Amish Swift Vs Umbrella Swift: Which Yarn Swift Is Best To Use?

By Jodie Morgan

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The Amish style and the umbrella swift are most popular styles of yarn swift. But which is the best? Here’s a comparison between the best models so you can see what’s right for you.

Amish Vs Umbrella Swift Feat Img

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Table Of Contents

Best Amish Swift

Stanwood Needlecraft Tabletop Amish Style Swift

Stanwood Needlecraft Tabletop Amish Style Swift Check Price On Amazon

Stanwood is known for its umbrella style swifts. This model is made with the same quality, attention to detail, and hardwood. An excellent tabletop yarn swift.

Pros



  • Solid wood, smooth surface, sanded and polished
  • Holds skeins between 2 1/2 – 6 ft circumference
  • Non-slip pads
  • Easy assembly and disassembly
  • Convenient storage
  • Spins smoothly

Cons

  • Friction when spinning
  • Squeaks

CHIAOGOO Amish Design Wooden Yarn Swift

Chiaogoo Amish Swift

Chiaogoo makes this superb quality swift made with solid wood on the market for wooden yarn swifts. It’s wood, and suitable for a permanent or temporary home setup.

Pros

  • Four adjustable pegs to hold hank sizes
  • Non-skid pads to prevent accidental slipping
  • Quick and easy assembly
  • Last for years, and it has a high star rating
  • This Amish swift Spins smoothly
  • Cheap and lightweight

Cons

  • Not sturdy
  • Makes a squeaking noise

Best Umbrella Swift

Stanwood Wooden Umbrella Yarn Swifts

Stanwood Wooden Umbrella Yarn Swift Check Price On Amazon

This Stanwood umbrella is a popular model of yarn swift. A quiet workhorse of sanded birch.



Pros

  • Holds a skein up to 6 ft in circumference
  • Medium-sized, and the clamp fits surfaces of up to 1 3/4″ thick
  • Excellent quality materials
  • Minimal assembly
  • Efficient
  • Lasts a long time

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Limited clamping capacity
  • Sometimes the screw is faulty, but Stanwood replaces it
  • The umbrella slips if you don’t secure it

Knitter’s Pride Yarn Ball Swift

Knitter's Pride Swift Check Price On Amazon

Made of high density solid wood materials, this quality tool is smooth, and it holds a yarn hank of up to 60″ in circumference.

Pros

  • The adjustable clamp fits most surfaces
  • Stable
  • Smooth when winding yarn
  • Quiet

Cons



  • Expensive

Amish Swift Vs Umbrella

Here’s a rundown of the differences and similarities of the styles.

The Differences

  • The Amish swift sits flat on a tabletop
  • The other clamps to a surface
  • An umbrella swift is more comfortable to assemble and less bulky
  • It’s also easier to storage
  • The umbrella expands to fit any size of yarn, and a quick umbrella is more comfortable to set up and less fiddly.
  • The Amish yarn swift has adjustable pegs, and vertical swifts work the same way.
  • The Amish don’t require a clamp, less likely to damage a surface
  • Some find an umbrella one more comfortable to use
  • Amishes hold larger hanks than the other option

The Similarities

  • They’re designed to hold the skein or hank while you wind it
  • They spin on a flat axis
  • They’re available in plastic and metal or hardwood
  • Prices to suit every budget
  • They work with all types of fiber.

Kristine Kelly from Ewe University gives a rundown of the styles.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this comparison of these two styles of yarn swifts helped you. Which do you prefer?

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Amish Vs Umbrella Pin

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About The Author

Jodie Morgan From Crochet Penguin

Jodie Morgan (Author & Founder)

[email protected] | Lives In: Regional Australia

Author: Jodie Morgan is a passionate crocheter and blogger with 17+ years of experience currently living in regional Australia. Taught by her mother, she fell in love with crocheting after her first child was born. When she’s not crocheting, you’ll find her enjoying a cup of coffee with cream, or sharing helpful resources and tips with the online crochet community. Please say hello, or see what she's making on socials.

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