Today is the day that my first 'decent' handspun yarn makes it's debut appearance on my blog! I can't say it was easy... I went through about 100g of fibre before I got the draft-spin ratio right! The yarn is still a little bumpy, but I think that it's pretty decent for a week's worth of experience!

I always save cardboard cylinders to use for various craft projects, but the thing I do most is use them to wind yarn that I plied together, or yarn that comes off a large cone that's impossible to carry around. I generally don't like winding yarn into balls because:

1. I don't think I do it properly and I end up stretching the yarn

2. I don't like the 'squished' yarn that appears when I get to the end of the ball (the middle part where I started winding)... I definately didn't want to put creases in my new handspun! 

I used pages from an abandoned paperback I found in town to cover the cylinder; it's the only thing I used so far since the book has more than 400 pages! You can use whatever you like, tissue paper, newspapers, wrapping paper... although I would recommend NOT using anything too glossy as it tends to be a little slippery...

How to make the paperback yarn holder

Find some nice, thick, cardboard cylinders:

Choose your 'wrapper', crumple it into a ball, and open it back again. This helps soften the paper so it sticks better to the cardboard. 

If your cylinder needs more than just one sheet of paper to cover, tear around the papers, so when the pieces overlap, the paper is thinner and won't snag and unravel with use.

Glue the paper to the cardboard cylinder, leaving about 1cm at either end to overlap the edge, as shown below (this is where it helps that you crumpled the sheets! It's massively difficult to create a neat edge with crisp paper!):

Finish off with a coat of acrylic varnish, for added durability and a little shine...

I have lots of these cylinders lying around with my scrap, hand-plied yarns wound on...The monochrome tones of the paperback 'wrapper' is really pleasing, and make all yarns look good! Store your yarns in recycled style!

I'm off to walk the dog... Have a great weekend!