Yarn question.

[pengillian101]

This really is a beginner's question, but I forgot after not crocheting for many years and just now returning to it.

I received some yarn and noticed that one brand said something like this: Pull out yarn from the middle -- and then pull out from the other end for the beginning yarn end. That skein worked out great. The other skeins don't have directions which end to start with, and I end up with a tangled mess.

ALSO---I have some skeins that are odd to me - yarn twisted into 'hanks' of yarn. I've never used those before and don't have a clue how to begin unraveling. I assume I must do that first and wind into a ball, because one was already done like that.

Thanks for any advice :hi:

[Warpy]

1. Yarn comes in two forms, ball and skein

Balls might be oblong, but all have a yarn end coming out of the center and that's what you start with.

Skeins are one continuous length of yarn wrapped around and around. The best thing to do with them is wind those into balls. Knitting or crocheting from the skein does not work.

Gadgets that can help with skeins of yarn are umbrella swifts and ball winders. The former expands to accept the skein so that it can be unwound a little more easily. The alternative is to have a spouse hold his/her hands apart to keep the skein from tangling while the ball is wound.

A small, plastic ball winder can make short work of skeined yarn and provide you with something that's better than even commercially wound balls of yarn.

Cheap umbrella swift: http://store.knitting-warehouse.com/074601.html
(the picture is sideways so I didn't post it.)

Cheap ball winder: http://store.knitting-warehouse.com/notions-tools---accessories-yarnballwinders.html

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Knitpicks' ball winder is $19.99

And if one doesn't want to buy a swift, there's always this: http://www.folkcatart.com/blogs/jen/?p=742

:D

[pengillian101]

4. Thanks for your help, bicentennial_baby. n/t

[pengillian101]

3. Here's a "hank" of yarn I've just encountered. Weird, eh?

Is this what you call a skein? Sorry to not understand the terms :hi:

[Warpy]

5. That's a skein

When you remove the paper, you'll be able to untwist it into a circle of yarn with a few ties to hold it together.

This is what you put around an umbrella swift or Tinkertoy equivalent.

(yes, I loved that idea, but lacking kiddies, I got a swift)

[pengillian101]

6. Thanks, Warpy - got it!

:hi:

[pengillian101]

7. You seem to know your yarns, so here's another question...

Like I mentioned, I recently received lots of yarn. I separated them into smaller bags by lot, color and like that.

I will try and use this gift wisely.

I tried to crochet something and no matter what or how I crochet this yarn - it twirls around upon itself, like a slinky does. At first, I thought it was because I was increasing stitches. In various trials - it's always the same.

Then, I just crocheted on a straight stitch and it still coiled around and around, upon itself. It doesn't seem to matter if I start with the inside start of the ball of yarn, or the outside thread. I've tried all that I can think of. Even crocheting with two yarn threads so it's thick - no matter - it still twists and twists around and around.

Lion Brand yarn - never experienced anything like it! Any ideas? This is driving me nuts. Thanks for any help :hi: