How to Wind Yarn with a Nostepinne
In the fourth (and final) instalment of our mini-series on winding yarn, we look at how to use a nostepinne to wind a centre-pull ball of yarn by hand.
What is a nostepinne?
A nostepinne is a traditional winding tool, usually made from wood. The word originates from Scandinavia and has different spellings throughout the region. It is usually pronounced ‘nu-ste-pin-ne’ and it means ‘nest pin’.
Most nostepinne are around 20-30cm long. They may have a carved handle and a groove to secure the end of the yarn and they are often tapered to allow for easy removal of the yarn cake once it has been wound. You can find some beautiful examples of elaborately carved nostepinne as well as a look at their history here.
Why you should use a nostepinne to wind your wool
Winding a cake of yarn with a nostepinne is definitely slower than using a ball winder, but I don’t think that’s always a bad thing. Using a traditional tool like this is a great way to connect with the materials and a reminder to slow right down and really enjoy every stage of the making process. I like to wind using my nostepinne because I get to run the whole skein of yarn through my hands - I can get a really good sense of how it might behave before I start knitting. I love the way that this slow winding method fits with the slow process of knitting.
On a practical level, a nostepinne is also really portable and easy to use, enabling you to wind yarn wherever you are, without the need for lots of equipment. It doesn’t require any set up, and will generally be cheaper than a ball winder and swift. Often if I only need to wind one cake of yarn, I will go for this method rather than setting up any other winding equipment.
How to use a nostepinne
Before you start, you will need a way of arranging your skein so it doesn’t get tangled while you wind. This could be over the back of a chair, over your knees is you’re sitting down, on a yarn swift or just carefully laid out on a flat surface. Keep an eye on it as you wind to avoid any tangles.
Step 1 Make a slipknot in the end of your yarn.
Step 2 Hold the nostepinne in one hand and place the slipknot over the end of the nostepinne, into the groove if there is one.
Step 3 Move the working yarn close to the centre of the nostepinne and wind it around five or six times. Guide the yarn from the bottom left to the top right and use the thumb of the hand holding the nostepinne to keep the yarn in place if necessary.
Step 4 Start to slowly rotate the nostepinne towards you (clockwise) as you continue to wind from the bottom left to the top right of the cake that is forming.
Step 5 Continue to wind and turn until you run out of yarn. Secure the end outside by tucking it under the last few strands on the outside of the cake.
Step 6 Slide the cake off the narrow end of the nostepinne. Remove the loop from the handle and pull on the end until the knot disappears. You now have a lovely centre pull ball, ready to knit from!
