Working with a hank of yarn is not recommended as it can easily get into a tangled mess. A wooden ballwinder is an excellent tool for crochet. Handy for winding yarn into center pull balls or cakes which have a flat bottom and top. No more rolling around! Check out my reviews popular wooden winders.
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I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on April 12, 2023
Table of Contents
- Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder – Best Overall Wooden Yarn Winder
- Ashford Ball Winder – Best Heavy Duty
- Knitters Pride Signature Ball Winder – Best Budget Pick
- What Is A Wooden Yarn Winder?
Hand-dyed yarns are often sold in hanks. Knitting directly means a big tangled mess! Yarn winders are best used with a yarn swift.
You save so much time using a yarn winder, and the resulting yarn is a joy to work with. The shape of the yarn cake is like a cylinder, flat on the top and bottom. This allows for less movement when you’re knitting. I’ve wound plenty of yarn by hand into balls. If it escapes from my knitting bag, it rolls away very easily!
A Wood yarn winder looks lovely set up in a craft room, and they make less noise when winding. I’ve reviewed the top picks with a range of price points. There’s something to suit people on a budget and for those who plan to do lots of winding and are looking for a heavy-duty option.
Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder With Table Clamp – Best Overall
Fiber Artists Supply Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder is a well-made product making winding easy. All surfaces are finely sanded, so your yarn won’t snag. You can take the entire unit apart in less than a minute.
Pros
- Ball bearings mean the winder spins almost effortlessly.
- A well-balanced main winding assembly allows users to opt to wind with or without a table clamp.
- Can wind up to 1lb of fingering weight yarn and 10 ounces of worsted weight yarn.
- One year warranty from date of purchase against manufacturer defects.
Cons
- Need space for use
Here’s the Maple Jumbo Yarn Winder in action.
Knitters Pride Signature Ball Winder – Best Budget Pick
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This suits crocheters who create projects with lots of fingering weight yarn. It can handle up to 15oz (450g) of fingering weight yarn. Smaller weights of thicker yarn. It is a colorful addition to any craft space with the combination of natural and painted swirls of color.
Pros
- Winds up to 1lb of fingering weight yarn
- Anti-friction bearing on the spool side for free rotation.
- Fine quality bearing provides super smooth winding of yarn.
- Anti-skid rubber pads prevent the winder from sliding and scratching the table.
Cons
- Some customers found the yarn cakes are more loosely wound.
Ashford Ball Winder – Heavy Duty For Large Yarn Skeins
If you wind lots up large yarn skeins or hanks, this tool is for you! The large capacity allows for winding of up to 17.5oz (500g) of yarn. You can wind either clockwise or anticlockwise. The rubber feet keep it from scratching any surface and the included table clamp keeps it secure.
Pros
- Sturdy and smooth finish
- Operation is trouble free when tested with many different types of yarn
- Lacquered New Zealand Silver Birch wood that will last for many years
- Is delivered already assembled
Cons
- More expensive than other models featured in my review
Comparable Products To Consider
- Want something to do the work for you? See my post on the automatic yarn winder.
- Which combination is best for you? See my review of the swift and winder.
If you get a chance to find a Nancy’s Knit Knacks Heavy Duty Ball Winder available they are well worth it for winding up to 16oz of yarn. It’s a workhorse tool that is sure to last for many years.
Pete Charles from The Oregon Woodworker said Nancy’s Knit Knacks’ owner passed away. The business hasn’t found a new owner. I hope someone makes them again. Buying a used one is good! I’ll let you know if it becomes available. Join my mailing list to stay updated.
This winder is heavy duty and can wind up to one pound of yarn (16 oz) at a time. Simple to use. Made of strong and lasting materials with an ergonomic design. The wood is quality maple, looks beautiful set up on a table. Manufactured in the United States with Swiss-made gears. (The Swiss know their gears.)
The spindle capacity is perfect for a person in the market for a bigger and more durable ball winder. A tool to wind big hanks. A considerable investment but worth it. Excellent value for how long it lasts. It’s a workhorse! Think of all the projects you’ll do.
Pros
- The Heavy Duty Ball Winder by Nancy’s Knit-Knacks can wind up to 1lb. at a time.
- It comes fully assembled with you only having to put the handle and yarn guide on it.
- Has a sleek ergonomic design and focuses more on using your arm for winding.
- Smooth operation and makes very little noise.
- Can be adjusted in several ways. You can change the yarn ball at five different angles relative to the positioning of the machine.
- Guaranteed to be easy to use and comfortable.
- Flexible options for tension and yarn ball size.
- Requires little assembly. It’s straightforward to use.
- It’s made in the USA with maple wood and has Swiss gears.
- It has a one-year warranty and an option of adding an electric motor.
- It has excellent customer ratings and reviews.
Cons
- A small chance of experiencing yarn becoming tangled and overspun.
Note: You can wind onto cardboard cones using this winder.
Conclusion
A Wooden Yarn Winder is a worthwhile investment for your crocheting pursuits. Made with quality materials and built to last, one of these is sure to bring you crochet joy for years to come.
I hope this information helps you to choose which one is right for you. If you have a question, please get in touch or message me on Twitter.
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