A swift resembles an umbrella skeleton or a spinning wooden carousel. It expands to accommodate hanks of varying circumferences, holding the yarn under light tension so it does not tangle. As the knitter or weaver pulls the yarn to wind it onto a ball winder or bobbin, the swift spins freely to release the strand smoothly.
Heard on the job
Clamp the swift to the edge of the table and make sure it spins freely before you cut the ties on that hank.
Also heard as
- umbrella swift
- yarn swift