Yarn Bowls - A Complete Guide

Summary

Yarn bowls are simple yet useful tools for knitters and crocheters. Basically, it keeps your yarn clean, tidy and tangle-free while you work. These bowls are made from materials like wood, ceramic, or stoneware. They have a curved cut that lets the yarn slide through smoothly.

Yarn bowls come in different sizes, shapes, and designs. Some have pretty patterns or engraved decorations, while others include holes to hold your needles or hooks. Many are handmade, combining practicality with beauty. A yarn bowl is both a helpful tool and a lovely addition to your crafting space.

Yarn Bowls - handmade stoneware pottery yarn bowls in two shapes and four glaze colours — Yarn Bowls. Individually handmade stoneware pottery yarn bowls with distinct leather handles. Available in our **Yarn Shop...**

FelinFach Yarn Bowls

Our Stoneware pottery yarn bowls are handmade and feature our distinctive and much-loved leather handles in a variety of designs and glaze colours.

Stoneware Pottery Yarn Bowls - Round based design.
Stoneware Pottery Yarn Bowls - Flared base design.

All yarn bowls are large enough to easily hold a 100g skein with a number of holes for your needles or hooks. Generally, in our experience a yarn bowl will measure around 10 to 16 cms in diameter (4 to 7 inches) for a 100gram skein of yarn. Once complete, the leather handles are made and finished by hand at the FelinFach studio. All yarn bowls are individually hand made in Wales. We use traditional, vegetable tanned leather sourced within the UK.

Yarn Bowls - Stoneware pottery yarn bowls - flared base

Yarn Bowls - Stoneware pottery yarn bowls - round base 1

Yarn Bowls - Stoneware pottery yarn bowls - round base

What is a Yarn Bowl?

A yarn bowl, also known as a Wool Bowl or a Knitting Bowl, is a bowl-shaped object that is used to hold yarn. It is typically made of a material that is smooth and non-abrasive, such as wood, stoneware, ceramic, or even plastic. Yarn bowls come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be decorated in a variety of ways. Yarn bowls normally have a 'curved cut' in them, which is where you thread your yarn. The yarn will come through this curved cut but the ball will stay neatly in the yarn bowl (often spinning around inside the bowl).

It's important to look closely at the dimensions when choosing the best yarn bowl as they come in all sorts of sizes. Generally, in our experience a yarn bowl will measure around 10 to 16 cms in diameter (4 to 7 inches) for a 100gram skein of yarn.

How to use a Yarn Bowl

Using a yarn bowl is straightforward once you get the 'hang of it'!

Insert the Yarn: Place the yarn ball or skein in the bowl, leaving the loose end accessible.
Thread the Yarn: Feed the yarn through the slot or hole, which can be a fixed opening or a spiral groove.
Start Crafting: As you work, the yarn unwinds smoothly, staying in place within the bowl.
Stable Placement: The flat, weighted base keeps the bowl steady, even when you pull the yarn.

Some yarn bowls also include a central spindle to guide the yarn, ensuring it flows freely while preventing tangles.

Benefits of Yarn Bowls

Prevents Tangles: The main advantage of a yarn bowl is to keep the yarn from tangling. The curved slots ensure the yarn threads evenly without snagging.
Keeps Yarn Clean: By containing the yarn, the bowl keeps it off the floor or other dirty surfaces, maintaining its cleanliness throughout your project.
Enhances Organisation: Yarn bowls keep materials tidy, especially when working with multiple yarns. Using separate bowls for each colour prevents mixing and tangling.
Adds Convenience: Whether crafting at home or on the go, a yarn bowl’s stable design keeps your yarn in place, reducing frustration.
Protects Yarn Integrity: The bowl secures the yarn gently, helping it maintain its shape and quality.

Do I Need a Yarn Bowl

The big question!!! From our own knitting and crochet experience, once you start using a yarn bowl you'll wonder how you ever managed without one! They do make managing your yarn so much easier, helping to keep it tidy, clean and tangle-free.