The Royal Ball Winder was a favorite of many people in the past. Some people still have theirs and continue to enjoy this model.
It has not been in production for many years. As far as I can tell, it is not likely to return to the market.
Why was it so popular? Made of plastic, small, lightweight and easy to carry. The price point suited people on a budget and it wound about 4 ounces of yarn.
There are other yarn winders as good as the Royal Ball Winder. Below I share the models that are comparable. What is the best ball winder for yarn?
Stanwood Needlecraft 4 oz. ball winder
Stanwood Needlecraft 4 oz. Yarn Ball Winder
This easy-to-use hand winder makes 4 oz. ball center pull yarn cakes. Say goodbye to a tangled mess of yarn! Clamps to a variety of furniture. Made of strong materials and easy to crank, one person operation.
If you wind from swifts, it's best to buy one with this winder. This is the product from the same company, which I talk about in my best Yarn Swift review.
Pro
Makes small 4.Oz. center-pull balls, ensuring you'll never have a tangled mess.
The table clamp has a range of about 1 3/4" so you can attach it to a variety of tables, shelves or a chair.
Made of quality, strong materials.
Easy to crank, made with sturdy metal. Operation makes the balls smooth and easy to roll.
Easy to order and buy online.
Great value for money.
Does not take up too much space.
Cons What is the best yarn ball winder?
Stanwood Needlecraft 4 ounce yarn ball winder.
Stanwood Needlecraft 4 Ounce Yarn Ball Winder
This easy-to-use hand winder makes 4 oz. ball center pull yarn cakes. Say goodbye to a tangled mess of yarn! Clamps to a variety of furniture. Made of strong materials and easy to crank, one person operation.
If you wind from swifts, it's best to buy one with this winder. This is the product from the same company, which I talk about in my best Yarn Swift review.
Pro
Makes small 4.Oz. center-pull balls, ensuring you'll never have a tangled mess.
The table clamp has a range of about 1 3/4" so you can attach it to a variety of tables, shelves or a chair.
Made of quality, strong materials.
Easy to crank, made with sturdy metal. Operation makes the balls smooth and easy to roll.
Easy to order and buy online.
Great value for money.
Does not take up too much space.
Disadvantage
Can only create smaller balls, not a big deal. This means you may have to cut a larger ball into two pieces.
Click for more information / Buy on Amazon
Stanwood Needlecraft - Large Metal Yarn Ball Winder 10 oz - Heavy Duty
Stanwood Needlecraft large metal yarn/fiber/wool/chain ball winder - 10 oz.
If you are looking for a winder to handle larger amounts of yarn this is a great option. Manufactured by the same company as above, it can wind up to 10 oz of yarn and is made of heavy duty materials.
Click for more information / Buy on Amazon
Ball Winder Thread Winder - Real Replacement
Yarn Ball Winder - Real Replacement - Oregon Woodworker
Oregon Woodworker has found the Stanwood Needle Craft 4 oz version to be a great replacement for the Royal Yarn Winder.
Here's what they said:
"After an extensive search, we found a company that has duplicated the Royal Yarn Ball Winder, which is no longer in production."
"They have also added two improvements. It has a metal crank handle and the screw clamp is 1/2" longer."
Check today's price
Rosie's Real Spinning Ball Winder
Rosie's Royal Yarn Ball Winder
The Woolery offers a pattern very similar to the Royal. From what I can tell, it looks similar to the Stanwood mentioned above.
It appears to have the same design, colors and made of plastic with a metal handle.
It can only create smaller balls, not a big deal. This means that you may have to cut a larger ball into two pieces.How do yarn ball winders work?
Ball thread winders work by attaching one end of the thread to the ball winder, then follow these steps.
Slide the thread through the metal thread guide and into the notch in the plastic disc at the top of the winder.
Slowly turn the crank at the back of the bobbin winder in the direction indicated in the instructions with your bobbin winder. The ball forms in the winder.
Use your other hand to gently guide the thread.
The bobbin on the thread winder will spin and form a cake of thread.
Once the yarn comes to an end take the cake off the bobbin, tuck in the center pull end and the outer end.
Why do I need a yarn winder?
You need a yarn winder to save time and get back to what you love to do: crochet. If you like organized yarn, you'll enjoy making the neat yarn cakes that come from using a yarn winder.
Do you need a Swift to use a ball winder?
If you're going to be doing a lot of winding, having a swift is a good idea to use with a ball winder.
You won't have to use chair backs to lay your skein of yarn. Swifts allow you to have your hands free to concentrate on winding.
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