Thursday, November 6, 2008
swift advice
It's been a busy week, and we're still waiting for our first copy of Festive Knits, so there hasn't been much worth writing about. However, I've been thinking about investing a little into some equipment for my business - specifically a swift and ball winder. Honestly, I would mostly use it for work! Besides, I don't buy that much yarn for myself. I just like the idea of making standard sized skeins for dying, and being able to wind up lovely cakes of yarn for the kits. So I was wondering if you have any advice on what I should look for, and what I should avoid. I'm not even sure how much choice there is in this type of equipment. But I would like to avoid buying something crappy that will break after 5 uses, and maybe other readers will be interested in your experiences too.
Hi, I have a wooden swift and i just love using it, it's so satsfying to use - i must be a real saddo. I got mine from Ebay and it came with a ball winder too. Never had any trouble with it even though it has been through two house moves. I used to hate buying skeins, having to faff about with them trying to wind them by hand. Now it's easy peasy!
ReplyDeleteI have done four of your lambs and everybody loves them. Keep meaning to send you a picture of them....
Rosie
I think only one or two companies make the swift, so there is no way to measure quality. I got a plastic $39 ball winder for my birthday 6 months ago and have used it at least once a week (to get my stash yarns wound up) and have had no problems, not matter the weight or composition of the yarn. I love it. Am saving up for a swift. If you buy both items at one time, there's usually a few dollar discount. Please let us know what you decide on.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about the same two items lately and have my eye on the Royal Ball Winder at Knit Picks. A fellow knitter has one and I've wound a few balls on it and liked the handling. KnitPicks also has a swift, but it seems a bit pricey,
ReplyDeleteI have both a swift and ball winder - my husband got them for me for my birthday. He got them at JoAnn's - there is a JoAnns.com sit too - they often have great coupons - usually a 50% one item comes out just about every month - if you can use this for the swift or ballwinder it becomes affordable.
ReplyDeleteI love it and have "caked" my whole stash, including little mini cakes of leftovers.
I have the royal ball winder. I have had it for about 2 years now... NO PROBLEMS. I bet I have used it 300 times..
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then you have to watch it the yarn can pull underneath it but, I think that is operator error.