a tool for winding a "cake" of yarn

This is going to become the next square in my lizard ridge afghan.  It will be created midway over the ocean enroute from Detroit to Paris. 

That wooden stick thing you see alongside the yarn is a Nostepinne.  It's a tool for winding a "cake" of yarn that pulls from the center instead of a ball that you pull from the outside; which tend to roll all over the place while you are trying to knit from them. 

As you can see below I am far from practiced at using it and my "cakes" of yarn do not come anywhere close to these that were wound using a swift and a mechanical ball winder.   I was  sold on trying one after reading somewhere how these were hand carved in Scandanavia by young men for their sweethearts who were knitters.    

Who wouldn't want to try one after reading that?   I am going to practice until I am really good so when my sister and I are in our 70's and we take that Hurtigruten ship all up and down the Norwegian coastline,  I will be able to join in the cake winding competition with all my Scandanavian sisters.   

Comments

[Debbie Jordan]

So you didn't choose a grey/black combination for your next colour. I like what you picked. I have wound inner pulling balls using no tools but trying a Nostepinne would make a better looking ball. You are doing a great job with it I think. Enjoy your trip!

[Joan Clarke]

I got an "F" grade in using the Nostepinne...I made a great big mess out of my yarn which hand to be hand wound as there was no way to feed it through the ball winder or put it on a swift. I gave it to a friend...I think she uses it as a weapon.

Have a great trip to Italia...I hope one of you will be posting as you travel.

[Lizzie Bo]

Excuse my nose sticking in here but... my ball winder has a little slit in the top to anchor the end of the yarn. If you leave a little tail, you can use that to pull from the center. Does yours not have that? How do you anchor the yarn when you wind it? Consider the possibility. But honestly, I am now completely intrigued by this new (to me) invention. Will have to investigate. Your posts from Spoleto are wonderful!