Best Yarn Swift – Buyer’s Guide (2023)

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Everything is so much easier when you are winding a yarn from a skein or a hank using a yarn swift. A yarn swift allows you to effectively wind yarns into perfect balls. When you have this tool, tangling the yarn is out of the question. Although you might prefer yarn ball winders, if you want to get yarn cakes, a yarn swift is better suited for the task.

Are you looking for a Yarn Winder? Here’s a list of our Best Yarn Winders.

These swifts are available in a number of models, but how do you know which one is the best? Read on for the top ten best yarn swifts and a guide to everything you need to know before making the purchase.

Comparison Table.

 – Best Overall Yarn Swift

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The Stanwood Needlecraft Tabletop Amish Style Wooden Yarn Swift is built from solid wood. It has been polished by extra fine sanding to a super smooth finish. The touch ensures that your yarn will never be snagged. Being free of toxic varnish fume, it is safe and one of the best you could ever buy.

The style of this yarn wood is Amish. What this means is that it can fit several skeins, even the large ones. You can make it smaller if you wish, but the only problem is where to sit. You have to pick a strategic place to sit and place for if you try to pick it up, it might come apart.

The adjustment of this yarn swift can be done simply by moving the pegs to accommodate several sizes of skeins. Its bottom comes with two pairs of non-slip pads to hold it firmly on the table. It is easy and convenient to store. You can take the pieces apart and carry or store them.

Although space might limit you, one thing is for sure. It spins smoothly and your winding is much fun and easy.

Pros

• Assembly is easy
• Spins smoothly
• Holds firmly on the table when properly set
• Easy storage

Cons

• You will have to make a decision on where to put it

Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder – Best Runner Up

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Like the Amish style yarn swift, this particular model features a wooden make with a fine touch. It boasts smooth spins and the winding process comes easy. Its craftsmanship is top notch, and with the quality construction, it is deemed to last long. If what you are looking for is something that will aesthetically please you, look no further.

There are variations to Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Yarn Swift Winder, this model is the medium sized type. It can hold skeins that are up to 6 feet in circumference. Bigger than that, you should consider the large size. It features a clamp on the base, for fixing purposes. It holds well on benches, chairs, and tables among others.

One quibble is about its clamp screw. Sometimes it tends to crack, making stability and smooth spins an issue. Luckily, you can purchase screw replacements to solve the issue. Also, the rivets holding the arms together come loose. This has been noted by several users.

Pros

• Can be packed for easy storage
• Features a strong construction for durability
• Clamps onto several thick surfaces

Cons

• Clamp screw is vulnerable to breakage
• Doesn’t have a handle you can use to skein the yard from a spindle or ball

Premium Knitter Yarn Swift Umbrella Wooden Yarn Ball Winder – Best Durable Wooden Yarn Swift

The Premium Knitter Yarn Swift Umbrella Wooden Yarn Ball Winder is perhaps the most versatile and durable model of a yarn swift on the market today. It can comfortably suit almost all sizes of hanks. With a high-quality make of birch wood, you can tell that it was made to last.

The yarn boasts an ergonomic design with an umbrella style. This is ideal for the accommodation of several sizes of hanks. It is held down by thick screws to ensure that wherever you place them, it grips firmly, saving you the inconvenience of having to start all over again.

The yarn swift offers you a fun and smooth experience, whether you are using a skein or a hank. It can be folded into a compact design for storage or carrying around. It has a squeak-free rotation that saves you time as you wind your yarns.

The only problem some users have encountered is that the screw holding all the pieces together often comes loose. Others claim that it is a bit tight, that is, it doesn’t spin easily. Some wish the screws were made of metal.Pros

• A strong and sturdy construction
• Accommodates almost all sizes of hanks
• Smooth and doesn’t snag the yarn

Cons

• Like other wooden yarns, the rivet holding the arms together often breaks
• Some users claim that spinning is a bit stiff

ChiaoGoo Amish Design Wooden Yarn Swift – Best Tabletop Design

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The ChiaoGoo Amish Design Wooden Yarn Swift is a tool that features a smooth finish. It promises quick and fun winding of yarns. The swift is big enough to ensure that even large skeins can comfortably fit. The maximum circumference is 62 inches, which is sufficient enough for most of your applications.

The yarn, being an Amish design, makes it even better suited for large skeins. The adjustable pegs allow you to adjust them according to the size of the of the hank. The whole unit can be easily set up on a table for the process to be flawless. It doesn’t have any clamps and it can be placed flat on the floor or the surface. The non-skid pads on the bottom of the fixture ensure that it doesn’t slip or move as you wind your yarn.The only disadvantage to the ChiaoGoo Amish Design Wooden Yarn Swift is the design. It doesn’t fold down for storage or portability. However, some customers have found that the process of dismantling it is effortless. Other than that, it is a recommended product that you should own.Pros

• The whole unit is simple to use
• Can accommodate several sizes of yarn loops
• Doesn’t have clamps and can be placed flat on the table or surface
• Comes with a smooth finish

Cons

• Cannot be folded down for storage
• Doesn’t have screws for securing the arms together

U-nitt Wooden Yarn Swift – Best for Smoothness

If you are scouting for one of the best yarn swifts you can use on the go, the U-nitt Wooden Yarn Swift is all you need. With this swift, you can say goodbye to using your feet to hold the hank. The process is slow, but with this tool, the smoothness and rotations it offers will make it a thing of the past.

The swift is made of solid wood and is finely sanded for the best smoothness and fun process. It is safe to use as the sanding was done without any harmful materials. Setting it up is fairly easy compared to other models on the market. The adjustable circumference lies between 34 inches and 60 inches. This means it can be used for several types of hank for your yarn.

You can set the unit on a table and get it spinning with ease as you wind your yarn. You can also use it with a ball winder for even better results. Despite guaranteeing utmost satisfaction, the unit is wobbly. Many users have complained about this setback, but considering the cost, the functionality, and the simple design, anyone would recommend it to you.Pros

• The design is sleek and aesthetically pleasing
• Has a high performance
• Spins smoothly without tangling the yarn

Cons

• The whole fixture is wobbly
• A user complained that it produces tight balls of yarn

Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder – Best Large Umbrella Swift

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The only difference between this model and the other Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder is that it is large. The make is a solid wood design with a finely sanded finish. Everything about it is smooth and fun. If the small size couldn’t do what you desired, this will do. It can hold skeins of up to 8.5 feet in circumference.

The swift sits stably on a table or a chair with a clamp on base. For this reason, you can easily set it up on the edges of the surface you desire. The metal tying wires have been designed into small holes to keep you and the yarn safe. Your yarn is safe from breakage. Its umbrella style gives it a touch of elegance and it can open very wide for various applications.

The Stanwood Needlecraft Wooden Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder works great. It is strong and durable. Although others might find it too large for some applications, it comes highly recommended. You might not also like the hemp ties that hold the arms together. It often breaks, making them all loose.

 

Pros

• Made of quality wood for durability
• Clamps on edges of up to 1.75 inches thick
• Large for a maximum of 8.5 feet
• Works on chairs benches and tables

Cons

• Space might be a limitation
• The hemp ties are flimsy

KnitPicks Yarn Swift – Best Design Yarn Swift

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The Knitpicks Yarn Swift is a great addition to any crocheter or knitter. It is made of strong wood and for extra longevity, some metal components have been incorporated into the design. Metal screws come with plastic stoppers to ensure that there are no scratches when you clamp the fixture on a surface.

It is versatile enough to hold yarns of various circumferences from 26 inches to 68 inches. Coupled with this is the umbrella design, which makes it even more convenient. Umbrella clamp can comfortably hold various diameters. It is simple to use and it spins smoothly, making the whole idea of winding the yarn time saving and suitable for various purposes.

Although the KnitPicks Yarn Swift has an ergonomic design and is highly durable, moving it up and down might be a challenge. As such, you might need to use polish, wax, or whatever works for you to ensure that the process is flawless.You should seriously consider this particular yarn swift if you are looking to save space. Umbrella designs are better than tabletops. The KnitPicks Yarn Swift is flexible even on unique yarns. You also don’t have to worry about redoing hanks.Pros

• Made of wood for durability
• The setting up process is effortless
• Clamps on several sizes of table or chair inches

Cons

• You might find it a little stiff when using. Wax or polish will keep the axle movable

Cutehill Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder – Best Budget Umbrella Swift

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Solidly built, the Cutehill Umbrella Swift Yarn Winder is a popular choice for yarn enthusiasts. It requires little effort while setting it up and its use is straightforward. The yarn swift can be used for several winding processes. It can wind yarns, fiber, laces, and lines among other types of strings. Away from its affordability, it is highly durable than most types of yarn swifts

The yarn swift features a make of both plastic and metal, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Some users have complained that the metal loops catch the yarns at the end of the swift’s arms. Similarly, the clamp isn’t as smooth as you would want it to be. It leaves some marks on the surface it is placed on.

On the brighter side, it lasts long and the rotational process is smooth. This spinning action saves you time as you wind the yarn and the tension is kept stable. The yarn swift works well when clamped on a table or a chair and is foldable to a small and a compact design for easy storage. It can accommodate a one-yard skein.Pros

• Has a beautiful and an admirable design
• Highly versatile and it can be used on several types of strings
• Very durable
• Has smooth rotations

Cons

• Metal loops catch the yarn
• The clamp leaves a mark on the surface it is fixed on

Windaze Knitting Umbrella Yarn Swift – Best for Ease of Use

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The Windaze Knitting Umbrella Yarn Swift features a material design of plastic and alloy. What this means is that you will get satisfactory service for long. It is versatile and can be used to wind several types of strings effortlessly. The unit is a machine for the hand-operated winder, which makes it convenient, but will take some time to get used to.

Any enthusiast of crocheting and knitting would recommend the product. It makes winding of the yarns as well as other strings into balls better and much easier than telling someone else to hold it for you. It features a clamp-on base that can be attached to table, chairs, benches and other surfaces firmly.

Despite its amazing features, it has setbacks too. The alloy ends catch the yarn and may lead to entanglement. Also, the yarn swift comes in pieces and you are tasked with putting it all together. Considering there are no instructions that come with it, it might be quite challenging. But in all fairness, it compactly folds for easy storage. It also makes perfect yarn cakes.Pros

• Work exceptionally well with winders
• Versatile for yarns and other strings
• Runs smoothly
• Makes perfect cakes
• Has a durable design

Cons

• Yarn may get entangled on hooks
• The yarn swift needs some assembly after the purchase

Lacis Swift Yarn Winder – Best for Versatility

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This is another yarn swift product that is made of durable plastic and alloy, which is a guarantee of durability. It has been specifically designed to meet all your winding needs. It can be used for a variety of uses and is ideal for several sizes of yarns and easy balling off hanks. The maximum circumference of strings it can support is 60 inches.

The Lacis Swift Yarn Winder comes with table clamps for increased performance while fitted on a table, a chair, or any other surface. Stability is further enhanced by wooden screws that ensure it holds firmly in place. This also allows the yarn and swift to make rotations smooth as you wind your skeins. It doesn’t come with a ball winder.

The swift also features an integral handle that you can use as a winder. The instructions that accompany the purchase allows you to quickly get it working in no time. However, some users have a few complaints. The metal loops that hold the plastic components for the yarn occasionally gets hung on the loop, which could be a nuisance. Adjusting the fixture up and down also takes a while.

Pros

• Versatile for several string types
• Holds firmly on the surface it is placed on
• Durable enough to give you a considerable time of service

Cons

• The yarn can get caught on the loops
• Adjusting it vertically and horizontally takes a while

Schacht Goko – Best Vertical Yarn Swift

A lot of people say it looks like a steampunk Ferris wheel. It is actually a Japanese design, that’s based on industrial swifts.

It’s very smooth and especially good for fine yarns, like lace weight yarn, or more delicate fibers. But I’ve used it for all different weights of yarn and content. I mostly use it for sock yarn that’s wool or wool blend.

This Traditional Japanese winding tool is excellent for winding silk and delicate yarns. Holds Skeins 57 – 64in. in circumference.

What I really like it for is re-skeining. What I mean is that if I wind a hank of yarn into a ball thinking that I’m going to start a project with it, but then for whatever reason the project doesn’t get off the ground or I end up frogging the project, then I use the Goko to re-skein the yarn back into hank form.

The Goko consists of a wooden base, with two arms extending upward. It weighs six pounds and can sit on the table or on the floor. At the top of the wooden arms are slots into which the metal wheel is inserted.

The wheel itself is made from aluminum and it is a bit fragile, I mean it could easily get bent out of shape, if it were dropped or handled roughly. So you do have to be a little careful with it.

On the other hand, the lightweight flexibility of the thin metal is part of what makes it work so well. To use it as a yarn swift, you remove the wheel and place the open hank around the outside of the wheel.

The wheel is adjustable, but not as much as the other types of swifts. The Goko can only be adjusted to hold skeins with a circumference of 57 to 64 inches, which is what, four and a half feet to a little over five feet? So its adjustability is a lot more limited than the others.

To adjust it, you just loosen the bolts on the side of the wheel and then turn the side panels, which in turn makes the arms of the wheel kind of shrink in or expand outward. So you can see it does adjust a bit, but not a lot.

Storage is an issue with this swift, it does not break down in any way to fit into a smaller space for storage. So like with the Amish style swift, you do have to figure out a place to store it. But I know some people like to leave it out because it’s interesting looking and adds character to their craft room.

Now the Goko is not as common as the umbrella swift, or the Amish table swift, at least I haven’t seen it mentioned a lot in the knitting world. I do like mine and have used it quite a bit. Like I said, I do use it for re-skeining a lot, because it’s easier to spin this lightweight metal wheel than the wood umbrella swift.

Etsy for $85. The vertical swift that I have is called a Goko swift and it is made by the Schact company. I purchased my Goko swift from The Woolery online a couple of years ago. I just looked and the current pricing is around $150. Now I have seen DIY versions of this type of vertical yarn swift. People have made them out of PVC pipe and even Tinker Toys. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find specific instructions for those, but if I can, I will put links below. Because that would be a savings if you’re looking for economy. But if you’re interested in something different or smoother than other swifts, or maybe an easier way to re-skein yarn, that doesn’t cost as much as some of the other re-skeiners out there, then the Schahct Goko swift might just be right for you. Do You Need a Ball Winder?

Whether you need a ball winder to use with the yarn swift is another significant factor to consider before making the purchase. But, why would you need a ball winder? If you need to save lots of time, then you need a winder. It will allow you to make a perfect center pull yarn cakes. The process is much simpler, clean, and fun! One thing though, ensure that the ball winder you get is compatible with the type of yarn swift you have. You should also know how to use the combination without damaging the yarn.

Material and Quality

The most popular types of yarn swifts are the wooden styles. They are mostly made of birch wood, for durability and easy handling. Wooden yarn swifts are also lightweight and can be stored easily. They feature fine polishes and few metal components like screws for better performance in terms of spinning and winding.

Although wooden yarn swifts are durable, the plastic types with metal alloys give them a run for the money. These types fold compactly into small designs for easy storage. The only problem is that most of them will have the yarn getting caught on the loops. This might be an unpleasant distraction for any knitter.

While the two have different benefits and limitations, some have been designed to meet the exact specifications and the quality you desire. Quality is a vital thing to look at. You don’t want something that is cheaply made. It will only last you a few uses before it gets broken.

Space

The workspace you use to knit or crochet or simply wind the yarn shouldn’t be disregarded. Don’t let the design fool you. Folded, the umbrella design might consume lots of space when opened. The Amish styles are no better. They take up lots of space, especially the ones used to hold large sizes of strings.

Other Things to Consider

Pay close attention to the ease of setup of the whole fixture. It might get challenging for first-time users. How smoothly the wooden design is finished is another thing. Ensure it is finely sanded to keep you and the yarn safe during the process. Whether it is adjustable for different circumferences entirely depends on your specific application.

Yarn Swift Vs. Winding By Hand

Before my friend gifted me the yarn swift, I had been either having the yarn wound at the yarn store or winding it by hand. When I discovered that winding hanks into balls and letting them sit for long periods of time could cause them to stretch out, I only had the yarn store wind my yarn if I planned to use it immediately.

A yarn swift makes winding by hand so much easier. Instead of having a friend hold it or wrapping it around a dining room chair, the yarn swift holds the yarn nice and taut, spinning around as you pull the yarn. If you need to take a break from winding, you merely put down the ball you’ve wound so far and returned to it later. The swift holds everything right where it should be.

Pair that yarn swift with a ball winder as I did, and you’ll be in heaven.

Setting Up A Yarn Swift

Setting up a yarn swift is simple. Your swift probably has a mount, and you can attach it to anything from a countertop edge to a dining room table. I also like to wind yarn outside on the porch.

The swift I recommend to use is the yarn swift from KnitPicks, To mount it, I place it on edge, then twist the metal screw until the swift feels secure.

Using A Yarn Swift To Wind Yarn

Unwrap the hank of yarn and remove the label, if it has one. The yarn should form one big circle. Don’t untie it just yet!

Place the circle of yarn around the yarn swift and hold it as you open the swift like an umbrella. Push up on the centre of the swift until the hank is taut. You don’t want a loose yarn swift. Otherwise, the yarn could fall right off. Secure the swift by tightening the screw on the side. You’ll notice that the hank of yarn is held together by small bits of yarn. Some hanks have only one, while others might have three or even four. Remove these bits of yarn.

The rest is easy. Grab one end of the yarn and start winding it either onto a ball winder or your fingers. As you pull, the yarn swift will turn, all the while holding the yarn in place.

One note here: Be sure the end you’re pulling from is on the outside of the swift. Pulling from the end of the yarn that’s laying on the inside of the swift will interrupt the flow of the swift and make pulling the yarn much more difficult.

Keep winding until there’s no more yarn on the swift.

Storing A Yarn Swift

One thing that stopped me from buying a yarn swift in the past was the storage. Where on earth would I put such a huge tool? If I had checked into it more, I would’ve realized that yarn swifts are collapsible! My yarn swift even came with a neat little produce bag so that I could slide it inside. It’s small enough to fit in any closet, bag, or even in under-the-bed storage.

Don’t want to spend a lot of money on a yarn swift? Try to find a used one or try winding your yarn by hand.

How To Use A Yarn Swift to Wind Yarn