Lesson Learned: always use a winder... or at least a friend

This past weekend, I received some yarn in the mail that I needed to complete a gift for one of my managers.  Unfortunately, when you purchase specialty yarn, it never comes already wound.  Usually you can have the store you bought it from wind the yarn for you, but if you order it online, you're outta luck unless you personally have a winder or know someone who does. 

I do not own my winder (why not, I'll never know), but know some co-workers who do.  However, I was feeling a little ambitious and stubborn this last Saturday so I decided to try and wind the yarn myself, without a machine, and without even a friend to help hold the yarn.  I figured I could go slow and keep my eye on it.  WRONG.  Terrible decision.  The yarn began to tangle up faster than I could keep up with it and before I knew it, I was spending the next 3 days untangling yarn. 

Looking back on it, I suppose I could have draped the yarn on the back of a chair to keep it from tangling on itself, but a friend or an actual winder would have probably been the best way to go.  In the end, I finally ended up with a nice ball of yarn.  Full of love... er... frustration.