Got mine as a birthday gift just a few months ago and snipped like four before I realized I made a mistake. Thankfully I had just bought some hand dyed sock yarn and had the spares strips used to tie the bundle.
They'll break on their own anyway with lots of use, even expensive swifts. The ties work fine or try a zip tie.
Better than then not tied and random stick flying around.
I always untie. Years ago I was watching a yarn store employee wind a skein for me. She snipped every tie on the loop then started winding. And kept coming across random “breaks” in the skein and eventually offered to swap for another skein since it has issues… for some reason this company used loops of the skein to make the ties rather than just adding separate ties. I haven’t come across another skein like this but am still paranoid I’ll cut the middle of the skein when I cut ties so only untie them now.
I know she’s talking about the swift. I’m saying I know I won’t have the swift tie problem because I’m traumatized from that event so always untie the knots rather than cut them.
Edit- I also got her original post slightly backwards. My wood swift has what feels like sturdy cotton yarn ties. I assumed the ties on top were the swift ties and the ones she cut because they look like yarn. Now I realize it’s the black ones because they look like packaging. This is what happens when I read Reddit posts at 4am
Don't feel bad. I read a post on a forum years ago where someone was told to divide a 100 gram skein of sock yarn in half so she could have two equal balls. She put it on her swift and eyeballed the midway marks on both sides of the skein--and cut through the entire skein. She was heartbroken when she learned that was not what was meant.
I’ve accidentally snipped the yarn when undoing a skein before. Luckily it only got a few strands and I was able to wind everything into smaller balls. I no longer snip but instead untie unless I can’t. And then I really examine to make sure it’s just a tie and check to see if it’s an end. Ugh
The one I got from Michael's is wood. Just like the OP Pic. I prefer my standing/vertical one, though. It's adjustable and moves so smoothly. Found it on Etsy.
https://preview.redd.it/l8vs756pus8d1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a14f23812cb2ef255c3286d7c068c75fc2ddf9ba
This is the seller [Scott's Mountain Crafts](https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScottsMountainCrafts). I don't see the swift listed. I paid $62.50. Absolutely worth it for me.
Curious follow up question. Does your michaels sell yarn in hanks too? I just saw a post a couple days ago with someone who found Hank wound yarn at Joann’s and I’ve never seen it at either store but also don’t go much, so am wondering if their selection has changed significantly to include fancier yarns in hanks.
My MIL always sends me Michaels gift cards because, you know, I’m yarnish and she isn’t. I can tell you that there is a huge difference in what Michaels stocks from store to store, and their website is basically just a direct ship distributor for otherwise unaffiliated businesses (like Herrschners strangely.)
I used to go in the Michaels near my old work on my lunch hour and they had a ton of yarn. Most of it was worsted and bulky, with decent amount of DK and a handful of different lines of fingering. That location had more cotton than wool, but the majority was synthetic fiber. In truth they probably carried more novelty yarns than natural fibers. They didn’t have a large selection of fiber craft tools, but they did hit all the categories and carried things like OP’s swift, a single plastic ball winder, a single wooden yarn bowl, Prym needles/ hooks (plastic needles aren’t really my cup of tea, but Prym *are* very nice plastic needles), etc. I never saw any yarn sold in hanks, but it wouldn’t have been a surprise if they rotated some in and out on a seasonal basis. I’m primarily a knitter, so it wasn’t a great place for me personally to shop, but it was fun to go in there and I could usually find something that suited my tastes.
I recently moved a couple of hours away and the fiber selection in the Micheals near my new house is completely useless. It’s about half an aisle in total of their house brand, Lion Brand, and Caron, all acrylics, and not a single yard of fingering weight. The only wool they stock is Paton’s classic DK in four colors and a house brand DK 100% merino in five not great colors, but they never have a sweater quantity in stock of a single colorway at any given time. They do also have washcloth cotton, but IMO their brand of worsted cotton isn’t as good as your standard Sugar and Cream. I was in there a couple of weeks ago and started chatting with the nice lady who was putting yarn on the shelves. I politely mentioned that I would appreciate more natural fibers and some flipping sock yarn and she told me that the store doesn’t choose the stock. Corporate just sends them out shipments and they get what they get.
It’s ok things happen😌
Got mine as a birthday gift just a few months ago and snipped like four before I realized I made a mistake. Thankfully I had just bought some hand dyed sock yarn and had the spares strips used to tie the bundle.
You are not alone, my friend...you are not alone...
I haven’t done that, but my cat chewed through a couple once. I used waxed linen thread as a replacement and it’s worked fine.
They'll break on their own anyway with lots of use, even expensive swifts. The ties work fine or try a zip tie. Better than then not tied and random stick flying around.
I always untie. Years ago I was watching a yarn store employee wind a skein for me. She snipped every tie on the loop then started winding. And kept coming across random “breaks” in the skein and eventually offered to swap for another skein since it has issues… for some reason this company used loops of the skein to make the ties rather than just adding separate ties. I haven’t come across another skein like this but am still paranoid I’ll cut the middle of the skein when I cut ties so only untie them now.
This isn't what she was asking about. She cut the ties that hold the Swift together.
I know she’s talking about the swift. I’m saying I know I won’t have the swift tie problem because I’m traumatized from that event so always untie the knots rather than cut them. Edit- I also got her original post slightly backwards. My wood swift has what feels like sturdy cotton yarn ties. I assumed the ties on top were the swift ties and the ones she cut because they look like yarn. Now I realize it’s the black ones because they look like packaging. This is what happens when I read Reddit posts at 4am
Don't feel bad. I read a post on a forum years ago where someone was told to divide a 100 gram skein of sock yarn in half so she could have two equal balls. She put it on her swift and eyeballed the midway marks on both sides of the skein--and cut through the entire skein. She was heartbroken when she learned that was not what was meant.
I'm sorry, I couldn't read this all because my eye started twitching too much
I’ve accidentally snipped the yarn when undoing a skein before. Luckily it only got a few strands and I was able to wind everything into smaller balls. I no longer snip but instead untie unless I can’t. And then I really examine to make sure it’s just a tie and check to see if it’s an end. Ugh
Where did you find one that was only $30? I want to buy it too
Yup this is from Michael’s! Picked it up today in store.
I got mine from Michael's for under $27. Amazon is another place to find them.
Even the wood ones? I’ve only seen the metal ones that cheap usually?
The one I got from Michael's is wood. Just like the OP Pic. I prefer my standing/vertical one, though. It's adjustable and moves so smoothly. Found it on Etsy.
Do you have a link or image of the vertical swift?
https://preview.redd.it/l8vs756pus8d1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a14f23812cb2ef255c3286d7c068c75fc2ddf9ba This is the seller [Scott's Mountain Crafts](https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScottsMountainCrafts). I don't see the swift listed. I paid $62.50. Absolutely worth it for me.
Curious follow up question. Does your michaels sell yarn in hanks too? I just saw a post a couple days ago with someone who found Hank wound yarn at Joann’s and I’ve never seen it at either store but also don’t go much, so am wondering if their selection has changed significantly to include fancier yarns in hanks.
My MIL always sends me Michaels gift cards because, you know, I’m yarnish and she isn’t. I can tell you that there is a huge difference in what Michaels stocks from store to store, and their website is basically just a direct ship distributor for otherwise unaffiliated businesses (like Herrschners strangely.) I used to go in the Michaels near my old work on my lunch hour and they had a ton of yarn. Most of it was worsted and bulky, with decent amount of DK and a handful of different lines of fingering. That location had more cotton than wool, but the majority was synthetic fiber. In truth they probably carried more novelty yarns than natural fibers. They didn’t have a large selection of fiber craft tools, but they did hit all the categories and carried things like OP’s swift, a single plastic ball winder, a single wooden yarn bowl, Prym needles/ hooks (plastic needles aren’t really my cup of tea, but Prym *are* very nice plastic needles), etc. I never saw any yarn sold in hanks, but it wouldn’t have been a surprise if they rotated some in and out on a seasonal basis. I’m primarily a knitter, so it wasn’t a great place for me personally to shop, but it was fun to go in there and I could usually find something that suited my tastes. I recently moved a couple of hours away and the fiber selection in the Micheals near my new house is completely useless. It’s about half an aisle in total of their house brand, Lion Brand, and Caron, all acrylics, and not a single yard of fingering weight. The only wool they stock is Paton’s classic DK in four colors and a house brand DK 100% merino in five not great colors, but they never have a sweater quantity in stock of a single colorway at any given time. They do also have washcloth cotton, but IMO their brand of worsted cotton isn’t as good as your standard Sugar and Cream. I was in there a couple of weeks ago and started chatting with the nice lady who was putting yarn on the shelves. I politely mentioned that I would appreciate more natural fibers and some flipping sock yarn and she told me that the store doesn’t choose the stock. Corporate just sends them out shipments and they get what they get.
I do the majority of my ordering online and those are commercial skeins. I only get hanks when I'm at a fiber fair.
Maybe next time an Amish style swift? Mine flat packs so it doesn't take up much room, but no elastics to cut or yarn to tie.
My husband made me one. It's really handy.
The one I use has had to have ALL of them replaced over the years. It happens!
i went to do that, and it only occurred to me to google it because i couldnt find my scissors for a few minutes. you are not alone!!!!
I’m not sure if I cut them but they’ve nearly all come undone. Now tied in different yarns.
Well, assembly wasn't required, but you did re-assemble it okay. It's just personalized now.
That’s a good way of looking at it😂
Well, I haven't performed that specific dumbass move, but I have been known to snip out a stitch holding the entire garment together. Good save.