I can hear what you’re thinking, “there’s essential gadgets to use when natural dyeing yarn? Really?” Yep, though they may not be the type of gadget you are thinking of. These useful little items are manual gadgets that can make the natural yarn dyer’s life far easier. If you’ve been working with yarn for any length of time, a few of these essential gadgets have probably found their way into your arsenal.
These gadgets are equally relevant whether you are a natural dyer, a knitter, a crocheter, or a spinner. If you work with yarn, one or two of these essential gadgets will make your yarn winding life far easier. My three personal favorites are numbers one through three, though if I had to only pick two I would go with number one and two as they are manual, transportable, and just plain easy to use. 
#1 the Niddy-Noddy:
Yep, this “Niddy-Noddy” or “skein winder” is an essential gadget. Made of solid wood, and nicely furnished, it is perfect for turning a mess, or an already wound ball of yarn, into a nice skein for natural dyeing. Whether you just dye yarn, or if you spin it and dye it yourself, this fiber art tool is one of my favorite essentials. For yarn dyeing, this is the one tool that I would consider a completely essential one. While most yarn comes in a skein, if you happen to get dyeing yarn in a cone or a ball this tool will be a life saver.
#2 the Nostepinne
This little piece of smooth and slightly shaped wood is a handy tool for turning a pile of loose yarn, or an unruly skein, into a nice tame ball of yarn. An added benefit is that it creates center-pull balls. So, whether you are plying up the last of that bobbin of singles that’s being hanging around for years, or dealing with a tangled ball from your knitting bag, this tool will help. You can also use the nostepinne to wind roving into a ball, and to ball fabric strips, and it’s mobile enough to facilitate untangling skeins or yarn disasters.
#3 the Umbrella Swift
Well the back of a chair may work for winding most skeins into a ball, sometimes an umbrella swift makes things far easier. I like using a wooden umbrella swift to unwind potentially tangled skeins of yarn after they have gone through a natural dye vat. With a swift and a nostepine, even the most tangled skeins can be conquered with minimal hassle. The wooden swifts are sturdier than the plastic and metal varieties, though those can suffice if a wooden one is unavailable.
#4 a Mechanical Ball-Winder
If you have a non-tangled skein, nothing beats a mechanical ball winder for turning the yarn into an easily usable form fast. For being an essential gadget, I prefer a nostepinne over a ball-winder simply because the ball-winder is mechanical, needs to be secured, and makes it a bit harder to work with tangled yarn. However, if your yarn is not tangled and your natural dyeing doesn’t normally tangle the skeins, than a ball-winder will be faster and easier than a nostepinne. Though, in a pinch an old cardboard toilet paper or paper towel roll will also do the job.
#5 A Yarn Bowl
Well possibly not associated with natural dyeing, a yarn bowl will help control balls of yarn if you need to re-wind them into a skein for over-dyeing or re-dyeing. Pottery bowls are the nicest yarn-bowls, though a smooth sided basket or other container will work as well. Yarn-bowls usually have a slit in the side of the bowl, making it easier to keep the yarn contained. If the ball is too tightly wound, it can and will jump out of a basket or regular bowl.
Back To You:
What essential gadgets are in your yarn dyeing arsenal? What tools do you find indispensable? Leave a comment!
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