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So your girlfriend likes knitting things and x-mas is coming soon? Making her a beautiful bamboo yarn bowl that keeps the yarn from getting entangled and unrolls the yarn would be a nice option.


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Materials needed


- wooden bowl (I used a bamboo bowl from Ikea)
- Dremel with a wood milling bit
- small wood drill bit that fits into your Dremel
- Sandpaper stripes
- Dremel polishing bit
- Beeswax block
- Two really steady hands!

Step 1: Drawing the pattern

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I used an Ikea Blanda Matt bowl (20 cm diameter) that is made of bamboo. This material is rather hard but really nice to work with. However, it tends a bit to splintering. You can think of your own pattern or use the one I've used. Just take a waterproof pen, put the bowl bottom side up on a table and draw the pattern on the wood.

Step 2: Cut out the basic shape

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I used the plastic and wood milling bit of my Dremel to cut out the basic shape. However, you have to grip the Dremel really hard to keep it from going it's own way. Don't try to get too close to your painted lines or you will have to adapt your pattern. The fine tuning comes in the next step.

Step 3: Fine-cut

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I used a wood drill bit to fine-cut the remaining material away. You can use it the same way as the milling bit, but it works much slower, thus giving you time to react. Try to get all the material away that lies between your Dremel and the line you've drawn. 

Step 4: Sand down the edges

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Use the sand paper stripes to smoothen all grooves and round all the edges like shown in the pictures. Since the yarn will be gliding along the cut, you really want it to be smooth.

Step 5: Polish the edges

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Since the sanded cut will be brighter than the treated wood, you have to use a polishing bit to get it darker again. I used a bit of beeswax and the polishing bit to polish the big opening. Since the polishing bit is too wide to polish the small openings, I cut a Q-tip (cotton bud) in half and mounted it on the Dremel. Applying a bit of wax you can now easily reach the small openings.

Step 6: Install the anti-slippery rubber

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To ensure that the bowl is not shifting on the wooden table, I glued a round piece of rubber to the bottom of the bowl.

Step 7: Your finished yarn bowl

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If everything works out fine, you'll have now a really nice gift for your girlfriend. I hope you/she enjoys it!
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d_adair9 says: May 15, 2013. 4:20 PM
Thank you so much for sharing this project. I am an avid crocheter and woodworker, so this is right up my alley. I will be making one of these this weekend.
laceylady123 says: May 12, 2013. 5:21 PM
I just bought a wood bowl from Target $10.99 and can't wait to break out my, barely used, dremel to make this.
Paege says: Apr 25, 2013. 1:07 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your idea. DH and I made two: one for me and for my mum, a mad knitter, for her birthday. We didn't have a dremmel, but a coping saw, sandpaper, and some buffing oil worked well. Well-pleased, ta!
noseynana says: Jan 3, 2013. 8:44 PM
I found your bowl via Pinterest. At first I thought it was a ceramic one someone was selling. Then to see either myself or my husband could make one...SUPER! Shame they can't count the number of times this has been pinned over @ Pinterest. Either way, just know the old adage, for each person that writes, 10 others don't, so I'm sure you are going to have a lot of happy yarnworkers out there shortly. Thanks so much for this & good luck...you got my vote! Also FYI for others....IKEA is online for purchases if you don't have one in your vicinity.
vintage53rose in reply to noseynanaApr 11, 2013. 9:15 PM
Unfortunately the bowl can only be purchased at the store itself. That's a 90 mile trip for me. So will have to check the thrift (charity) shops for a salad bowl.
dtextor (author) in reply to noseynanaJan 3, 2013. 11:35 PM
Thank you. I didn't know that I made it to pinterest. Ironically, I first got the idea of making a yarn bowl from this exact site. :)
daytona675 says: Dec 20, 2012. 7:10 AM
Brilliant! I'm going out to make one now!
dtextor (author) in reply to daytona675Dec 20, 2012. 10:23 AM
Please make sure you post a picture when yours is finished!
daytona675 in reply to dtextorMar 29, 2013. 9:49 AM
Here it is in action- an old wooden Woolworth's bowl made in segments so short grain was a bit tricky. Had no dremel so did it by hand with a keyhole saw!
dtextor (author) in reply to daytona675Mar 30, 2013. 3:55 AM
Did you post a picture? I somehow can't see one. Hope it worked out well!
gadabout55 says: Mar 25, 2013. 7:02 PM
Here's a pic of my finished bowl.
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dtextor (author) in reply to gadabout55Mar 26, 2013. 12:30 AM
This looks really nice! Thank's a lot for the pic!
gadabout55 says: Mar 24, 2013. 12:28 PM
I just finished making this for my wife yesterday. She and her knitting friends loved it. Great idea. I used a coping saw and various Dremel bits to cut the slot. The polishing bit with beeswax worked great.
dtextor (author) in reply to gadabout55Mar 24, 2013. 2:12 PM
Glad you made it! Please post some pics how your bowl looks like!
knitgeek says: Feb 18, 2013. 7:14 PM
Absolutely Brilliant. So much nicer than anything I've ever seen for sale.
TheManse says: Feb 7, 2013. 8:12 AM
Great ideas deserve great prizes! Effective simplicity - well done on your first prize.
dtextor (author) in reply to TheManseFeb 7, 2013. 9:46 AM
Effective simplicity... I might adapt that! :) thanks a lot and all the best to you two in SA.
Nozebra says: Feb 5, 2013. 11:47 AM
Congratulations for winning!! The bowl is super-awesome and I am proud to be the one who got it!
HollyMann says: Feb 1, 2013. 2:58 PM
This is beautiful!
dtextor (author) in reply to HollyMannFeb 2, 2013. 11:42 PM
Thank you!
JECK1 says: Jan 31, 2013. 9:00 PM
I meant to say RIGHT ONTO IT!
dtextor (author) in reply to JECK1Feb 2, 2013. 11:41 PM
Haha. I don't really get the point but I just suppose you're happy about it!
cannibal_hect0r says: Feb 2, 2013. 2:33 AM
This is a Rad idea! Definitely one of the "why didn't I think of it first" Kind.
I'm thinking my GF and I could joint gift it to a mutual friend at some point!
JECK1 says: Jan 31, 2013. 9:00 PM
Wow!!! Bless you heaps!!
Nozebra says: Jan 26, 2013. 2:26 AM
love it!
leeknoodlesmith says: Jan 25, 2013. 10:55 AM
thank you so much-- I've been wanting to purchase a porcelain yarn bowl, but this is even better--as it's not easily broken and I have most of the materials on hand! :) this is beautifully done-- thank you for sharing how you made this.
dtextor (author) in reply to leeknoodlesmithJan 26, 2013. 1:31 AM
Youre welcome. I'm always very happy if someone enjoys one of my solutions. :) good luck with the milling!
greese2 says: Jan 16, 2013. 8:05 AM
I really like this idea. Even if you wasn't using it for yarn it's a beautiful fruit bowl!
kbavouset says: Jan 10, 2013. 11:39 AM
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Lorddrake says: Dec 20, 2012. 2:02 PM
tried to make one today using a hardwood bowl I had in storage.

let's just mark that one up to a learning experience .. next stop IKEA to buy a bamboo bowl for attempt #2
dtextor (author) in reply to LorddrakeDec 23, 2012. 9:29 AM
I'm really sad to hear that it didn't work for you! Maybe it's easier with bamboo as a material! Make sure that you never twist or force the milling bit, especially where there's just a bit f wood left in the center of the spiral! I hope it works next time for you.
Lorddrake in reply to dtextorJan 3, 2013. 4:17 PM
I finally got a chance to give my friend the bowl I made her .. so now I can post up a pic
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dtextor (author) in reply to LorddrakeJan 3, 2013. 11:38 PM
This really looks good! I guess she was very happy about it!
Lorddrake in reply to dtextorJan 4, 2013. 4:15 AM
Thanks. She really liked it :)
debbo1 says: Jan 3, 2013. 3:47 PM
This is beautiful...will you make one to sell?
dtextor (author) in reply to debbo1Jan 3, 2013. 11:37 PM
I'm not planning to sell one. Just the shipping fee to the States would be much too high. Maybe you can try it yourself or find someone that's handy with wood?
realife11 says: Jan 3, 2013. 10:12 PM
B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T IDEA!!!!
saosport says: Jan 2, 2013. 11:44 AM
THANK YOU! I have been looking at how to make one of these for a long time. They cost so much to buy. My mom is going to love this. Good luck in the contest.
dtextor (author) in reply to saosportJan 2, 2013. 12:09 PM
Glad to help! I really hope she will like it! Don't forget to post a picture if you make one. Regards.
saosport in reply to dtextorJan 2, 2013. 2:12 PM
will do that will have to be a weekend project. I will be searching for bowls during the week. I do not have an Ikea within two hours of my house:( I have a few other places I think I could pick up a few. I kinda want one for myself and maybe a few friends. I'll post pics asap. Thanks again
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