The Yarn Swift

I finally broke down and bought a swift. I love it. I am actually disappointed when I order yarn and it arrives already wound in a skein. There is something about winding from a swift onto the dibble that is very relaxing. It is a fiber sensuous experience. All addicted knitters know what I mean.

I like the gentle whirring sound of the swift as it turns.

Aside from its therapeutic function, the swift has paid for itself many times over in saving yarn for me. I have to admit to several knitting failures a year. The failures occur for many reasons, i.e. the fabric I envisioned is not the same as the reality, the stitch is boring and I can't force myself to pick it up again, the stitch is so complicated that I can't force myself to concentrate...I could go on and on.

Of course, my failures cause both disappointment and guilt. The disappointment arises from not successfully implementing a particular yarn that I like, the guilt from wasted money! Since I bought my swift, I "reverse engineer" my failures. My end product a beautiful skeins of yarn ready to be knit into a successful and satisfying project.

Technique:

The Swift:

• Open and lock swift to its widest circumference.
• If you have already seamed your failure, unseam!
• Taking one piece of fabric at a time, find the last stitch. Undo the knot.
• Tie end of last stitch to your swift.
• Unravel fabric by turning the swift.
• When you reach the first attachment of yarn, stop.
• You have a hank of yarn on your swift.
• Using scrap yarn tie the hank while still on the swift in 4 equally spaced places. Do not tie tightly. Just tight enough to surround all the strands of yarn. Leave long tails on each of the ties.
• Collapse the swift.
• Don't gasp. What looked like a beautiful skein of yarn now looks like curly spaghetti.
• Continue in this fashion until all the yarn is wound.

The Bath Tub

• Fill your tub with cold to tepid water.
• Drop all your curly skeins into tub.
• Be sure that they are all submerged. Keep pushing the skeins down until each skein is thoroughly soaked and heavy with water. Your aim is to be sure that every strand is wet.
• While yarn is soaking gather a few clothes hangars.
• Pick up the skeins, one at a time, by one of the ties. Tie the skein to the hangar. It should be dripping.
• Do this with each skein.
• Hang the hangar over the shower head. The skeins will be furiously dripping.
• When the dripping has stopped, you can move the hangar to wherever convenient.
• After the skeins are dry, place on swift and rewind into a ball.

The Miracle

• Your yarn is as beautiful as the day you brought it home from the store.

In response to the article, I recently received the following email. I loved the story and wanted to share it with all of you.

"I have a dear friend in Michigan who has had a swift for years and when I'd purchase yarn while visiting her, she'd make the hanks into balls for me. The first time we did it together, something went 'awry' and the ball literally flew off the swift into the air and went spinning about the living room on the floor. We collapsed into hysterical laughter (our husbands were just looking at us like perhaps we'd gone nuts - - which maybe we had) and I thought "anything this fun should be owned by EVERYone!"

Anyway - - I'm off to read what you have to say. Thanks so much for taking the time to put these things together for us knitters. It is very much appreciated!"

Sharon Opsal

After reading the above article, Lowry Heussler sent us this vignette.

I've always used a swift--they're wonderful. Thought you'd enjoy this story about antique swifts. I took my nephews (9 year old twins and a 6 year old) to the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, MA. The museum has glass cases with all manner of whaling memorabilia, including items made from scrimshaw. The centerpiece of the whole display was a huge, incredibly delicate swift!

Imagine one of our little Japanese swifts but much bigger, and made entirely of hand carved whale's tooth. Each slat was delicately carved and jointed in three places. It was adjustable, but not collapsible. So the tour guide, clearly enjoying this part of the trip, says with an

evil grin, "Now who can tell me what this is?" And, naturally, my 6 year old nephew looked at her as though she has asked him to identify a spoon, said: "It's a swift for winding up yarn!"