How to Wind “Slippery" Yarn on a Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder

Over the past 9-years of making the Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder, customers have made beautiful balls out of most yarns available. However, with some yarns it can be impossible to wind a good ball. Slick yarns like fine silks, superwash merino, microfiber, sock-yarn, or rayon can be especially troublesome. The problem is compounded if the ply creates a very round yarn. Because the winder spins rapidly, the yarn will slip or roll off the ball while you are winding.

If you are having trouble winding a slippery yarn on the Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder, we have a few suggestions:

- Firstly, it is VERY important when feeding any skein of yarn to the ball winder that the swift turn very freely. Any tugging, especially with slippery yarns, will pull the yarn off the ball.

- Secondly, winding speed and tension are critical. View our video for tips on using our winder below:

- If the winding technique shown in the video doesn’t keep the yarn on the ball, continue winding the ball onto the paper or a toilet paper core as shown on the video. It won’t look pretty, but it is usable. When you remove the ball, take the core off with it. Put something around the yarn to keep the ball intact until you are ready to use it. When ready to use, put the ball on a lazy kate, a free-standing toilet paper holder, or other device that will let it turn freely. You then wind off the yarn from the outside of the ball.

See our helpful video on how to wind yarn with a Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder!