Amish Swift Vs Umbrella Swift – A Complete Rundown

These are the most popular styles of yarn swift. Which is the best?

Here’s a rundown of the styles and best models.

The Amish style is on a tabletop. The umbrella swift clamps to a surface.

I reviewed and updated this post on July 13, 2022.

Table Of Contents

• Stanwood Needlecraft Tabletop Amish Style Swift
• CHIAOGOO Amish Design Wooden Yarn Swift
• Stanwood Wooden Umbrella Yarn Swift
• Schacht Swift
• What Is A Swift for Yarn?
• Amish Swift Vs Umbrella Swift

What yarn do you use to crochet? See my post.

Best Amish Swift

Stanwood Needlecraft Tabletop Amish Style Swift

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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.

• Solid wood
• Smooth surface, sanded and polished
• Holds skeins between 2 1/2 – 6 ft circumference

Pros

• Non-slip pads
• Easy assembly and disassembly
• Convenient storage
• Spins smoothly

Cons

• Friction when spinning
• Squeaks

CHIAOGOO Amish Design Wooden Yarn Swift

Chiaogoo makes this superb quality swift made with solid wood. One excellent choice on the market for wooden yarn swifts.

Features

• Wood
• 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
• Spins smoothly
• Cheap
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not sturdy
• Makes a squeaking noise

Best Umbrella Swift

Stanwood Wooden Umbrella Yarn Swift

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This Stanwood umbrella is a popular model of yarn swift.

A quiet workhorse.

Features

• Sanded and polished birch
• Holds a skein up to 6 ft in circumference
• Medium-sized
• Clamp fits surfaces of up to 1 3/4″ thick

Pros

• 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 Swift

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Made with quality materials, this is smooth.

Features

• Wood
• 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

What Is A Swift for Yarn?

A swift for yarn is used with a yarn winder to wind yarn from a hank or skein into a neat yarn cake.

Yarn cakes are easier to knit with, and less prone to getting tangled.

Wood Vs Metal Umbrella Swift

Differences

• Metal ones are aluminum
• Wood ones are hardwoods like birch or maple
• Metal ones are cheaper
• Wooden ones last longer and are more hard-wearing
• They’re expensive to maintain, but they look lovely
• Metal ones combine metal and plastic

Similarities

• Any style of yarn swift
• Available in varying price ranges and sizes

Looking to crochet something new? Read my post on the best yarn for socks.

Amish Swift Vs Umbrella Swift

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

The Differences

• The amish 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
• The Amish has adjustable pegs
• 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

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

Hopefully, this comparison of these two styles of yarn swifts helped you.

Which do you prefer, and why?

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