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Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
22 Replies
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Marniesews
Bedfordshire
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Likes Given: 927
Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
«
on:
June 07, 2018, 16:01:31 PM »
I'd noticed some knitters drawing wool from the centre of the ball & thought this would be really useful as I'm often crocheting in the front passenger seat of the car with my wool in a bag.
I haven't found a reliable way of doing this without frequently pulling out a mass of tangled wool first. Any tips?
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Ploshkin
Wearing wellies in wild, wet, windy (mid) Wales
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #1 on:
June 07, 2018, 18:00:22 PM »
I think you only get the tangle at the start of the ball where there is a tight core. Once that central hole opens out a bit you should be ok.
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BrendaP
Possibly patching pieces on the peninsula.
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #2 on:
June 07, 2018, 19:23:10 PM »
Pulling from the centre of the ball works for a lot of people, but IMO once the ball starts to collapse around the used up middle it collapses and makes for more mess than working from the outside
Fishing the middle out is very easy sometimes, but at other times it comes out as a huge great tangle. I think it's one of those things that you have to try a few times to decide which way suits you.
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Brenda. My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
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Bogwoppit
Lancaster
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #3 on:
June 07, 2018, 19:28:03 PM »
It's never an easy thing to do. Only once or twice have I managed to not pull out a bird's nest and spent ages finding the end of it.
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Lurking in Lancashire, improving my sewing when life gives me time.
maliw
Wirral
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #4 on:
June 07, 2018, 19:37:15 PM »
Something I do a lot as it stops the wool rolling around plus once you get started the wool flows much more smoothly - well usually anyway.
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At leisure on the leisure penninsula
Marniesews
Bedfordshire
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Likes Given: 927
Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #5 on:
June 07, 2018, 19:56:55 PM »
I'll just persevere now I know there's no secret tip. Thanks.
It makes a huge difference when unwinding from a ball inside a carrier bag and the loose floppy stage seems ok when it's enclosed too.
«
Last Edit: June 08, 2018, 00:26:54 AM by Marniesews
»
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Ellabella
York
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #6 on:
June 08, 2018, 00:09:37 AM »
I prefer to pull from the centre of the ball if possible, as the ball tends to move around less when I'm actually knitting.
I generally have a root around when I start but give up if I can't find the end easily.
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Ploshkin
Wearing wellies in wild, wet, windy (mid) Wales
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #7 on:
June 08, 2018, 08:14:20 AM »
Perhaps the collapse as you get near to the outside could be prevented if this balk was enclosed in a small bag or container - I'm thinking here of balls of garden string that come in a tin.
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Acorn
Up a Welsh mountain looking at the sea...
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #8 on:
June 08, 2018, 09:16:18 AM »
I seem to remember that Kaffe Fassett takes off his shoes and puts his balls of wool inside them when he's knitting in public...
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I might look as though I'm talking to you, but inside my head I'm sewing.
b15erk
NorthWest, UK
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #9 on:
June 08, 2018, 09:31:00 AM »
I pull from the centre because it stops the yarn rolling around , but it can be a bit of a faff getting the middle bit out.
I like the idea of containing the yarn in socks - not so sure about using the ones I'm wearing!
Jessie
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Jessie, who is very happy to be here!!
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Marniesews
Bedfordshire
1,562
1416
Likes Given: 927
Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #10 on:
June 08, 2018, 14:37:00 PM »
His shoes, Jessie, not his socks!
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b15erk
and
Greybird
like this
Hopefully back more regularly! Ballroom sewing may be permanently paused but bag making is the current focus.
Greybird
Trowbridge, Wiltshire
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Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
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Reply #11 on:
June 09, 2018, 10:02:32 AM »
Might it help to rewind the yarn on a wool winder as used by machine knitters? The wound yarn is usually used from the middle but I think some of them come with removable cones that the yarn can be left on and you can then use it from the outside.
They are fairly cheap on Ebay:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/knitting-wool-winder/163085078351?hash=item25f8a0cf4f:g:IbMAAOSwMM9bGBKY
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Marniesews
Bedfordshire
1,562
1416
Likes Given: 927
Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
«
Reply #12 on:
June 09, 2018, 11:53:55 AM »
Thank you
@Greybird
. I have to admit my initial response was rewinding wool will only add yet more time to this interminable project (a blanket for DD's king size bed - at her request I hasten to add).
It's supposed to be picked up & put down between sewing but with my memory it's put down & then forgotten for months! I think I'm also discouraged by the bag of big balls of wool (mostly 4 colours per square) that I have to cart about so now I'm thinking I should give this a try, especially as I can draw the wool from the middle too. On reflection it sounds a great idea now.
Many thanks
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Greybird
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Hopefully back more regularly! Ballroom sewing may be permanently paused but bag making is the current focus.
Greybird
Trowbridge, Wiltshire
6,573
14785
Likes Given: 9664
Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
«
Reply #13 on:
June 09, 2018, 13:55:17 PM »
@Marniesews
they wind so quickly that I think it would save you time (and frustration!) in the long run. Good luck!
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Marniesews
likes this
Marniesews
Bedfordshire
1,562
1416
Likes Given: 927
Re: Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
«
Reply #14 on:
June 09, 2018, 17:20:00 PM »
I've bought one on eBay - 'buy it now' don't want to wait & see if I win a bid.
This one
looks more sturdy and has a glowing review from the Crafty Writer but can you believe that price?
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The Sewing Place
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A Good Yarn
Drawing wool from the centre of the ball
Support The Sewing Place from £1 a month.