Turn your Hanks into Cakes

How to turn your hanks into cakes! I remember my first hank and I’m a little embarrassed to say I had NO IDEA what to do with it. With a little trial and error I worked out a system of chairs back to back and hand winding. It worked but was so tedious I’d beg the kids to do it for me!

Steps if you don’t own a swift or ball winder

So if you don’t have a swift and ball winder its OK. You can roll your hanks into a ball. I still suggest watching the video to see how to untwist the hank and find the strand that goes to the outer part of the hank. If you grab the inner strand by mistake its a nightmare. Yarn shown Sugar Bush yarns Rapture available HERE

If you don’t have a swift you can use 2 chairs back to back to hold the hank. You can use your knees or you can recruit someone to hold it with their hands for you.

Cut the ties securing your hank. from the cut tie find the strand that goes to the outside of the hank. You might have to unwind them a bit to see for sure which strand it is.

Next start rolling into a ball or use a ball winder for that perfect centre pull.

Steps if you have a swift

Now if you have a swift or want to get one you’ll need to know how to use it. I love my new swift from WeCrochet & Knit Picks. It’s so easy to use and I’ve demonstrated the whole process on video for you.

Knitting Yarn Swift

First off you need to secure your swift with the screw provided to a table or island.

The swift looks like this before opening it up. I suggest opening it up not too far initially so it’s easy to get the hank around it. There’s another screw just below the umbrella you tighten to hold it in place.

Next place your hank around the umbrella. Push the umbrella upwards to tighten. Cut the strand holding the hank per instructions I gave you above.

Steps for turning your hank into a cake

Now to turn your hanks into cakes. Thread the outer strand through your ball winder. Placing it through the the slit in wooden shaft (this is your centre pull). Shown here is my Knitter’s Pride Ball winder.