1. Prepare the Skein
Open the skein by untwisting it carefully to form a loop. Lay it on a flat surface or hang it over something like the back of a chair. Ensure the strands aren’t tangled and identify where the skein starts and ends (often tied together with a knot or some loose yarn).
2. Use a Yarn Swift (Optional)
If you have a yarn swift, place the looped skein onto the swift. The swift holds the yarn in place and spins as you wind the ball. It helps prevent tangling, but if you don’t have one, you can ask someone to hold the skein between their hands, or you can place it over your knees or a chair.
3. Locate the Ends
Untie any small pieces of yarn holding the skein together and find the two ends. Pick one to start with, ideally the one that pulls out smoothly.
4. Start Winding the Ball by Hand
Begin by wrapping the yarn around your fingers loosely to form a small core. Once you have a small bundle, slip it off your fingers and start winding the yarn around this small core. Wrap loosely and turn the ball frequently to ensure even winding.
5. Create a Center-Pull Ball (Optional)
If you want a center-pull ball, you can hold the end of the yarn in the center while winding around it, so the yarn can be pulled from the inside later.
6. Keep Winding
Continue wrapping the yarn around the ball, rotating the ball as you go to create a round shape. Keep the tension even, and avoid pulling too tight to prevent stretching the yarn.
7. Finish
Once the entire skein is wound into a ball, tuck the outer or center end into the ball to keep it secure.