A yarn bowl is used to put your yarn as you are knitting. It instantly solves the problem of the nuisance a rolling ball can cause. If you don’t want your ball to keep bouncing around the room every time, you will appreciate the use of this bowl. The bowls have a small cut out which is designed to serve as a guide while you are knitting. The working yarn passes through this yarn and the weight of the bowl keeps the ball of yarn from rolling or getting tangled as you are working on your project. Some have argued that a center pull ball would suffice. Especially with handmade balls, the only option you have is knitting from the outside of the ball. However, center pilling a ball of yarn often results in the twisted garment. To have a perfect finish of your project invest in a beautiful handmade wooden yarn bowl.
How to Choose a Good Handmade Wooden Yarn Bowl
- Go for the one that has a wide base. This prevents it from tipping over when you are using a heavy ball of yarn and it keeps rolling around.
- An important feature includes the opening where the yarn can easily pass through from the top. This opening is not just a hole and it helps the project to be taken out of the problem without any difficulties. You can use the bowl for various projects at a time.
- The wood finishing needs to be very smooth. Even a small rough edge can destroy the yarn.
- You also need to go for high walled bowls because low walls can cause the yarn to spin right out.
Yarn bowls have become so popular in recent years and are used by knitters and crafters. These also can be used as a piece of decoration. A well displayed handmade wooden yarn bowl in your house creates that homey feeling. Besides, they don’t break or chip the way ceramic bowls do. You can add this piece of art simply to make a stamen of love and comfort.
There are various styles of bowls to choose from and you might wonder how to select the one that is right for you. From a layman’s point of view, all these pieces look great but if you crochet yourself you would want to select the one that performs the best and is practical.
Factors to Consider when Choosing the Bowls
- Size and shape: tall and narrow bowls tend to perform best. Their design makes the process of hanging a ball simple and easy. It also prevents the ball from popping out each time the yarn has been tugged. You should also select large bowls that can easily accommodate big balls of yarn. A big bowl will also stop you from making countless trips replacing the yarns.
- Form and function: needle holes ay add aesthetic value to your bowls but they may not work so well if you have a bowl with a deep profile design. The form design should meet its function. This makes your work easier as you knit. You will soon realize that your friends might join you in your passion of these functional collectibles.
- Selection and value: in order to meet the gallery grade standards, the bowls go through a rigorous making process. The first stage is the shaping process. The bowls are then finished with various rounds of sanding, coating, buffing, and drying. This can take about 5 days depending on the weather condition. The final application of wax makes the bowl resistant to stain and fingerprints.
Advantages of Using a Yarn Bowl
Yarn bowls have steadily become the latest trend among knitters. You can choose from a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes at online stores. Those who are just starting out in the knitting industry will rush to go for a bowl purely for aesthetic purposes. However, the knitting pros know that this tool can prove to be handy. Here are some more reasons to motivate you to invest in such a bowl:
- Less distraction: a lot of concentration is needed when you are knitting if you want to come up with cute patterns. A bouncing yarn can be distracting and that is where a yarn bowl comes in. Whether it is made of ceramic or wood, it can really help you keep your yarn in one place. A heavy bowl will do fine because the weight stops the bowl from rolling all over the house.
- Less tangling: a ball of yarn that bounces all over the place while you are knitting can be distracting and also tangle. You might have seen images of a lady knitting while the cat is playing with the yard in movies. This is not so cute in real life. Things can get really messy in such a situation. The whole process of untangling can prove to be a nightmare.
- It protects the yarn: a delicate fabric easily gets dirty and can be damaged if you are not careful. If the yarn bounces a lot during the knitting process you could end up with a twisted garment.
As shown in this article, a yarn bowl is very useful if you want to have a peaceful knitting experience. If you have not yet thought about buying your bowl, there are small items in the house which you can improvise such as a teapot, toilet paper roll or a ziplock bag. However, these bowls are an elegant solution than these improvised items and you will want to get yourself one of these. Moreover, they are affordable and easily found on knitting supply stores or online shops. As long as you have kept these factors in mind, you are assured of a peaceful knitting experience whether you are a novice knitter or a pro. You also will be more organized and produce neat stitches and garments.
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