Top 10 Best Yarn Winder For Knitting and Crochet
Continuing from our last post, Yarn Winder Buying Guide: All You Need To Know For Choosing The Best Yarn Winder, here are some recommendations of the best yarn ball winder you can get for your knitting or crochet projects from Amazon.
Best Yarn Winders for 2021
Need any help in choosing the best yarn winder, here’re some recommendations from our side.
| Best overall | Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder |
| Runner up | Stanwood Needlecraft Hand-operated Winder, 4-Ounce |
| Best durability in compact winder | Craft Destiny Yarn Winder |
| Best designed & most sturdy | Nancy’s Knit Knacks Heavy Winder |
| Most comfortable | Yarn Valet Yarn Winder |
| The time saver | Boye Electric Yarn Winder |
| Best for small projects | LAMXD Needlecraft Yarn Ball Winder |
| Best for large skeins (highly reviewed) | Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Winder, 10-Ounce |
| Best wood jumbo winder | INTAJ Rosewood Yarn Winder |
| Best economical | Marrywindix Bobbin Yarn Winder |
Recommendations
Combing through a bunch of helpful reviews, we have compiled the best of the best yarn winders. This collection will certainly help you to make a choice.
| Yarn Winder | Yarn Weight | Electrical or Hand-Operated |
| Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder | 3.5 ounce | Hand-operated |
| Stanwood Needlecraft Hand-operated Winder, 4-Ounce | 4 ounce | Hand-operated |
| Craft Destiny Yarn Winder | 4 ounce | Hand-operated |
| Nancy’s Knit Knacks Heavy Winder | 1 pound (16 ounces) | Hand-operated |
| Yarn Valet Yarn Winder | ~ 9 ounce | Hand-operated |
| Boye Electric Yarn Winder | 4 ounce | Electrical |
| LAMXD Needlecraft Yarn Ball Winder | 4 ounce | Hand-operated |
| Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Winder, 10-Ounce | 10 ounce | Hand-operated |
| INTAJ Rosewood Yarn Winder | 1 pound (16 ounces) | Hand-operated |
| Marrywindix Bobbin Yarn Winder | 4 ounce | Hand-operated |
Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder
This tool from Knit Picks is one of the best tools that you can get for your knitting or crochet projects. The tool’s operation is effortless and can be used to turn skeins and hanks into compact center-pull yarn balls. It is a perfect yarn tool for lightweight yarns.
As you operate the winder, there is no strain on your wrists as you rotate the lever. In addition, the clamp on the tool is very sturdy and can be attached to any surface with a thickness of around 1.5 inches. You can use this winder for skeins of 3.5 ounces (or ~100 grams).
There is no assembly required, and you can use it straight out of the box. Just fix it on the table and fold the metal yarn guide away from the main unit. The Knit Picks Yarn Ball Winder is made using plastic material, but they are sturdy, and the tool will last for a long time. Because of its compact size, it is easy to store in your craft box.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Perfect for skeins up to 3.5 ounces
- Easy to clamp on surfaces
- Durable
- Easy to use for beginners
- Easy to store and user-friendly
Cons
- Operation is not as fast as other models
Stanwood Needlecraft Hand-operated Winder, 4-Ounce
Stanwood is a common name in households of knitting and crocheting enthusiasts. And this tool certainly matches the expectations when it comes to this brand. It is much smaller and compact compared to other yarn winders from Stanwood but is equally excellent in its operation.
This convenient tool is smoother and compact and can wind up to 4 ounces of yarn in one go creating center-pull balls of yarn. The Stanwood Needlecraft YBW-A Yarn Winder is hand-operated, and you can fix it on any surface, be it a chair, table, or anywhere that is convenient.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy to clamp on surfaces
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Clamp is not wide enough
- Can make some noise if you wind at a decent pace
Craft Destiny Yarn Winder
This yarn winder can convert skeins or hanks of yarn into ready-to-use yarn balls that can be used outside or center. It can handle up to 4 ounces of yarn at one time. Typically, you can wind up to 4 ounces in a minute, making your task so much easier and giving you so much extra time for your favorite activity of knitting or crochet.
It has a sturdy metal handle and a clamp which offers a good grip on any surface. It has a rubber covering so that it won’t damage your table or wherever you fix it.
Pros
- Simple and easy-to-use
- Clamp can fit on thick surfaces
- Sturdy design
- Yarn holder arm is stable
Cons
- Sometimes yarn gets tangled if it gets off track
Nancy’s Knit Knacks Heavy Winder
It is a huge winder that can wind up to a pound of yarn at a time. With this tool, you can certainly up your knitting or crocheting game! The Nancy’s Knit Knacks Heavy Winder is a heavy-duty and sturdy tool made with durable materials, including maple wood and steel shafts. Even the gears are commercial-grade Swiss gears.
You can rotate the yarn arm guide in 180 degrees, which ensures no strain on your arm or wrist. It is even possible to adjust the angle of the yarn supply relative to the winder. This opens a lot of possibilities of where you can attach the winder.
In addition to all these excellent features, it comes with a high-tech motor drive option. It has variable speed control, auto-slip belt drive, reverse, and slow and fast speeds.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- Can wind up to 1 pound yarn
- Easy assembly
- Flexible option of ball size and tension
Cons
- Some chances of having tangled yarn
- Bulky unit as compared to other compact models
Yarn Valet Yarn Winder
It’s the most compact yarn winder that you can get. With an ergonomic grip and easy-to-use operation, you can hold the winder with one hand. And as it is compact, it is also very lightweight, which means that you can carry it wherever you want without taking too much space.
For operation, it has a winding center where you can comfortably spin the yarn and turn it into a compact yarn ball that’s easy to use. It also has a space to store small accessories such as crochet hooks, pens, or markers.
Pros
- Compact unit
- Ergonomic and comfortable handle
- Lightweight
- Small compartment to store crochet hook
Cons
- Manual operation
Boye Electric Yarn Winder
This is an electric yarn winder that uses 120V AC power and winds the yarn by itself. There is no manual operation or hand cranking, making it much more convenient to use. If you have any wrist or arm problems, this is the perfect option as you don’t need to get involved physically in winding the yarn.
Simply read the manual, and you’re good to go! It is ideal for lightweight yarns and sometimes struggles with heavy-weight yarns in winding operation.
Pros
- Winding operation takes seconds
- No setup required
- Yarn feeder keep the yarn from getting tangled
- Uses 120V AC power
Cons
- Motor is not very powerful
- Expensive option
- Needs a power outlet closeby
LAMXD Needlecraft Yarn Ball Winder
It’s a lightweight and compact yarn winder that is fairly easy to use, even for beginners and experts alike. As it is small in size, you can carry it around anywhere. Along with all that, it doesn’t make any noise while winding the yarn.
LAMXD Needlecraft Yarn Ball Winder is not built for large projects and can only wind up to 4 ounces of yarn but it is very durable. The winder is made from high-quality and premium materials. It comes with a set of 8 crochet hooks and convenient packaging that you can carry wherever you go.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Durable and affordable
- Compact and lightweight
- Beginner-friendly
Cons
- Yarn can get stuck in metal gears
Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Winder, 10-Ounce
This model from Stanwood is much larger than the previous one and can wind yarn up to 10 ounces. No need to cut your hanks into a smaller size to make yarn cakes or balls. The base is made of sturdy and heavy metal so that it can wind up pretty decent amounts of yarn.
Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Winder is a popular heavy-duty winder that can be assembled and stored back easily. You can work with any yarn and all ranges of yarn weights. The created yarn cakes are center pull and are very compact and convenient to use.
Pros
- Winder can handle up to 10 ounces of yarn
- Sturdy and durable metal base
- Heavy duty and durable
- Suitable for use with all types of yarn and yarn weights
- Smooth, even winding operation
Cons
- Setup can be tricky for beginners
INTAJ Rosewood Yarn Winder
INTAJ Rosewood Yarn Winder is a handcrafted winder that can wind up to 15 ounces of fingering weight yarn. There is an anti-friction bearing on the spool side, which gives free rotation. It makes the operation very smooth.
There is an option to fix the winder on a bench surface so that you clamp it like other versions. It creates a yarn cake that is center-pull by hand cranking operation. It also has anti-skid rubber pads, which will prevent the winder from sliding on the table surface.
Pros
- Heavy, durable base
- Anti-friction bearings
- Smooth operation
- Wind up to 15 ounces of yarn
Cons
- Bulky yarn winder
Marrywindix Bobbin Yarn Winder
It is the most economical yarn winder that you can get your hands on for yarn winding. Marrywindix Bobbin Yarn Winder is a compact and durable tool that can wind yarn up to 4 ounces.
No particular assembly is required when it comes to setting it up. Simply attach it to any desk or table, and you’re good to go. It is also very portable and lightweight, so you can carry it wherever you are going. It can even withstand a few bumps and drops!
Pros
- Economical yarn winder
- Portable, compact, lightweight
- User friendly
Cons
- Center bobbin is little loose while spinning
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yarn winder is a tool that will save you time that you need to spend in winding the yarns into a convenient-to-use yarn balls form. It will also organize your stash and even save space by compacting leftover yarns.
Yarn cakes are what you get from using a yarn winder, while yarn ball is what you will get from hand winding. Also, when it comes to pulling the yarn, hand-wound yarn can be pulled from anywhere, but yarn from yarn winder-created balls or cakes are usually center pull.
Check out our post on Yarn Winder Guide for a detailed answer. But, in essence, it depends on your requirements and budget primarily.
To make things easier, here’s a quick checklist to consider.
– Sturdy construction – Y/N
– Easy crank system – Y/N
– Easy setup – Y/N
– Winds up to 4 oz – Y/N
– Winds up to 10 oz – Y/N
In general, a yarn winder should have a certain basic level of requirements. It needs to be sturdy, durable, easy to crank, easy to set up and come with a good set of clamps. The gears should be protected, and if possible, it needs to maintain constant tension on its own.
It all depends on your preference and budget. Price-wise, electric winders are costly, but they can speed things up by quite a bit. On the other hand, manual yarn winders are cheaper but need more effort on your side for winding the yarn.
It’s a common misconception that all plastic yarn winders are bad and of poor quality. You can get a sturdy and durable plastic yarn winder that will do the job perfectly without breaking down.
It’s not an essential item if you use a yarn winder, but it makes the whole yarn winding operation much easier and more convenient. A swift will hold the hanks in place properly without you having to figure out where or how to place it on a chair back.
Almost all yarn winders come with a user manual, and you can follow it to set up the tool at your workbench. These are the generic instructions that you can follow for the winding operation.
1. Clear a working space, preferably on a bench and set up the tools.
2. Clamp the yarn winder to the table so that it is not moving.
3. Connect the yarn to the winder and slip it through the metal yarn guide and the slot at the top of the spindle.
4. After the yarn is set up, start rotating the crank handle slowly. You will have to adjust the tension using the other hand.
5. After the winding operation is complete, hold the yarn at the top part of the winder with one hand and use the other hand to slowly remove the cake from the winder. After removing, unwind a few turns, wrap the yarn around the center, and tuck it in the end.
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