A niddy-noddy is a simple tool that is used to make skeins of your hand spun yarn straight off the spindle. The yarn can then be washed, dyed and the twist set. Setting the twist is very important if you want balanced, professional looking yarn. The unusual name comes from the action of the skeiner. The faster you wind, the more the skeiner develops a niddy-noddy action!

How to Use a Niddy Noddy

Skeining is required for both singles and plied yarns in order to set in the twist and if you plan to dye the yarn. Take the end of the yarn in one hand while holding the center bar of the niddy-noddy. If you are skeining from a spinning wheel, remove the yarn from the orifice of the wheel, and loosen the tension applied to the spindle, first, to prevent the yarn from rolling back on itself. Guide the yarn over the top bar then down to and under the bar at the bottom, take the yarn back up and over the top bar on the other side then down and under the bottom bar, while keeping a firm grip and slightly twisting your wrist. Continue to bring the yarn back up to the top bar where you started. Follow that same identical path on the niddy-noddy until you run out of yarn on the bobbin.

Removing the skein