QUOTE : What’s this contraption?” “It’s for winding yarn.” Three deep creases formed on his forehead as he examined the hank of yarn on the swift. “It doesn’t automatically come in balls already?” I resumed winding as I explained. “Some yarn does. But luxury fibers tend to come in a hank like this, and they need to be wound before they can be used in a project. We offer complimentary winding in the store, but a lot of avid fiber crafters end up purchasing their own swift and winder for use at home.” “Why add the extra step? Why don’t yarn companies just sell them all in balls for convenience?” “To prevent wear and tear prior to sale, mostly. Winding puts strain on the yarn—particularly the finer, more delicate fibers like merino wool, alpaca, or cashmere. If it’s left to sit around in tight skeins for a long time, it can leave kinks and creases in the yarn or create tension problems that cause inconsistent gauge. It’s also easier to ship and store hanks. They take up less space and don’t roll away like skeins do.