Hank + Skein + Ball + Cake {Yarn Chatter}

Since we are on the topic of yarn…

Yarn schmarn.

We love yarn.

I thought we could share some yarn this and that's.

If you love yarn, chances are you looooove yarn.

If you don't love yarn, chances are it might give you the heebiejeebies.

I love making scarfs and hats all winter long.

Using all sorts of mixed yarn and colors.

Every now and then you'll find yourself with some gasp worthy yarn.

This is hand made yarn, an invaluable gift which I cherish greatly.

Isn't it scrumptious?

While on the topic of yarn, I thought I'd share some yarn facts.

Which you may or may not know.

This hand made yarn came in a hank.

I am sure you have seen hanks of yarn at yarn shops?

They look like this below as well.

Have you ever bought a delicious hank of beautiful yarn, only to realize you don't know what the heck it is or how to use it?

I mean, it's yarn, why won't it unroll?

When you untwist a hank of yarn you will find a big loop of yarn, with a couple ties to keep it from tangling.

If you have ever bought a hank of yarn as a newbie, and tried to go home and use it, you probably have found yourself with a tangled hot mess?

That's because a hank of yarn is one step away from being usable for crocheting or knitting.

You first need to get it in a place where it will easily unroll as you use it.

And in hank form, it's not.

The best thing is to roll it into a ball or a cake.

Or more easily in my book, roll it around the cardboard you find in toilet paper or paper towels.

Most owner operated yarn stores will roll the yarn for you as a courtesy when you buy a hank.

But sometimes you don't have that luxury.

So then what?

If you don't have a man's arms to stand still for you…

Or the proper gadget that does it for you…

Then all you need are two chairs.

Tricky good eh?

Untwist your hank, then put it around two chairs like below, separating the chairs until the hank is secure and taught around the chairs.

Then carefully untie or cut the ties you see at the arrows below.

I then take a loose end of the yarn and tape it with the yarn packaging (so I have that info on hand when I run out of yarn) to the paper towel cardboard center.  (I also like to fold the carboard so that it's flat, but you don't have to.)

Then I just unwind about 10 loops from the hank, and let it puddle on the floor while I roll my yarn onto the cardboard.

I do this over and over until I am done.

And all the yarn is on my cardboard, like below.

You can also make a ball around a knitting needle using this technique.

It takes about 20 – 30 minutes to do this with one hank of yarn.

I love when my yarn is rolled onto a cardboard center.

It's so easy to use, and since I can be a numb-skull, it makes it so I don't end up with a lump of yarn mess.

So, there you go, that's the tale of a hank of yarn.

But what is a skein of yarn?

This is a skein of yarn below.

The typical yarn you see at the store, in ready to use form.

This, below, could be called a ball or a cake of yarn.

It is in ready to use form too.

It's more like a cake of yarn, but I call anything remotely roundish a ball of yarn.

I pretty much call anything that isn't a skein, a ball of yarn 😉

This to me is a ball of yarn, but some folks call it a donut.

Or a bundle.

Or, who knows what?

Haha!

(It's also ready to use)

If you want to get really technical, you can look at this proper list of terms, here.

I like to call it delicious furry stuff.

Furry magical stuff.

Scrumptious wooly goodness?

Woolly?

Got any other ideas?

The only thing I don't like woolly are apples.

Or maybe underwear made out of wool.

Or a sweater in summer.

Or, or…

Oh but, I did make my aunt a wool bikini once.

What was I thinking?

Haha!

Whatever you call it…

It's delicious.

And fun.

You can double it up, triple it up.

Mix it up.

Make hats, make flowers.

Put vintage brooches in flowers.

Mix yarn and ribbon.

Mix yarn and gold thread.

Mix yarn and….

Well, you get the point.

Yumm yumm.

Make random flower thingamabobs and crochet them together until you get a wonky throw.

Make yourself some mouse ears.

Make so many scarves, you have a different one for each day.

Put all your yarn pieces you have ever made on at once, and smash your makeupless face behind a camera for a scary selfie 😉

Then squint like you have never squinted before.

For shame!

Let long pieces drape from the ends of your scarf, like colorful sparkly hair.

Just don't use the paper shredder while wearing.

Or stand next to an airplane propeller.

Just sayin'.

Don't say I didn't warn ya 😉

Make a beyond bright blanket to run around the neighborhood draped in, ensuring no on will run you over because they didn't see you.

Or maybe they're just avoiding you because they think you are a nut.

But who would ever think that, I mean really?

But by golly, beware of cardboard thieves.

You don't want them to unroll that darn hank you spent all evening rolling up, do you??

😉

Yarn chatter.

I like it.

Aha.

Got any yarn tips for me?

Yarn tales?

Yarn dreams?

Yarn hopes??

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

 ps:  I also don't like what happens to a beloved wool sweater when washed and then thrown into the dryer on high heat for 60 mins.

Hello doll size.

Hee heee!

Ever happen to you?

 Makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Goes in adult size, comes out ridiculously small.

Smaller than small.

All tight and tiny.

You stick your hand into the dryer, pull it out, and literally, the expression on one's face.

Hard to believe, horror, what the?!

Hahahehehee!

Takes a moment to digest, ha!

 

 

pss:  Just to note, I do not know much technical stuff about crochet.

I learned just by sitting behind my grandma, and watching her weave away about 15 years ago. 

I got the hang of it pretty easily, in just a few minutes, and then she showed me a handful of different weaves.  I don't know the names, and when I try to look at crochet books it's totally confusing to me. 

Point is, you can make all sorts of things just by learning a few stitches from a fellow crocheter.  Then playing around on your own until you are comfortable with it.

If you want to make a hat, just keep going in a circle instead of a line.

For flowers I just invent as I go. 

I weave a little circle, than I add petals just by using different weaves and playing around.

I never know exactly what I do.

It's so much easier than it looks in books though.

So, my tip?

Sit behind someone as they crochet.

You will get the hang of it so easily that way.

Don't be afraid to sit around trying different weaves and such.

That is what I did.

Every time I make something I just wing it.

Like those mouse ears, I just wove around hoping for the best.

After lots of trial and error you'll be making all sorts of things.

Common sense will totally guide you.

 🖤