Knitting

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Question Time…..

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Today’s dilemma, boys and girls is the never-ending (for me anyway) argument on how to find and pull out the center strand from a center pull skein of yarn.

This is the way I ALWAYS knit from a skein, unless I’m casting on and need both ends. So, each and every time I look for the biggest end, stick my fingers in, wrap them around a bit, stick my other fingers into the other side, wrap them around a bit, try and come up with a few strands that seem looser than the rest and pull. It’s a 50/50 shot as to whether or not it actually works or I end up with a wad. Lately we’re leaning more toward the wads.

Well, I googled it. Turns out, the way I find my center pull is the same way everyone else does it. Seems like there would be an easier way, or something with better odds.

How do you do this? Let me know if you have some secret method for finding this elusive center pull strand!

 

Comments

  1. I don’t know if what I do works 100% but it’s the best method I’ve found. I look at the ball of yarn and generally there is one end of the yarn tucked inside the ball (it’s the end that unravels from the outside of the ball). Then I go to the OPPOSITE end and stick my fingers inside and pull out what I hope will be the center. I generally get a small ‘wad’ but it’s simple to unwind & rewind around the outside of the ball. Hope this explanation makes sense!!

  2. I do what Mary Anne does, a little process I’ve begun to call Poke & Pray. I’ve had as much as a fifth of the skein come out in that initial tug, even though I’d found the end of the yarn.

  3. I love that you started this thread – I want to know a better way too!! I get a slight bit of anxiety when it comes time to sit down with a new skein of yarn to start a project because you never know if it will be an easy start, or if you’ll spend the first ten minutes of the project unraveling a wad of yarn…I always wondered why the manufacturers don’t make it easier??

  4. I was just cleaning up my inventory yesterday and noticed on some of the packages, they had an arrow pointing to the end with the beginning of the yarn. Maybe check that out first!

  5. I do the same thing, love the packages with the arrow that tell you to pull a thread on one end, then the other end which is the usable end. I usually only see that with the big skeins of acrylic though.

    I wish they would just wrap the “good” end around the outside a couple of times and tuck it under the label. I often wondered about it, and guess it’s the way the machinery is.

  6. Don’t you just hate that? I’ve never been lucky enough to pull just a little out. The alternative…. knitting from the outside and cursing every time you need to pull some more wool!! Perhaps searching in the middle of the ball may make us spend a few moments in solidarity with other knitters doing the same thing.

  7. I take the paper band off first and then puff the skein into a ball before I root around for the centre yarn. It seems to give the end more room to be found. Then I squish it back into a skein and put the paper band back on.

  8. pray and be able to keep calm works for me and then if I have to work with a mess I can drink my tea and get ‘er done.

  9. I can remember when…..the skein had both ends, inside and outside, tucked into the ball band. Ahhh, the good old days. Now I look for both ends, if I find only 1 then I take a deep breathe and stick my fingers in to one end and pray and pull.

  10. Here’s what I learned from another knitter – if the printing on the label is
    written horizontally, the end you need to pull out will come from the right. If
    the label reads vertically the end will come from the bottom of the skein.
    You still need to do the ‘Poke and Pray’ (I like it, KittenWithAWhiplash) but you don’t usually get as much ‘yarn vomit’.
    All very well until you get the skein with writing going both ways!

  11. I really appreciate your confession. I’m much relieved that there is not something obvious that I hadn’t figured out. I thought I was the only one practicing yarn gynecology.

  13. This is so frustrating! I think the yarn companies need to come up with something better to keep that end easier to find! I usually come up with a big clump of yarn and hope the end is in there!

  14. I do exactly what MaryAnne does. I look where the final end is tucked into and then know that the beginning “end” is going to be on the opposite side. Now it’s a matter of hunting.

Have you read?

8 Knitted Crown Patterns for Children and Adults

There is something rather wonderful about a knitted crown. It takes a little yarn, a few pointed peaks and suddenly someone is in charge of the birthday cake. Whether they should be trusted with that responsibility is another matter entirely.

I love small knitting projects that invite a bit of fun, and these knitted crown patterns have plenty of possibilities. Make one for a grandchild’s dress-up basket, start a handmade birthday tradition, or knit matching crowns for a family celebration. And yes, there are adult sizes too, because being the person who organised the food should surely come with some royal privileges.

A soft knitted crown also makes a lovely alternative to a cardboard party crown. You can choose a favourite colour, coordinate it with a costume, or make something special enough to bring out year after year. Mustard yellow has that classic storybook look, but dusty pink, forest green and jewel-toned purple would be beautiful too.

These crown knitting patterns include children’s and adult options, along with designs that can be adjusted to fit. Some are worked flat and seamed, while others use circular knitting techniques, so there is a nice mix depending on what you enjoy making.

Our Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults

Start with our own free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults on CraftBits. It’s a lovely starting point for a handmade birthday crown or an addition to the family dress-up collection, with children and grownups both invited to join the royal household. I would choose a colour the wearer already loves—there is no rule saying every crown has to be gold.

Sheep & Stitch Crown: An Adjustable Design with a Video Tutorial

The knit crown pattern from Sheep & Stitch uses worsted-weight yarn and straight needles, with a video tutorial to help you follow along. You repeat the pointed sections until the crown fits, then join the ends, making this a useful option for children or adults without relying entirely on an age label. I especially like the video support for knitters who prefer seeing the shaping happen before trying it themselves.

Jubilee Crown Headband: Baby Through Adult Sizes

Marianna’s Jubilee Crown Headband is a free DK-weight design with baby, child, teen and adult size options. It’s described as quick and easy, making it an appealing choice when someone announces they need a costume rather closer to the event than you would have preferred. I would keep the smallest versions simple and let the yarn colour provide the decoration.

Hobbii Knitted Crown: A Cosy Ribbed Headband

The free Knitted Crown Headband from Hobbii, designed by Katharina Müller of My Favourite Stitches, combines a ribbed band with crown points. It includes baby, child and adult sizes and is knitted in the round with two yarns held together. This is the one I would look at for a crown that doubles as a playful ear warmer—very useful when your little royal insists on wearing their costume outside.

Elegant Knit Crown: Two Stretchy Size Options

Kathryn Andrews’ Elegant Knit Crown is a free Ravelry download with a small toddler/child size and a large teen/adult size. Worked from the top down in worsted-weight yarn, it uses a small amount of yarn and relies on stretchy edges to accommodate a range of heads. It’s a handy option for using a treasured leftover colour that isn’t quite enough for a hat.

Simple Knitted Crown: A Grownup Birthday Crown

Nicky Barfoot’s Simple Knitted Crown is a free DK-weight pattern with seven points and an adult-sized fit. The listed finished circumference is 50 cm, designed to stretch to a 55 cm head, so check that measurement before choosing it as a gift. I like this option for a grownup birthday celebration, especially in a beautiful cotton yarn that lets the shape take centre stage.

Crowning Glory: A Flat-Knitted Crown for the Family

The free Crowning Glory pattern by MrsMeeseMakes is knitted flat and seamed, with the circumference adjusted through the number of points you make. The designer gives guidance for baby, toddler, child, teenager and adult versions, making it a flexible choice for a family set. This would be my pick if you enjoy straight-needle projects and want to check the length as you go.

Paintbox Yarns Party Crown: Child and Adult Versions

The free Paintbox Yarns Party Crown uses aran-weight yarn and includes separate child and adult instructions. The listed finished circumferences are 44 cm and 50 cm, and the pattern is rated intermediate. I would make a coordinated pair in different colours for a birthday child and their favourite grownup—matching enough for photographs, but easy to tell apart when the party gets busy.

Choosing the Right Size for a Knitted Crown

Measure around the wearer’s head where the crown will sit, then compare that measurement with the pattern’s sizing notes. A finished knitted circumference may be smaller than the intended head measurement because the fabric stretches; that is different from choosing a size that is simply too small.

For an adjustable design, check the fit before sewing the ends together. You want the crown to stay put comfortably, especially if its owner plans to spend the afternoon dancing, running or issuing important instructions to the dog.

Yarn choice matters too. A springy wool blend and a smooth cotton can behave quite differently, even when both carry the same yarn-weight label. Follow the pattern’s tension guidance and think about how the finished crown will be washed.

Make It a Birthday Tradition

My favourite idea is to knit a crown that comes out every birthday. Choose a colour that will grow with its wearer, tuck it away with the birthday candles, and let it become one of those small family things everyone remembers.

For children’s crowns, stitched details are a lovely way to personalise the design without adding loose decorations. A little embroidered initial or a few contrasting stitches can make a simple crown feel very much their own.

And if you happen to knit yourself one while making the children’s versions, I think that is entirely reasonable. Someone has to supervise the kingdom—and keep an eye on the cake.