For all crochet and knitting lovers, yarn bowls are such a helpful tool to have around. Some even like having a few to use at home!
Yarn bowls are either round or oval in shape, and help to hold your yarn in place while you knit or crochet. They have a swirl on the side, or holes, where you feed you yarn through.
They help to keep your yarn ball in one place, while still smoothly feeding you enough yarn. You don’t have to worry about your yarn rolling across the floor and disappearing under the couch!
You do need to make sure you use a decent yarn bowl, which will hold your yarn safely, and which will feed the yarn through smoothly.
Which is the best yarn bowl to use? The best yarn bowls are made with high-quality material, usually wood or ceramic. A good yarn bowl will keep your yarn in place while feeding yarn strands smoothly as you knit or crochet. When choosing the size, pick a yarn bowl that suits the size of the yarn that you use most often.
To help you choose the best yarn bowl to make crocheting and knitting much easier, here is what to look for, and the best ones on the market!
Choosing A Yarn Bowl – A Buyer’s Guide
In order to choose a yarn bowl that is perfect for you and your projects, there are a few things to consider before making a decision.
Here is what to factor in before choosing a yarn bowl:
Yarn Bowl Size
Yarn balls come in different sizes to accommodate different yarns. Medium size bowls usually measure between 5-6 inches in diameter, and are around 3-inches tall.
Smaller bowls are usually 4-inches across and between 2 and 3 inches high. Larger bowls are 6-8 inches wide and 4-5 inches high.
See what you have space for, and what you would use most often.
Yarn Size
In order to choose a yarn bowl that you will make use of, you need to consider the size yarn you use most often.
Look at the yarns you use most often, and measure them at their widest point. Buy a yarn bowl slightly larger in diameter than the largest yarn you have, allowing the skein to move around freely.
Remember that yarn bowls are usually round, so a yarn ball will fit in better than a yarn skein.
Consider that you might be knitting or crocheting two strands at once, and the yarn bowl needs to be large enough to hold both balls.
Material
Make sure you buy a yarn bowl that is made from a material that will not damage your wool. Wood is always a good option, but you could also look at plastic or ceramic yarn bowl. Choose one that is slightly weighted, so it will stay in place and not lift if you tug the wool.
Swirl & Additional Holes
If you often knit or crochet with more than one strand, look for a yarn bowl that has the swirl and additional holes, to feed multiple strands through without getting them all tangled up.
You can also use these holes to store your knitting needles or crochet hooks.
How Does A Yarn Bowl Work?
To use a yarn bowl, you simply have to place the yarn into the bowl and then feed it through the main swirl.
There are some yarn bowls which come with additional holes other than the main swirl. This is so that you can feed more than one strand through at a time.
To do this, you will feed one yarn through the swirl, and the other yarn or yarns through the holes. This prevents them from tangling.
For one yarn, simply feed it through the swirl.
The 5 Best Yarn Bowls
Below are the best yarn bowls, all suited for different needs and tastes. You are sure to find one which will make your knitting or crocheting so much easier!
Rank | Recommended Product | Why It's The Best |
---|---|---|
1. | The Little World Store Yarn Bowl | Best Wooden Yarn Bowl |
2. | The MyGift Store Rustic Yarn Bowl | Best Ceramic Yarn Bowl |
3. | Caredy Bamboo Yarn Bowl | Best Yarn Bowl With A Lid |
4. | Hind Handicrafts Store Wooden Yarn Bowl Tray | Best Oblong Yarn Bowl |
5. | Little Lollie's Extra Large Yarn Bowl | Best Jumbo Yarn Bowl |
1. Best Wooden Yarn Bowl
The Wooden Yarn Bowl from the Little World Store is such a wonderful yarn bowl to have!
It is made from the best raw wood material, and the entire surface is expertly smoothened with a high gloss finish, even within the swirl and holes, to prevent yarn from catching.
The yarn bowl is 6-inches in diameter and 3-inches in height, so it can comfortably fit a 3.5oz ball of yarn. The yarn bowl has a curled slot that captures yarn as you knit or crochet, allowing it to be steadily thread through the swirl inside. Without any tangles.
There are an additional two holes which can either be used to store your knitting needles, or to thread other yarn through.
Being small, the yarn can be easily carried around so you can knit on the go, and it is light enough to fit into your project bag!
The natural wood is beautiful, and the yarn bowl does its job really well.
2. Best Ceramic Yarn Bowl
The Rustic Handcrafted Ceramic Knitting And Crocheting Yarn Storage Bowl are so beautifully designed but still works so well to help you with your projects.
This handmade round ceramic pottery yarn bowl has a distressed rustic finish, with a cut-out curved swirl design which allows for yarn to flow through easily when knitting, all while keeping your yarn tangle-free and tidy.
Approximate dimensions of the yarn bowl measure 3.5-inches by 6.25-inches.
Rustic and perfect to use for crocheting or knitting, it is a wonderful gift to give yourself!
3. Best Yarn Bowl With A Lid
The Caredy Bamboo Yarn Bowl is made from unbreakable bamboo wood and is covered with a layer of safety finish.
All handmade, each yarn bowl and lid are unique! The bowl features a curled slot that feeds the yarn through as you knit, allowing it to be steadily fed through to prevent tangles.
The curved swirl prevents tangles and knots, and the bowl has two holes to store your knitting needles or crochet hooks or to feed through other layers of yarn.
With a lid, your yarn will be kept safe in the bowl, and it makes it all portable. The lid also helps to keep the yarn in place and prevents it from wobbling around.
4. Best Oblong Yarn Bowl
This Premium Solid Dark Hardwood Yarn Boy from Hind Handicrafts is a rectangular shaped, oblong yarn bowl that holds four different yarns.
The wood is heavy enough to keep the yarn bowl from slipping but light enough to take with you if traveling.
Your yarn will be kept clean and in place, and it will provide you with ideal tension to knit with. The deep cut spirals help direct the yarn properly as you work. There are also holes to store knitting needles.
You can work on four different projects using this one yarn tray, or you and your partner can knit together from the same bowl!
5. Best Jumbo Yarn Bowl
This is a large wooden yarn bowl, measuring 10-inches by 4.5-inches, which will hold even the biggest of yarns!
The bowl offers you sturdy and easy storage and is stronger than ceramic alternatives. Each yarn bowl is handcrafted with extra care to ensure the swirl is smooth enough to prevent snagging.
Being made for bigger projects, the yarn bowl measures 10-inches by 3.5-inches. Sustainable and eco-friendly, this is a wonderful yarn bowl to keep while lowering your carbon footprint.
This gorgeous bowl has one swirl and two holes, which could either be used for storing your knitting needles, or crochet hooks or used to feed through different yarns.
If you usually use large yarns, this is the bowl for you!
Related Questions
Can you use a yarn bowl for crocheting?
Yes, you can use a yarn bowl for crocheting and knitting. There is no difference in how yarn bowls are used for crocheting or knitting. For both, you just place your yarn in the bowl and feed it through the swirl to get started.
Should I roll a skein of yarn into a ball?
Many knitters prefer to roll their yarn from a skein into a ball to be easier to use. This helps to prevent your yarn from tangling as you knit, and makes it easier to use a yarn bowl.
Do you pull yarn from the center?
Skeins have an outside end that allows you to start working by unrolling the yarn. You can either knit or crochet from the outside or use this to wind the wool into a ball instead of a skein, making it easier to work with and easier to place into a yarn bowl.
The Best Yarn Bowls
Yarn bowls are so great to work with. They make crocheting and knitting so much easier and prevent your yarn from becoming tangled and knotted.
The above yarn bowls are all great options, and are all suited to different needs and tastes! Have a look through the list and choose one which is best for you.
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