Caydo M1 Pro electric yarn winder review
When I was sent the Caydo M1 Pro electric yarn winder, I have to admit to being sceptical about whether anyone really needs an electric winder… oh was I wrong!
Unlike conventional yarn winders that use a hand crank, the Caydo M1 Pro electric yarn winder makes unwinding skeins easier than ever. The infinite speed regulation gives you a consistent and even tension helping you to create top quality yarn balls in a matter of minutes.
- Buy now from Caydo.com
How we tested
Caydo sent me their M1 Pro Electric yarn winder (WBW-0003A) to review, which I used in combination with my own yarn swift and set up on a table in our office space.
I tested it with two skeins of yarn – a 4ply yarn made of 75% merino and 25% Nylon, and a delicate DK yarn made up of 70% alpaca, 20% silk and 10% cashmere.
I have years of experience using hand-crank yarn winders, but this was my first trial of an electric yarn winder.
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The results
Caydo M1 Pro Electric yarn winder review
Key features
- Simple and efficient
- Dual-spring design provides stable, strong tension
- Adjustable winding speed
1. Setup
I’m pretty confident figuring things out by myself, but even if you’ve never even set eyes on a yarn winder before, I have no doubt that you’ll find the Caydo M1 Pro electric yarn winder simple to set up.
Straight out of the box you get an instruction manual, and on the very first page is a QR code to take you straight to an installation and usage video. I went ahead and set up the Electric yarn winder using just the printed instructions, which was really straightforward and very intuitive.
The diagrams were clear and helpful for referring to when threading the yarn onto the winder (something which can differ slightly with different winders). So far, so easy!
In the box is a USB C to USB C wire to power the winder, but a plug adapter was not included in the version I received. The instructions clearly state that you should not power the winder using a USB C port on computers, laptops or power banks, and I was fortunate to find a USB C adapter in the office.
Not including a plug adapter does seem to be a common practice with electrical goods and it’s not a problem with the yarn winder itself, but it is something that I feel could cause out-of-the-box frustration if you’re not aware of it – but now you know!
2. Usability
There are parts of unwinding skeins that have their own charm, such as watching variegated colours come together in a ball. But overall, I personally find the process a bit of a chore.
Winding by hand can take a long time, is especially tiresome and can lead to sore arms and wrists. It’s also far too easy to get carried away and wind a bit too fast. This can lead to yarn getting snagged on the swift – or worse, putting it under too much tension and stretching or damaging the yarn.
With the Caydo M1 Pro electric yarn winder I didn’t need to worry about this at all. I simply attached my yarn swift to the table and loaded on my skein, making sure that it wasn’t twisted and any ties were removed.
Next, I attached the electric yarn winder at the other end of the table using the clamp provided. I then threaded the yarn end through the guide holes and the two spring-loaded guides, before finally attaching it to the guide groove on the winder shaft.
Then it’s just a case of plugging in the power, and away we go!
The on switch is also conveniently the speed dial, so as you turn it on it starts winding on the slowest setting. This is a nice touch as often it’s right at the very start where you can encounter snags if the skein is slightly twisted on the swift.
Once you’ve started, you can choose to increase the speed if you wish. It does speed up quite a bit, and maxes out at what I would describe as a reasonable but sensible speed – fast enough, but not so fast that it’s going to fly off the table if the clamp got loose, for example.
That’s all there is to it. I tested it out with two skeins, and both times I just left the winder to do it's work and it completed the task smoothly and with ease. On a medium-high speed setting it took roughly 4-5 minutes to completely wind a 100g/425mtr skein of 4ply yarn.
3. Compatibility
I tested the Caydo M1 Pro Electric Yarn Ball Winder with both a 4ply and a DK yarn, and both were wound perfectly with no snagging or errors.
With my hand crank winder, I’ve had various occasions where lighter 4ply yarns have managed to get caught up in the mechanism and become a big knotted mess. That definitely wasn’t the case with the Caydo M1 Pro Electric Yarn Ball Winder. I switched it on, checked it was working correctly, then got on with some other tasks… the consistent speed and reliable guides meant I didn’t need to touch it again until it was finished.
Thanks to the generous 10oz (283g) capacity design and large guide holes on the M1 Pro, you’ll have no problem winding large amounts or thicker yarns.
It’ll easily handle a chunky weight or blanket yarn with a diameter of up to 7mm, although you are advised to not use the spring-loaded guides with thicker yarns. It might technically be possible to use with certain super-chunky yarns that are on the thinner/smoother side, but in reality, these aren’t commonly supplied in skeins anyway.
The USB C power cable does keep things convenient, but as mentioned you will need to source your own plug adapter.
While the instructions state not to power the yarn winder using a power bank… I took a gamble and tested it (at my own risk) with a small power bank I had to hand. I found that it did work on the lower speed settings, so in theory could be powered off a USB hub if you were stuck for an adapter… but again, this is not recommended by the manufacturer and is at your own risk.
While the USB cable was a decent length, I did have to use an extension cord in order to power the yarn winder at the desk I was working on. A built-in rechargeable battery would make this electric yarn winder even more convenient… but perhaps that’s an idea for a future version.
Value for money
The Caydo M1 Pro Electric Yarn Ball Winder currently retails for £56.99 (plus shipping), although at the time of writing, you can get 20% off when ordering direct from Caydo with the code CY20.
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What’s in the box:
- Electric yarn winder
- Guide arm
- Winder shaft
- Screwdriver
- 2 x screws
- USB C to USB C cable
- Instruction manual
When it comes to value for money, again, I have to admit to being a little bit sceptical. But now that I’ve used it myself, I would 100% say it’s good value for money.
Yes, you can pick up a hand-crank winder for as little as £15, although if you want a branded one, you can be looking at more like £30-40. However, when you look at other electric yarn winders, it’s very competitively priced.
It is possible to find cheaper ones online, but many of these don’t have the reliable yarn guides and build quality that makes the Caydo electric yarn winder stand out.
If you’re on a budget and don’t need quite such a large capacity, you can get the regular Caydo M1 electric yarn winder for just £37.99
Our verdict: Should you buy the Caydo M1 Pro Electric yarn winder
Should you buy the Caydo M1 Pro Electric Yarn Ball Winder? An overwhelming yes! If you find yourself regularly unwinding skeins, this clever little product will be a welcome relief. You’ll probably start unwinding all the skeins in your stash just for the fun of it!
Looking for more yarn winders?
You can find more information, as well as options for yarn swifts that you’ll also need, in our guide to the best yarn winders on Gathered.
