Learning to Make a Yarn Bobbin with Anne Berk and Marly Bird

Join me to learn how to make a yarn bobbin. Anne Berk, author of Annetarsia, is here to show us the best way to manage your yarn while working Intarsia Knitting.

How to Make Yarn Bobbins

Anne is the expert when it comes to Intarsia Knitting. Not only has she master this technique but she has even gone so far as to create her only style and titled it Annetarsia.

*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking one of these links and making a purchase a small portion goes to support the blog so I can bring you more free content. The price you pay is not changed. Thank you for your support of the blog.*

Yarn Management:

While working an Intarsia pattern bobbins are typically used to hold each of the colors that you are working on. Yarn bobbins can become cumbersome and get in the way was you work. Anne has found that using a simple yarn butterfly is much more efficient.

Another great thing about using yarn butterflies for your work vs. yarn bobbins is that you don’t need any additional equipment. To make the butterflies all you need is your yarn, your hands and some scissors.

How to make a Yarn Butterfly/Yarn Bobbin:

Step 1: Position the tail of the yarn on your palm, leaving at least a 5″ tail. Then wrap the working yarn around your thumb, going from inside to outside. Repeat this series of motions by stringing the yarn back to your thumb & wrapping it around the thumb from inside to outside. Repeat until you have the desired length between your fingers.

Step 2: Cut the working yarn from the ball leaving at least a 15″ new tail. Pinch the yarn wrapped around you fingers at the center point and remove from your fingers (this is often called a butterfly).

Step 3: Wrap the new tail around the pinched center leaving at least 6″ to form a half hitch knot to secure the butterfly. To make a half hitch knot simply slip the knot over one end of the butterfly and pull on the tail to secure.

NOTE: The half hitch knot is securing the butterfly and the original tail pulls gently from the butterfly.

Want to see making a yarn bobbin in action? Watch the YouTube video tutorial that Anne and I put together for you.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you know every time I release a new tutorial video. Use the subscribe button blow the video here in the blog, you don’t even have to head to YouTube.

Learn Annetarsia:

Learn more about Anne Berk and her book head over to Anne’s website.

To learn from the best join Anne on Craftsy to learn her method of Annetarsia.

Learn Annetarsia with Anne Berk on Craftsy

Also on the Blog:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Marly Bird

The One and Only, Marly

Marly is a knitwear and crochet designer (and yarn addict) that is here to help you learn how to knit and crochet in a way that's fun and approachable.

Meet Marly

Knitting & Crochet Patterns for Every Mood
A cartoon image of a joyful chicken, sitting comfortably in a green armchair, knitting happily with blue yarn, surrounded by pink and white flowers, looking for DIY project ideas. -Marly Bird

Netflix & Chill

Simple projects for when you want to relax and zone out

A colorful illustration of a white rabbit with a unicorn horn, nestled among multi-colored leaves arranged like a fan behind it, projects every mood of peacefulness and whimsy. -Marly Bird

Social Butterfly

Frustration-free projects that you can easily work on in public areas

A whimsical illustration of a white chicken adorned with pink flowers and light pink butterflies, featuring flowing tail feathers and a playful pose, all set against a simple white background, perfect for mood-based projects. -Marly Bird

Smooth Jazz

Projects that require a bit more intense focus (but music is nice!)

mood-shh-be-quiet

Shhh Be Quiet!

Advanced projects requiring deep focus (but a big payoff, too!)