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.

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.

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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.

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