The mysteries of the swift untangled

Yarn swifts. I have always felt that I'd like one. I mean they're wooden, they're spiderlike and they cause knitting friends to go "Ooooooo!" when a decently priced one comes up in conversation at Stitch and Bitch London meetings.

At Purl Soho in New York I watched the wonder of a yarn swift being used to whirl the skein of yarn I had just purchased into a neat ball but put one in front of me and I'm not sure I could tell you what to do with it. A little help anyone?

Knitter's review to the rescue with an in-depth explanation of the spidery world of Tools for Taming Yarn: Umbrella Swifts. The article covers use, adjustment, other use, types of swift and, very usefully, where you might go if you have spent all your money on lovely yarn and don't have enough to purchase a shiny swift of your very own.

You may never have to make your other half sit there with their arms out to skeinhold ever again. Unless you're feeling a bit mean...

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