Want to save time and get busy crocheting?Sick of using chairs to hold your yarn hank while winding it into a ball? There’s a solution! Umbrella yarn swifts. I cover the best ones available on the market in my reviews.
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I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on May 3, 2023
Table Of Contents
- Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift
- Knit Picks Onyx Yarn Swift
- Schacht Swift
- Knit Picks Birch Yarn Swift
- Knitters Pride Yarn Swift
- Nagina International Umbrella Yarn Swift
- Lacis Wood
- What Is An Umbrella Swift?
- How Do You Use An Umbrella Yarn Swift?
Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift
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The Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift is a popular tool among croheters and yarn enthusiasts. This swift offers a range of advantages that make it a reliable and efficient choice for yarn winding.
Made of durable materials, it is built to last and can withstand regular use without breaking down. Its umbrella-like design allows for easy, tangle-free winding of yarn skeins, saving makers time and frustration.
Pros
- Accommodates yarn hank circumferences up to 6 feet
- Rotates without grinding
- Manufactured with premium polished birch wood and a lovely texture
- Clamps onto surface edges
- Looks nice
- Base clamp sits onto surfaces up to 1 3/4″ thick
- Solid
- Collapses for storage
Cons
- Wooden screws may be hard to tighten and unscrew
- After a few years, parts of the swift become damaged
Knit Picks Onyx Yarn Swift
This umbrella yarn swift is the same as the other model in this post from Knit Picks. Except it’s polished with a black surface. Stylish and functional. They sell a case to put it in. Available in teal, silver and rose gold.
Features
- Gold brass screws with a plastic stopper on the end
- Clamps onto tables up to 1 1/2″ thick
Pros
- Fast, quiet, winding
- Elegant black looks attractive
- Easy to set up and use
- Sturdy
Cons
- The screws may be damaged/broken
Schacht Swift For Large Skeins
This swift winder is versatile. Winding from bobbins, vertically, and other angles. It has many useful features.
Pros
- Excellent size for winding large skeins
- Changes from horizontal to vertical and back using a release pin
- Durable
- Solid wood
- Easy winding
Cons
- Expensive
- Complicated assembly
Knit Picks Birch Yarn Swift
This is the classic yarn swift from Knit Picks. They have a lovely natural color showcasing the varied woodgrains of the birch. This swift features effortless spinning. Note: They sell a case to put this item in. Available in teal, silver and rose gold. Use in combination with their signature yarn winder.
Features
- Smooth birch wood
- Wooden clamp
Pros
- Spins quietly
- High quality
- Sturdy
- Collapsible
- Easy to set up
- Excellent customer service
- If the swift breaks, Knit Picks replaces it
- Looks pretty
Cons
- Sometimes parts are damaged
Knitters Pride Yarn Swift
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This swift combines dyed, laminated birch strips with natural birch wood. It has a smooth rotation.
Features
- Laminated and natural birch wood
- 28″ high
- Skein winds
- Winding handle at the top
Pros
- Quick spinning
- Smooth wood
- Pretty stripes
Cons
- Snags yarn
Nagina International Umbrella Yarn Swift
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Available in beech and rosewood. An excellent tool to hold the yarn. Sturdy and withstands lots of winding.
Features
- Tabletop style
- Natural beechwood or rosewood
- Four arms (collapsible and extendable)
Pros
- Attractive
- Rotates quickly
- Quick replacements if yarn swift is damaged
Cons
- The swift moves (put non-stick pads on the bottom)
Lacis Wood
It’s the ultimate wooden yarn winding tool for all your knitting and crocheting projects! Be gone days of fighting with tangled hand dyed yarns!
It is easy to wind yarn without the hassle of using a chair’s back (or your partner’s arms!) The accessory is simple to use, quick to learn, and adjusts for any skein size.
Pros
- Turns a tedious chore into a quick, easy, and fun way to convert a hank of yarn into a neat ball.
- Saves so much time
- Very smooth and sturdy
- Handles any size yarn you’d buy in a store
Cons
- The ties on for the arms can sometimes wear out
What Is An Umbrella Swift?
These tools for winding products have expandable ‘ribs.’ This is where you wrap the yarn. A Yarn Swift Umbrella style has a center rod with a screw which slides up and down. When collapsed, the screw is loose and at the bottom. When expanded, the screw is tight and around the middle. The base has a wooden clamp to a bench, a table, or any flat surface.
What Makes Umbrella Swifts Different From Other Swifts?
An umbrella swift has a rack like a wine rack. Amish swifts have arms.
Why Are Umbrella Swifts Called Umbrella Swifts?
It expands and collapses like an umbrella.
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
How Do You Use An Umbrella Swift?
Here is the Schacht swift demonstration.
Here is how to use a Knitpicks umbrella swift with a ball winder.
Conclusion
Although wooden ones last a lifetime, cheaper metal and plastic ones are good too. Which do you prefer? Let me know.
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