PVC Swift/Skeiner tutorial
Note (Dec 2011) – I’ve been told by many that the cost to build the swift has increased since 2008. When I built this, I lived in a part of the country with pretty low cost of living, so between that and inflation, the costs are now reportedly much higher. I’ve heard about $20-25 is average now, depending on the tools you need or have on hand. YMMV.
UPDATED! 7/6/2009
Many, many, wonderful knitters have told me that there’s a mistake in my tutorial for a while now, but I’ve been so busy with life that I haven’t had a chance to correct it. It’s a minor one – the swift requires 4 2″ pieces instead of 3 as noted. Anyway, it’s finally been corrected!
I finally did it! Remember the PVC Swift/SkeinerI talked about around a month ago?
The tutorial (pdf) is done!
Features:
- Acts both as a yarn swift and skeiner
- Holds up to a 2-yard skein
- Collapsible so it can be stored flat
- Has optional yarn guide to make winding on easier
- Cost roughly ~$10 of supplies from a home improvement store (plus some tools)
OK, so I know that I’ve been super slow about it, but exam procrastination got me so I wrote this up (I would rather do anything but study… as you can see).
I tried to be real thorough about where all the parts go and to give detailed pictures and directions. Please let me know if you use it and find any mistakes or confusions. I would love to improve them. Send me an email at beatawih AT gmail DOT com (replace AT and DOT, obviously).
Also, if you build one of your own, let me know. I would love to see what yours look like!
OK, here comes the PDF of the tutorial. Enjoy!
Michelle replied:
Best
Tutorial
Ever!
April 29, 2008 at 6:25. Permalink.
Lisa replied:
This looks great! Maybe I’ll actually make one, now that someone else has done all of the work for me. Thanks so much.
April 29, 2008 at 10:24. Permalink.
Dana replied:
That is so awesome! Thank you for sharing that- I’m out the door to Home Depot now!
April 29, 2008 at 12:59. Permalink.
PVC Swift/Skeiner « A Book and Some Yarn replied:
[...] Edited to add: Tutorial now available! Check it out here. [...]
April 29, 2008 at 15:59. Permalink.
Susan replied:
I just bought most of the parts for this swift. I couldn’t get the spacer, though. Home Depot didn’t have any! Do you know where I can get a spacer?
May 10, 2008 at 17:44. Permalink.
Beata replied:
Susan – I’m not sure! I bought mine at Home Depot in one of the little drawers with individual parts. Did yours not have any? Do you have another hardware store nearby like Lowe’s or Ace Hardware? Other than that, if you have a pipe that is a small diameter, you can cut that into the correct length and use it. The key to the spacer is that it has to be strong to hold the spinning part and the stand apart.
I hope that helped! Sorry for taking so long to reply!
May 12, 2008 at 18:19. Permalink.
Charlotte the PVC swift « Handknitsbysusan’s Weblog replied:
[...] Swift/Skeiner Tutorial [...]
May 31, 2008 at 22:19. Permalink.
aimeewrites replied:
Thank you!!!!
http://aimeewrites.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/christmas-in-september/
September 29, 2008 at 15:51. Permalink.
Marie replied:
That is so cool–I am so making this! I am so amazed by people who can not only “make somethin’ outta nothin’ ” (as my Dad would say) but also teach people like me who need lots of pictures! You rock! Thanks and have a great day!
Marie
November 30, 2008 at 15:37. Permalink.
trtskh replied:
This is fantastic! I was looking at a little tabletop swift the other day at the yarn store, and that little sucker would’ve set me back $72! Thank you
.
December 21, 2008 at 9:49. Permalink.
Joanne replied:
Very nice! Thanks for the tutorial!
December 30, 2008 at 10:37. Permalink.
I *heart* Charlotte « Handknits by Susan replied:
[...] room. She certainly makes a great conversation piece! The PVC swift tutorial by Beata can be found here. Now back to my [...]
April 26, 2009 at 22:46. Permalink.
Liesl replied:
I made the PVC swift and I love it. There were a few things in the instructions that I had to adjust to get mine to work correctly. I can’t think of exactly what they were (as it’s been months ago), but one was a pipe length and the other had to do with the way the windmill was constructed. Overall I was happy.
Also, the blog says she spent about $10. I spent about $37 as I had to buy everything but the drill and drill bits. The pipe cutter cost me about $10 , hardware about $10 and the pvc items were about $16.
Be careful when buying the caps and joins as you do not want the ones that screw on (plus they are more expensive).
January 18, 2010 at 15:41. Permalink.
Allison replied:
Thank you so very much for this tutorial! My husband made it for me a few weeks ago, and I have no idea how I got along without it.
February 27, 2010 at 12:06. Permalink.
Littlehomesteader replied:
Brilliant and cheap! I hate how the commercial ones cost so much, and there is v little choice in the UK. Thank you!
September 24, 2010 at 3:57. Permalink.
Swiftly, Swiftly « beardedknitter replied:
[...] to this post over at A Book And Some Yarn, I was able to find very straightforward instructions on how to [...]
April 7, 2011 at 14:03. Permalink.
Susan Stallard replied:
Thank you so much!!!
April 9, 2011 at 13:17. Permalink.
Erica N replied:
It’s beautiful. Thanks for the instructions. I can’t wait to use mine.
November 27, 2011 at 11:08. Permalink.
Cheryl Brown (@PBCrochetCol) replied:
Thank you so much. Stretching $ a lot and this helps with my passion…crocheting.
February 12, 2012 at 17:24. Permalink.
DIY Yarny Stuff: Swifts « Cast-Offs and Cast Aways replied:
[...] A Book and Some Yarn: PVC Swift Skeiner [...]
May 2, 2012 at 19:56. Permalink.
book hotel Cheap replied:
I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You’re amazing!
Thanks!
September 27, 2012 at 14:05. Permalink.