• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Contemporary yarn crafts by Heidi Gustad. Knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Studio
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

DIY FYI: Starting a Skein of Yarn

November 20, 2013 3 Comments

DIY FYI: Starting a Skein of Yarn | Hands Occupied

I’ve taught a couple of people to knit over the years, and one thing a lot of people don’t know is where to start a skein of yarn. Remembering to start a skein (a.k.a. the giant machine-wound wads yarn come in at the store) from the inside will change your life. You’ll rarely have to deal with big tangles and you don’t need to waste time balling it. … And maybe then chasing after your ball when it falls off the table… and maybe then your dogs decide it’s a toy and run away with it too.

Here’s how to find the center of a skein of yarn, easy peasy:

DIY FYI: Starting a Skein of Yarn | Hands Occupied

Bonus tip: I always leave my yarn’s label on when I am knitting a project. When it starts to thin out after you’ve used a lot of it, the label helps keep it in shape.

Filed Under: DIY FYI, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: craft tips, crochet, diy, diy fyi, fyi, Knitting, skein, start a skein of yarn, yarn

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « How-to: Toothpick-Stamped Place Mats
Next Post: How-to: DIY a Knitting Loom & Knit With It »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • These Colors Won’t RunThese Colors Won’t Run
  • DIY FYI: Finger KnittingDIY FYI: Finger Knitting
  • Picks of the WeekPicks of the Week
  • A Thankful Giveaway & Pattern Sale!A Thankful Giveaway & Pattern Sale!

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Kay

    December 27, 2013 at 11:37 pm

    I’m a beginner Crocheter. Thank you for the tips! Very helpful to me.

    Reply
  2. Staci

    May 1, 2014 at 12:51 am

    I’m still a little confused. Do you search through the inside of the skein to find the end or just grab a line of yarn from inside and cut it to start using? Sorry I didn’t understand. I’ve never knitted before and am reading your posts and am going to try. I have attempted to use yarn like this with the knotting problems so hopefully I’ll figure this out and be a little closer to success.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      May 1, 2014 at 9:21 am

      Yes, reach inside the center of the skein and fish around for the end. All skeins are just one long piece of yarn wound by a machine. Never cut the inside with a scissors – that will for sure result in tangles. Just look at the animation – I reaching in the center, fished around for the end, and pulled it out. If you start a skein from the center like this, it should rarely tangle. :)

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi, an author, yarn craft designer and content creator specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. My work unapologetically features primary colors and vintage-meets-modern style. My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

Professionally I’m most known for: advanced intarsia knitting design & modern latch hook design.

work with heidi

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Get a free pattern + biweekly updates sent to your inbox.

Let’s be friends!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. / #latchhookbook out now!
.
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
A new YouTube tutorial is live today covering how A new YouTube tutorial is live today covering how to knit the Little Butterfly Stitch (aka Bowknot Stitch). It adds so much cute character to simple stockinette. Only a little funky to knit, and it packs a huge visual punch! 🦋 
.
Find the video & written stitch pattern on the blog and YouTube, links are in bio. 
.
#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
.
Yarn: @kelbournewoolens Germantown in Baby Blue via @knit_picks. Needles: Prism Interchangeables, also from Knit Picks. 
.
Pictured: a light blue swatch of Little Butterfly Stitch knitting on a pink background. A skein of yarn and a few stitches of knitting are nearby.
“You’re telling me words can be pronounced in “You’re telling me words can be pronounced in different ways and mean the same things?!” 👀 Posting this here, just to make it clear: when anyone says skayne, skeen, or skyne, it can be safely assumed we’re talking about a bundle o’ yarn,  a SKEIN. It’s not necessary to shame someone for using a word that is known to have MULTIPLE common pronunciations. 🧶
.
.
Can you plz comment sharing how you say SKEIN and where you learned it? The OED happens to say SKAYNE, but it’s not a personal attack if someone says SKEEN and you say SKYNE or even Saskatoon. I’m legitimately curious. We don’t all knit or crochet the same way, and craft evolves a bit like language - it is passed on. There is so much value in having conversations about & embracing these variations! ✌🏻
.
Pictured: A blond woman holds a skein of mustard yellow yarn up to her head like a phone, looking shocked. She’s wearing glasses & a knit sweater. 
.
#handsoccupied #heidigustad #skein #yarn #yarncraft #knit #crochet #yarnaddict #knitincolor #soldotnacrop #language #englishisweird #oed #oxfordenglishdictionary
Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather than yarn. Here’s the latest mediocre-but-improving result of my slow quest to learn to set vintage inspired curls. 💇🏼‍♀️ I’m hoping to be able to wash my hair less using a regular vintage set, but we’ll see if it ends up being practical. 😆 Hair frustrates me so much more than crafts! 
.
Do you also style your hair using vintage methods? If you have any tips for vintage hair styling or good resources to share, please do!
I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn colo I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn color suits your pooch. 😆 Navy really might be Woodrow‘s color - what do you think? 
.
Pictured: A medium sized, brown, senior dog asleep on a green bed. For some reason a donut ball of navy wool yarn sits on his head.
The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live on YouTube! Diamond Brocade is a great knit+purl only stitch for beginners or anyone wanting a classic look for their knitting project. Find the video with a written stitch pattern on the blog or head directly to the video on YouTube. Both are linked in bio. ✌🏻 
#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy