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After starting my first colourwork project, I realised I would need to use yarn bobbins for intarsia knitting. I started with an easier project and decided to use the Cricklewood owl soft toy knitting pattern. It does not have too many colour changes so allowing me to get familiar with the techniques and still have something to give away.
I thought I could get away with just rolling up little balls of yarn but this soon became a problem as they have a tendency to drop down and run away! Also, they became tangled up very quickly and I was spending too much time sorting the mess out. So, I then did a search on the internet for how to make yarn bobbins.
It turns out it's easy to make your own. Here are some free solutions I discovered.
1. How to Wind Your own Butterfly Mini Skeins of Yarn
I think this is a good solution especially if you need only relatively small amounts of yarn for each colour.
It involves winding little butterflies of yarn in a specific way such that you can pull out from it without it running away from you. Watch the 3 minute video HERE to find out how you wind them up
2. How to Make Your Own Yarn Bobbins from Cardboard or a Clip
This is the system I have gone for - quick easy and costs nothing as I used bits of cardboard from a cereal box.
See how it is done in this 1 minute video here
Here is another way that I think is a clever idea too and which I might try next.
3. Use a Clothes Peg as a Winding Tool Device for Yarn
I think this is a good solution as it uses things you already have at home.
Watch this quick video demonstration HERE
All 3 of these DIY methods have worked for me but if you would like to have a ready made manufactured solution then you might prefer these 5 other ideas.
Ready to Buy Solutions
They are all inexpensive to buy and come in packs with several items so would be useful right away in a project that needs quite a few colour changes.
Click the images (Amazon affiliate links ) to see the prices.
Bright Coloured Plastic Yarn Bobbins for Intarsia Knitting
10 Acrylic Yarn Bobbins for Intarsia Knitting Work
6 Pack of Intarsia Knitting Yarn Bobbins
8 Pack of 2.5 inch Clear Plastic Yarn Bobbins for Intarsia Knitting Work
10 pack Plastic Durable Yarn Bobbin For Intarsia