My Stanwood Yarn Winder Guide & Review – Are They Worth It?

Is this ball winder for yarn worth it? Read on.

For Those In A Hurry

• Best Heavy Duty – Stanwood Needlecraft Heavy Duty Winder
• Best Over All – Stanwood Needlecraft Compact Yarn Ball Winder

Here’s my review of the Stanwood needlecraft yarn ball winders.

I reviewed and updated this post on July 14, 2022.

Table Of Contents

• Stanwood Needlecraft Heavy Duty Winder
• Stanwood Needlecraft Compact Yarn Ball Winder
• How Do You Use Stanwood Yarn Winder?

Stanwood Needlecraft Heavy Duty 10 oz Winder

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This is the most popular model of Stanwood Needlecraft products.

It’s designed for heavy-duty use, or when you have lots of yarn to wind.

It winds up to 10 ounces of yarn. 2x more than their smaller models.

Features

• Creates center pull yarn cakes
• For serious use
• Spare bobbins are available
• Rust-resistant steel
• No tools required
• Designed in the USA
• Made in China

Pros

• Fair manufacturers’ guarantee and return policy
• High-quality construction and materials
• Lasts for years
• Ease of set up
• The gears are protected. No yarn snagging
• Fast shipping
• Smooth crank

Cons

• Need a large area, even in storage
• Expensive shipping for international addresses

Searching for the best online yarn shop? Check this out.

Stanwood Needlecraft – Compact Yarn Ball Winder Hand-Operated YBW-A

Their smaller model is less popular but excellent.

Suitable for those with wrist strain as it’s effortless to crank. The gears are protected, unlike other brands of yarn ball winders.

Want to use it with a swift? Use an Umbrella or Amish style. 

Features

• Great for smaller balls
• Wind up to 4 oz of yarn
• Creates center pull cakes
• Clamps to a surface – max depth 1 3/4″.
• Manufacturer’s guarantee
• Fair return policy
• Spare bobbins are available
• Designed in the US
• Made in China

Pros

• A smooth, even crank
• The yarn hardly ever snags
• Ease of setup
• Speedy delivery

Cons

• You may need to split larger hanks into two or three.
• Expensive international shipping

Stanwood Needlecraft Compact Yarn Winder (YBW-B)

(It’s difficult to find online.)

It winds the same amount of yarn, 4 oz, but the surface thickness it clamp to is 1 1/2″, so less than the YBW-A model.

Want to use it with a yarn swift? Try an Amish or umbrella-style swift.

Features

• A dial on the base of the yarn winder for tightening the clamp
• Makes wound center pull yarn cakes
• Quality metal gears are protected
• Company based in the US
• Manufactured in China

Pros

• Easy storage and set up
• Small and compact
• Doesn’t damage the surface
• Economical
• High-quality manufacturing
• Excellent return policy and manufacturers’ guarantee
• Spare bobbins are available
• Quick shipping

Cons

• It’s difficult to find a suitable surface
• Shipping internationally is pricey

How Do You Use Stanwood Yarn Winder?

Here’s a list of instructions on how to use Stanwood yarn winder.

• Find a sturdy surface to place your wool winder
• Worried about the table being damaged or marked by the clamps? Put a cloth over the surface
• Place your yarn swift 12-18″ away from the winder
• Secure the clamps and screws
• Untwist the skein and remove the ties
• Untwist tangled parts and make a large loop
• Find the two ends of the hank
• Hold onto the outer end
• Place the loop around the arm span of the swift
• Adjust the size to fit around the yarn
• Slip the outer yarn end through the metal yarn guide arm and into the slit in the bobbin of the yarn ball winder
• Crank the handle
• Use your other arm to maintain the tension
• Once you’ve finished, hold the yarn at the slot at the winder’s top
• Use your other hand to slide the cake off the yarn ball winder
• Tuck the end into the center of the cake

Q&A

How Do You Thread A Yarn Winder?

Here is a list of steps on how to thread a yarn winder.

• Untwist the skein and remove the ties
• Find the two ends of the hank
• Thread the outer end through the loop in the yarn winder
• Attach it to the bobbin. 
• Test it by winding
• If nothing goes wrong, you’re good to go.

What Does A Yarn Swift Do?

A yarn swift, when used with yarn ball winders, holds the yarn and prevents it from tangling when it’s being winded into a cake.

What Is The Difference Between Model YBW-A and Model YBW-B? 

There are three main differences

1. YBW-A has a larger clamp capacity
2. YBW-A is quieter and has a smoother pull
3. YBW-B is smaller

What Are The Stanwood Needlecraft Gears Made Of? 

They’re reinforced nylon.

Can The Heavy Duty Winder Be Used To Wind Smaller Balls? 

Yes, it wind balls up to 10 ounces.

Designed and manufactured with a quality lasting years.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Stanwood needlecraft yarn ball winders. Let me know in the comments.

See my review of the best yarn swift and ball winder combo.

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