Yarn swift
A yarn swift is a textile tool that holds a skein open while the yarn is wound into a ball or onto a spool. The skein rotates as the thread is drawn off, and the supports can be adjusted to its circumference.
Construction
Swifts occur in several forms. They may have crossed arms on a stand or a folding construction that expands to the required size. Missing pegs, bent arms or tight joints may make the tool incomplete or difficult to use.
Not a skein winder
The swift holds a completed skein while yarn is wound off it. A skein winder performs the reverse process by winding yarn into a skein. A nostepinne is a handheld tool around which the ball itself is formed. Names can be confused in older records, so function and construction should be described directly.
Sources
Store norske leksikon: garnvinde; Store norske leksikon: hespetre.
