How to Wind a Center Pull Yarn Ball by Hand the Easy Way

Learn How to Wind a Center Pull Ball of Yarn by Hand with this photo tutorial and video tutorial. No special tools needed like a yarn swift, ball winder, dowel rod or even a toilet paper tube! Use only your two hands, no special equipment, to create an easy center pull ball of yarn, string or cord! Center Pull Balls keep your yarn neat and organized and make starting your next crochet project easy! Winding a yarn cake is a simple handy trick, click the video below or use the written instructions and photos to reroll your yarn the easy way today!

Should I Wind my Yarn into a Ball?

A center pull ball of yarn is the easiest way to knit or crochet from, HOWEVER, it is NOT the best way to STORE your yarn! When you wind your yarn into a ball it can stretch out the fiber which can affect your gauge.

This will also make the yarn behave differently from the same yarn that was not wound into a ball. It is best to wind your yarn into a ball only when you are ready to use it.

If you must wind everything into balls of yarn make sure to do it all at once so if there is any stretching it will be the same across all of the yarn for that particular project.

Why do People Roll Yarn into Balls?

Knitters and crocheters, or any fiber artist, wind their yarn into center pull balls because it is neat and also the easiest way to work with your yarn. When you have a skein it can easily become tangled and it is not always easy to find the yarn end in the center on a skein.

Or some times you end up with yarn barf from the middle of the ball and a ton of yarn pulled out that you can use yet. So turning your skein into a center-pull yarn ball just makes working on your crochet project and string the yarn for it easier.

I have recently seen a lot of people using a yarn holder. Basically it is a dowel with a base that hangs and spins so you can work from the outside of the ball. These look great but I am not sure hoe travel friendly they are.

If you like to shop at your local yarn store you may notice that a lot of yarns come in a hank. It is next to impossible to work directly from the hanks so you must wind into a center-pull ball of yarn.

This is also a great handy trick if you will be making a project with multiple strands of yarn to avoid tangles.

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Materials

Yarn to Wind
Hand
Scissors (optional)
Darning Needle or Crochet Hook (optional)

How to Wind a Center Pull Yarn Ball by Hand

Note: For this first step finding the end of the yarn end will depend on your skein format. If you are working from a hank of yarn you will need to open it up and trim the ties in the hank and put it on something like the back of a chair so it doesn’t tangle. If you are working from a skein of yarn you can work from the center or outside. If you are working from a ball of yarn you will work from the outside but try putting it in a bowl. Finally, if you are working from yarn barf, I am sorry, just do your best, we have all been there!

Note: In this photo and video tutorial my left hand is my non-dominant hand that I and wrapping the yarn on to create the center of the ball. I am wrapping the working end of the yarn with my right hand.

Step 1: Find your end, lay it over the palm of your hand (use your non- dominant hand). Leave a length of yarn so that you have a long tail and use your middle, ring and pinky fingers to hold your yarn.

Step 2: Grab the yarn coming out from the top of your hand between your thumb and pointer finger, bring the yarn back and behind your thumb. Wrap around your thumb and come back towards the middle of your thumb and pointer

Step 3: Now bring your yarn over and behind your pointer finger, wrap around your pointer and come back towards behind your thumb.

Step 4: Wrap around your thumb again, coming back between your two fingers to go behind and again wrap around your pointer finger.

Step 5: Keep repeating wrapping in a ‘figure 8’ motion up your fingers.

Step 6: Using your dominant hand (hand used for wrapping), pinch where the yarn crosses tightly and slowly wriggle it off of you fingers. DO NOT let go of the yarn once removed.

Step 7: Carefully switch your yarn from your dominant to non-dominant hand making use to keep pressure on the spot the the yarn crosses. Again using your middle, pointer and pinky, hold that tail taught. Begin wrapping the yarn around the tip of your thumb and yarn.

Step 8: Continue wrapping your yarn around the loose ends and your thumb using your pointer finger to spin the ball you are forming. Keep your thumb over the spot the the yarn crosses and make sure to not wrap your tail into the ball.

Step 9: Continue wrapping on a diagonal and around your thumb and the ball forming. As the ball gets larger you rill be able to spin it more easily in your hand. Your thumb will stay slightly covered to protect the center pull you are creating.

Step 10: Once you are reaching the end of your yarn, turn the ball you have created and wrap a few time perpendicular around. If needed cut your end.