Best Wooden Yarn Winder Guide

If you're working with skein-packed yarn, a wooden yarn winder is an essential knitting tool. A handy gadget for winding yarn onto center pull balls or cakes.

Many hand-dyed yarns are often sold in skeins, and weaving straight from the skein is problematic - you'll be a tangled mess before you know it!

Yarn winders are best used in conjunction with a fast yarn. I've reviewed a couple of the most popular wood swifts available. You save so much time using a yarn winder, and the resulting yarn is a joy to work with. The yarn cake shape is like a cylinder, flat on the top and bottom.

This allows for less movement when you're knitting. I have wound a lot of yarn by hand into balls. If it escapes from my knitting bag, it pulls away very easily!

Wooden yarn winders look lovely in a craft room, and make less noise when winding.

I've reviewed the best options with a range of price points. There is something to suit people on a budget and for those who plan to do a lot of winding and are looking for a heavy duty option.

Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder - Best Overall Wooden Yarn Winder
Fiber Artist Supply Co Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder
Fiber Artists Supply Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder is a well made product that makes winding easy. All surfaces are finely sanded, so your yarn will not snag. You can separate the entire unit in less than a minute.

Pro

Ball bearings mean the winder spins almost effortlessly.
A well-balanced main winding assembly allows users to choose to wind with or without a table clamp.
It can wind up to 1lb of fingering weight yarn and 10 oz of combed weight yarn.
One year warranty from date of purchase against manufacturer's defects.
Disadvantage

Requires space for use
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Here is the Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder in action.


Halcyon Heavy Duty Wooden Spinning Ball Winder
Heavy Duty Halcyon Yarn Ball Wooden Ball Winder
Made of maple wood
Reel up to 1 lb balls
Steel and commercial quality, heavy-duty Swiss gears
Yarn guide arm can rotate 180 degrees to allow for 5 different angles
Includes 2 heavy-duty table clamps that allow mounting to up to 2.5″ table thickness
One year limited warranty
More Info.
Nancy's Knit Knacks Heavy Duty Ball Winder - Best Heavy Duty 16 Ounce Wooden Yarn Winder
Nancy's Knit Knacks Heavy Duty Ball Winder.
This winder is heavy duty and can wind up to one pound of yarn (16 oz) at a time. Easy to use and does not require much assembly. Made of strong, durable materials with an ergonomic design.

Wood is quality maple, looks beautiful installed on a table. Made in the USA with Swiss made gears. (The Swiss know their gears).

The spindle capacity is perfect for a person in the market for a larger, more durable ball winder. One tool to wind all those big skeins.

A considerable investment but well worth it. Excellent value for how long it lasts. It's a workhorse! Think of all the projects you will be doing.

Pro

Nancy Knit-Knacks heavy duty ball winder can finish up to 1lb. simultaneously.
It comes fully assembled with you just put the handle and yarn guide on it.
It has a sleek ergonomic design and focuses more on using your arm to wind.
Smooth operation and makes very little noise.
It can be adjusted in several ways. Can change the yarn ball at five different angles in relation to the positioning of the machine.
Guaranteed to be easy to use and comfortable.
Flexible options for yarn ball tension and size.
Requires little assembly. Easy to use.
Made in the USA from maple wood and has Swiss gears.
It has a one-year warranty and an option to add an electric motor.
It has excellent ratings and customer reviews.
Disadvantage

A small chance of experiencing thread tangling and overwinding.
Note: Some users found that they can wind on cardboard cones using this winder.

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Knitters Pride Signature Ball Winder - Best Budget Selection
Knitters Pride Natural Ball Winder
Pro

Winds up to 1lb fingering weight yarn
Anti-friction bearing on the side of the spool for free rotation.
Good quality bearing provides super smooth yarn winding.
Non-skid rubber pads prevent the winder from slipping and scratching the table.
Disadvantage

Some customers found the thread cakes to be looser.
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Weaver's Pride Nostepinne
Weaver's Pride Nostepinne
A simple design with no moving parts. It is like a polished and carved stick.

Made of wood with a varnished finish. The carved handle is comfortable to hold. There is a groove at the top for tying yarn to start winding.

Pro

Creates center pull balls
Great budget option
Disadvantage

Can only wind as fast as you are capable of
Using too much tension while winding stretches the thread.
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The following products are made of wood, but they are yarn swifts. They are ideal for holding the skein of yarn in place instead of using the backs of dining room chairs. They spin freely while a yarn winder is winding the yarn into cakes.

Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Winder
Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Winder
A solid, medium-sized Swift umbrella made from birch wood material with a finely sanded finish. Overall construction and performance ensures it will last for years.

Capable of handling 6-foot circumference skeins. When working, it is fairly quiet, and the turning is smooth.

The manufacturer selects pieces of wood without scars or blemishes. These twine swifts are less vulnerable to breakage and have a beautiful even sanded finish.

The ends of the metal tying wires are hidden in the holes. There are no rough edges to hurt your hands or snag the twine.

Pro

Holds up to 6 feet skein in circumference.
Can be fastened to various surfaces, 1 3/4 inch thick, such as tables, benches or chairs.
Very sturdy construction made of quality wood.
Swivels effortlessly
Packs down for storage.
Disadvantage

On rare occasions, the screw portion of the clamp can sometimes crack, but screw replacements are available.
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Ella Lin Wooden Umbrella Swift Winder
Ella Lin Wooden Umbrella Swift Winder
A swift is used in conjunction with a yarn winder. The skein is placed over the arms of the swift, and the end of the yarn is attached to the winder. Operate the winder, and the rapid rotates.

Pro

This rapid is made from natural birch wood with a highly sanded finish, so your yarn won't snag.
Easy to set up.
Able to operate with both hands free.
Disadvantage

Table clamp may scratch some surfaces.
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Store for good yarn yarn

What is a wooden thread winder?
A yarn winder is a tool used to wind yarn from a skein to make center-pull yarn cakes.
What is the best wooden thread winder?
The best thread winder is made of sturdy materials with gears that are smooth when in operation.

Why do I need a wooden yarn winder?
You need a yarn winder to make crocheting easier. Working from a skein without winding it first is no fun. Creating neat yarn cakes with a pull center makes working your crochet projects a breeze.

No more tangled yarn monsters!

How do you use a wooden yarn winder?
To use a wooden yarn winder, follow these steps:

Attach the winder to a flat surface with the clamp provided.
Find the end of the thread and place it in the slot of the bobbin.
Pass the yarn through the yarn guide
Slowly turn the crank handle and the bobbin is wound up
Continue turning the crank until the skein is completed into a yarn cake.
A wooden yarn winder is a worthwhile investment for your crocheting activities. Made with quality materials and built to last, one of these is sure to bring you crocheting joy for years to come.

I hope this information helps you choose which one is right for you. If you have any questions, get in touch or send me a message on Twitter.

Happy Crocheting!