Game Changer - Wool Genie Yarn Feeder used by Mikey

In the background of Mikey's tutorials or photographs, you are seeing a Wool Genie. In the unboxing below, I give you context on how I discovered this product. Since unboxing, I now own four of these.

I love this tool so much that I would possibly marry it if I could! Yeah, yeah, I'm obsessed with it, even years after purchase. It's a solid and worthwhile investment for me. When they came out, they were over 50 bucks, but they are much cheaper now that they are established. My gut tells me these are possibly 3D printed.

I also have a handmade contraption that uses the spindles as part of my home decor. You can read more about that contraption here. It's homemade and not for sale. You may be able to rig up something for yourself.

How The Wool Genie Works

The wool genie floats on a magnet, and the underside is clear of any obstructions. This allows the yarn to freely spin with virtually no friction.

Why I Love the Tool

It's an amazing tool, and I pretty much use it daily, including taking it with me if I am sitting somewhere like Stitch Night or to the day spa. It's convenient and portable.

• The tool free spins and floats. If the tool pulls too much yarn, it doesn't tangle but falls under the pendulum, remaining free and clear.
• For smaller balls or partial balls, I can cake it up with a winder. The ball shown on the wool genie in the introduction was yarn caked from a partial cowl I had left over. Easier to store when caked up, and also fast to put on and off the pendulum.
• I have four of these, which I can use the pendulums with different colours, and just pull one pendulum off and replace it with the other. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Watch Out for Knock-Offs

Since this product was created, several knock-offs have emerged that you need to watch for. I have some knock-offs and was disappointed by how cheaply they were made, their stability, and more. I find that with the knock-offs I did get, the tool falls over much more easily, and it drives me nuts! The original Wool Genie is heavier, giving it a firmer base to prevent that from happening.

Limitations

• The original wool genie is taller than knock-offs. It can hold the weight and length of a Red Heart Super Saver ball of yarn. Things like Bernat Blanket are too heavy.
• The weight restriction is approximately 250 grams. However, the ball's size must be factored in, as the stem holding up the floating pendulum is counterbalanced by the base. If the ball is too fat, it will not spin.

In The Future

I would like to take these tools and change the way it is to a free-standing on the floor and attach multiple feeders to the same pool at different angles. Making me okay with fatter and longer balls of yarn. I haven't figured that out yet, but it's a goal for me make. Maybe make a yarn genie yarn feeding tree to sit beside my lazy boy chair.

Tutorials

I Handmade Another Tool I Use

It's for marling yarn with the same yarn ball.