Large Yarn Winder Large Capacity 10-16 oz - Hand Operated Metal Jumbo Yarn Winder - Durable Crochet Tools & Accessories

Easy to use. Works on large capacity yarn skeins. I especially like the stabilizing plate that keeps it from wobbling. Has not scratched/marred my work table. Seems to be solid construction. Been going strong now through dozens and dozens of various skeins in my "stash". The yarn cakes make the knitting machine function much more smoothly and make crochet easier - no more chasing yarn balls. Also, the yarn cakes store much better on the shelf. This was a good investment that I expect to be using years from now.

Easy to use once I followed the directions properly. Definitely need a yarn swift with it for maximum efficiency. Works just as well as the electric one at my yarn store.

This is not a paid review. I am a genuine customer who ordered and tried out four different brands of (mechanical, not electrical) yarn ball winders, and this one was far superior to any of them.Let me begin by addressing a common reasoning for the bad reviews I have seen on this product. They seem to have rated it poorly due to tangles. Any yarn winder can end up creating tangles if you don’t help guide the yarn, provide a bit of tension, and go at a reasonable pace when winding. You should watch your resulting work as you go and monitor it to make sure it is right.Now, onto the review:Stability: this aspect was ranked number one in my list of factors to consider when choosing a yarn ball winder. All of the other winders I have tried had issues with either the stability of the winder base/crank or the standing yarn guides that feed the working end of yarn. On most of them, the standing metal yarn guide kept shaking dangerously (and making a ton of noise.) This machine stabilizes the standing metal yarn guide with a sturdy plate UNDER the main product base. I experienced no problems with shaking, sliding, or instability.Capacity: this product can handle and produce super large yarn balls (I think I worked almost an entire pound of yarn onto one ball), bigger than any other brand I have tried. Most other winders on the market (at least those for home use) seem to have a fraction of this product’s capacity.Compatibility: works with a range of desk ledge heights, and all sorts of yarn. I had no issues using this product even with the chunkiest yarn I own.Ease of use: super easy to set-up, dismantle, and store. Works right every time with minimal hassle.Noise: this product was less noisy compared to others.Durability: I have used the product for over a year now, and I believe it will probably last me for a decade at least.Please note: some of the winders with metal gears ended up producing METAL SHAVINGS literally all over the place. Avoid those, for sure.Usage tip: go slow when using it, especially at first. Continuously monitor the thread/yarn for tangles. If you end up with a tangled part, immediately stop the winding/cranking, and carefully reverse the direction of rotation as you untangle the yarn by hand. This takes a fair bit of attention and patience. Tangles don’t happen often unless you are trying to wind the ball super fast.

Some assembly required and the printed instructions aren't very clear about it. There is a link that leads you to the company’s website, which then requires you to sign in, and then you can see an instructional video on assembly... Which is posted on YouTube. The assembly runaround is worth a star dedution, in my opinion.But once it's ready to go, the yarn glides right on through.

7/17/24 - Olikraft Large Capacity Yarn Winder 10-16 oz - Hand Operated Stainless Steel Yarn Ball Winder, Sturdy Yarn Spinner, Perfect for Crocheting, Durable Crochet Tools & AccessoriesI have a smaller Yarn Winder, purchased from Knit Picks at least a decade ago. Back then, I used to be able to get 100 yards of their Fingering Superwash Merino yarn in a ball. I have 20 125-yard skeins of DK Merino that I need to wind into balls. There's no way my smaller yarn winder can handle the job. So, I started searching for a large yarn winder.After much searching and reading a lot of comments on many large yarn winders, I settled on this one by Olikraft. I'm glad I took my time. There were many that claimed to be Large yarn winders, that weren't. This one met my needs. I didn't realize ir, at the time, but my "DK" yarn, purchased from France, is thicker than other DK weight Merino I've purchased in the US. In some places, it's closer to #4 Medium or Aran Weight yarn (a little thicker than Worsted Weight, here in the U.S). I did wind the yarn firmly, but not tight. Subsequently, I nearly maxed out the maximum capacity of the winder. The ball winder was easy to assemble and I had all of my skeins wound into balls within a couple of hours.FYI - This yarn winder was perfect for my needs. If I recall, correctly, the info on this winder indicated that it could wind a much larger capacity of yarn than I believe it can handle.

Works well with Hanks and umbrella. Larger skeins and regular size skiens. Of my daughter and I use.

I've had the old small ball winder for a long time. This changes the game though. I was able to wind cat 4, 1 lb yarn skeins into nice, tight balls. The cat 5 I had got a little squirrely, not sure if it was because the yarn slid off itself, or due to my pace. I just slowed down and it worked great. I will say this. When you go from a small ball winder to this, the small movements on the winder are exaggerated (you are cranking a larger gear, so the turns feel different in your hand). It was slightly surprising that I had to get used to my new tension and pace due to this. The assembly instructions weren't awesome, but there are only 3 pieces, and logic+ experience gets you there (hopefully). Altogether. I can't tell you how happy I am to have this wonderful new addition in my life!

All in all I am pleased with this product. Construction is solid and not cheap feeling in any way. I love the large capacity. The plate that it uses to provide the guide for yarn isn't my favorite but i'm learning and adapting. For it's job performance I have nothing bad to say. Produces a very tidy cake that center pulls to the very last inch of yarn, no unruly ball of knots to deal with. If only it came with an assistant to wind it for me.