Hank
A hank is yarn wound into a loose, circular bundle rather than a solid ball, and must be wound with a swift and ball winder before use.
Explanation
A hank is a loose, circular bundle of yarn, usually twisted and tied at a couple of points to hold its shape during transport and sale. Unlike a ready-to-use ball, you cannot knit directly from a hank without the yarn tangling, so it must first be wound, typically using a yarn swift to hold the hank stretched out while a ball winder rolls the yarn into a loose ball. Hand-dyed and specialty yarns are often sold as hanks, since the dyeing process is easier to perform on yarn in this form.
Also known as: Skein
Why yarn is sold this way
A hank is yarn wound into a large loop and twisted into a knot. The form lets the fiber rest unstressed in storage, and it shows the color along the whole length — which is why hand-dyed yarn is nearly always sold this way.
A hank cannot be knitted from directly. Try, and it will tangle. It has to be wound into a ball first.
How to open one
Untwist the hank into a large ring and find the ties holding it together. Put the ring on a swift, over two chair backs, or around a helper’s hands, and only cut the ties once the hank is mounted.
Common mistakes
- Cutting the ties before the hank is mounted.
- Trying to knit straight from the hank.
Keywords
- hank
- yarn hank
- skein
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a hank and a ball?
A hank is a large twisted loop for storage and sale. A ball or cake is wound and ready to use. Hanks must be wound before knitting.
Will the shop wind it for me?
Most yarn shops will, free or for a small charge, when you buy the yarn there.