When you go to purchase yarn, it comes in various formats, but most often in what is called a skein. It’s an oblong ball of yarn that is wound over and around itself so that it holds together in this shape. This is probably the most common way to see yarn, and it is called a skein. Some people pronounce it “SKEEN” and others pronounce it “SKAIN.” Both appear to be correct, but just so you are aware if you hear the two different pronunciations.
That said, there are two ways to pull yarn off the skein to use it.
Outside Pull
I feel like this one is pretty obvious. When the skein is wound, there is an outside end where the yarn is cut. Once you find this, you will use this as the beginning of your yarn to use. Sometimes it is nicely tucked into one end, sometimes you just have to go looking for it. If you squish the yarn a little in different directions, I have found this to be helpful in having that yarn tail fall out and be easier to find, but it doesn’t always work.
The benefit to this method is that there are less likely to be tangles in the yarn as you work through the skein. Since you are unraveling the yarn in the opposite way that it was wound, it’s generally pretty easy to work with. It’s not my preferred method however, because the yarn skein bounces all over the place when you are using this method.
Center Pull
The other method, and my preferred method, is using the center pull option. This method involves some fishing! We are going to dig into the center of the yarn skein from one end, attempting to find the inside tail of the yarn. It might sound difficult, but after a few times you get the hang of it. This way, the yarn pulls from the center of the skein and works its way outward as your project progresses.
The downside to this method is that the yarn is much more likely to tangle. As the skein collapses in on itself, the yarn may pull other threads with it as it exits through the center, leading to tangled yarn. However, the skein stays mostly in one place as you use it, so you aren’t chasing it all over the place.
The method that works for you is the best method. I always say to try both and see what you like better. People will swear by one or the other, but realistically it’s what works for the individual. Have you tried both ways? Which do you prefer and why?