How to Wind a Yarn Ball: Center Pull and Outer Pull

Table of Contents

Winding your yarn into a ball before you knit is one of those small habits that makes everything easier. So let’s take a look at how to wind a yarn ball. Knitting straight from a skein works until it doesn’t, and once you’ve dealt with a tangled mess you never want to go back. The good news is you don’t need any special equipment to do it. Just your hands and a few minutes.

In this tutorial I’ll show you two ways to wind a yarn ball by hand: a simple outer pull ball and a center pull ball that feeds from the inside so it stays put while you knit. There’s a full video below so you can follow along.

How to Wind a Yarn Ball by Hand: Outer Pull and Center Pull

What You’ll Need

Your yarn
Your hands
A few minutes

Why the Pull Direction Matters

When you wind a yarn ball, the way the yarn feeds out as you knit makes a real difference in how it behaves. An outer pull ball rolls around as you work from it. A center pull ball sits still because the yarn comes from the inside. Neither is wrong, they just behave differently, and knowing how to wind both means you can choose whichever works best for your project.

How to Wind a Yarn Ball: Outer Pull

An outer pull ball is the faster of the two to wind and works great for most everyday knitting.

Start by wrapping the yarn around your four fingers a whole bunch of times. Once you’ve built up a good chunk, slide it off your fingers and give it a little twist. Squish it in half so it’s easier to handle, and now you’ve got something that actually resembles a ball.

From there, wind five or six times in one direction, then rotate the ball and wind five or six more. Keep rotating and winding until your skein is used up.

One thing to watch for as you knit from it: the yarn will sometimes fold back on itself and create a little slipknot-looking tangle. Just stop and work it out when that happens, then keep going.

How to Wind a Center Pull Ball

A center pull ball takes a few more steps but it’s worth it. The yarn feeds from the inside so the ball sits still in your lap instead of rolling across the floor while you knit.

Step 1: Anchor the Tail on Your Thumb

Leave a tail of several inches and wrap the yarn around your thumb to anchor it. Let the tail dangle down through your fingers. Not too tight, because you need to be able to slide the yarn off later. Some people use a toilet paper roll for this step, but your thumb works just as well and it’s always with you.

Step 2: Build the Core

Wrap the yarn around your thumb several times, back and forth. Keep an eye on that tail the whole time and make sure it isn’t getting wrapped up into the ball. Keep it dangling. This is a great thing to do while watching TV because once you get the rhythm going it’s pretty mindless.

Step 3: Slide Off and Jam Your Thumb Back In

Once you’ve got a good amount wrapped, scootch the yarn off your thumb. Take your thumb completely out, then jam it right back in. If you leave your thumb in while you keep winding it gets uncomfortably tight, so out and back in.

Step 4: Wind and Rotate

Wind five or six times, rotate the ball, wind a few more, rotate again. Keep checking that center tail to make sure it stays free.

If you hit a spot where the yarn folds back on itself and makes a little slipknot, stop and work it out before you continue.

Step 5: Secure the End

When the ball is as big as you want it, cut the yarn. Take the outside tail, pull it snug, and wrap it around the ball a few times. Tuck the end under those tight wraps to secure it. It might come loose, but if it does you just rewrap and tuck again.

Pull from the center and the yarn feeds out freely. That’s your center pull ball.

Tips for Winding a Yarn Ball by Hand

Keep the center tail free the whole time. This is the one thing that trips people up. Check it every few winds to make sure it isn’t getting buried.

Don’t wind too tight. You want the ball to hold its shape but not stretch the yarn. A relaxed, even tension is what you’re after.

Work out tangles as you go. If the yarn folds back on itself and creates a little knot, stop and fix it right then. It’s much easier to deal with a tangle early than after you’ve wound another dozen rounds over it.

Final Thoughts

Winding yarn by hand is one of those things that feels a little awkward the first time and then becomes second nature. The outer pull ball is quick and easy. The center pull takes a little more attention but gives you a ball that just sits there and behaves itself while you knit. Try both and see which one you reach for.