Sometimes, the silver lining in the cloud is actually platinum…
While changing skeins in some hand-paint, I realized that there would be a much smoother transition if some mixing of the two could take place.
This, but of course, is a popular technique where you alternately knit a couple of rows using two – different balls of yarn until it looks nice and mingled with no pooling…
Trouble was, I’d used all but a couple of yards of the first yarn AND because I’d continued knitting a section upwards, I couldn’t simply rip back to free up a few rows worth of yarn. Talk about complicated!
Then I remembered: The Swatch.
It just might have enough to do the trick added to the small amount on hand.
So I frogged it – using my ball winder.
Then it occurred to me –
The center of the winder could be detached from its base.
So, I took it off the winder and lightly moistened the outside of the new skein.
Then, I stuck the whole thing in a sandwich-sized plastic bag and MICROWAVED it for 20 seconds.
VOILA!
Un-kinked fluffy yarn (cooled down of course.) !!
**…note…pictures taken after microwaving & I realized how cool this was! ;p
Brilliant idea to microwave the kinks out!
You are brilliant!
You are the MacGyver of knitting.
I can’t even add to these comments! You are the bomb! ;-) Now…can I do that with an entire sweater’s worth? ;-)
Would it have worked the same if you removed the yarn from the winder shaft?
Patty – I was wondering about a bigger quantity too – pretty sure you would have to moisten the ball at a few points during the winding process to enable later “steam” action to the interior of the ball –
Not sure about removing the yarn from the shaft – but I think a little tension on the yarn didn’t hurt…
& Michele – the only time I’ve “skeined” knit yarn then de-kinked, I totally immersed the whole thing in water and soaked for awhile. The water put tension/weight on the yarn somewhat.
Sounds like a future “science” experiment I’d like to try!! ;p
Gotta admit you are one smart cookie.
Ye dogs and little fishes, we’re using the same ball winder. I feel so special now…. I will have to remember this for unkinking swatches.
hahahahahaaa – we are both so very special!!! And blessings on you sista for SWATCHING! Sometimes, it seems like that’s a “lost art”.
I’ve had this winder forever! Just saw a super-sized one at a LYS and it was so exciting! The spindle area was at least twice as large, maybe 3?