rewinding them into roly-poly balls.

Other yarns come in hanks, which require winding into a ball. You'll find many of these types of yarns in your local yarn store, or on internet stores. Some manufacturers and hand-dyers choose to package and sell yarn in hanks for a variety of reasons. Many yarn shops will wind your hanks into nice balls if you ask them to.

Here's a nice tutorial on how to handle and wind a hank:
http://knitting.about.com/od/learntoknit/ss/hank_winding.htm

This is a nice tutorial on how to wind a nice center-pull ball:
http://www.ariadneknits.com/blog/?p=62

There are devices that help you wind into a ball. You can use your knees or the back of a chair to unwind a hank. Or you can use a yarn swift, a device that spins and makes handling a hank easier. There are many types and models of swifts - the most common ones I see in yarn shops are umbrella swifts. Swifts however, are not cheap. (about $70 USD).

To wind a ball, you can use your hands or a ball winder, which costs about ($30-$40 USD).

As you can see in the tutorials I've linked above, you don't need any devices to wind yarn into a ball. But if you are going to stick with knitting, you may eventually want a yarn swift to assist and make yarn-winding much much easier, particularly if you develop a taste for hand-dyed yarns, which often come in hanks. If you ever want a swift, I have a tutorial on how to make your own low-cost and very functional swift: http://www.craftydiversions.com/patterns/homemade_yarn_swift.htm

Answer 5

some come in a ball but i make my own, its easier when u get faster at knitting cuz the ball just rolls around freely instead of unwinding it the way it comes from the store. just wrap the end around your finger 5 or 6 times, slide it off then start wrapping the yarn around itself in multiple directions and you'll have a ball in no time.

Answer 6

Those were some pretty good descriptions of how to make a ball but you don't have to. Yarn comes in skeins and all of them are what is called "pull out". This means that you pull out one end of them and it comes out nicely. Many of them will even say on the label pull out skein. When you get into the fancier yarns, they will pull out harder because that is the nature of the beast.

If you have anymore Qs about this, email me. I'm more than happy to help.

Answer 7

A tip for pull skeins: Sometimes the "outside" end of the yarn is tucked into the skein. Pull out that end before you pull out the "inside" yarn and that will help keep the skein from knotting.

Or so my grandmother said...

Answer 8

it doesnt matter if you're yarn is loose, in a ball, or rolled! you just need the yarn and that is what matters.

ps! when you buy yarn, it should be rolled into a ball or a long ball that is sorta elliptical...

Answer 9

It is not absolutely necessary to rewind skeins into balls, but many people prefer to do so just so they won't be surprised by a knot in the middle of a row. If you enjoy such surprises, then don't rewind.