Winding yarn cakes just got a whole lot easier with the Caydo Electric Automatic Yarn Winder. After a bumpy start with the original version of this machine, I was cautiously optimistic when Caydo sent me their updated model to test. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and here’s everything you need to know before deciding if it deserves a spot in your craft room.
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Thanks to Caydo for providing me with an electric yarn winder free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I do not guarantee a positive review of any product reviewed on my site. All opinions shared here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links at no cost to you.
What’s in the Box?
Inside the box, you’ll find everything you need for quick setup:
- The electric yarn winder machine
- A yarn cone
- A tensioner with adjustable winding speed
- A screw and screwdriver
- And a proper power adapter (no more relying on only an annoying USB cord like the original version!)
Setup takes just a few minutes, and you’ll be ready to start winding your yarn stash with maximum efficiency.
Winding Process & Performance
The Caydo yarn winder creates beautiful yarn cakes up to 10 oz with ease. It’s fast, smooth, and surprisingly quiet, making it the best helper if you’re winding large hanks or dealing with different types of yarn. Unlike a traditional winder that requires constant cranking, this one is hands-free—ideal for yarn lovers with shoulder, wrist, or neck pain. It has a stepless speed control which makes changes speeds seamless.
The yarn feeder system helps maintain consistent tension, though I recommend keeping an eye on the yarn while it is winding. My first cake looked great but was wound very tightly, which can affect the yarn’s tension, which could translate to issues when you use it to crochet. Found the compact yarn cakes to be pretty and very neat but depending on your yarn fibers, it could potentially sustain damage at such a tight tension. You can always rewind it more loosely or play around with which parts of the yarn feeder to use in order to find an adequate tension for your yarn.
Pros and Cons of the Caydo Electric Yarn Winder
What I Love:
- Great for different yarn weights
- Winds up to 10 oz yarn cakes quickly
- Great for folks that have hand, wrist, shoulder strain
- No more endless turning—just turn the knob and go
- Efficient automatic winding
- Easy to assemble and use
- Much improved anchoring system and power supply
- It has little anti-slip silicone feet so the plastic body of the machine isn’t sitting directly on your surface, which, without them, could get marked up from the vibration of the machine.
Things to Consider:
- The enclosed part of the yarn feeder can trap knots, and you may need to cut the yarn to release it. I worry about that potentially snapping with heavier yarn weights that could have knots in it.
- The plastic yarn guides and feeder make me wonder about whether it will have a longer lifespan than a manual winder with metal guides.
- You need to ease into increasing your speed, as I had a few yarn cakes fly off the cone which resulted in a tangled disaster.
- Struggles a bit with bulky yarns and super bulky yarns—you may want to skip the enclosed guide or play around with which tension guides to feed it through for a smoother experience. I also experienced issues when winding blanket yarns where the motor would just stop and I would have to turn it off and turn it back on to get it to work again. It was a 10oz ball of yarn but it just struggled to finish caking it.
That said, the feeder is flexible—you can choose which sections to use or skip to suit your speed requirements or yarn type.
A Few Tips for the Best Results
Try winding the yarn twice: once to check for knots, and again for a softer, smoother cake. This helps you create tangle-free yarn balls, makes your yarn easier to work with in your next project, as well as ensuring that there isn’t too much tension on your yarn.
Start winding the cake on the slowest speed and don’t rush to get to high speed. I had a few yarn cakes fly off the cone going to high speed too quickly and had a tangled mess on my hands as a result.
If your machine stops winding (either from weight, friction or a tangle) turn the machine off and turn it back on again to restart the winding process. It will sometimes restart on its own but it’s faster to just turn it off and on again.
Keep an eye on larger yarn cakes. Larger yarn cakes can quickly start having yarn wound around the bottom of the cone so keep an eye out to make sure it doesn’t get too close to the gears underneath.
My Experience Using It
The machine is surprisingly quiet and winds up to 10 oz yarn cakes with minimal effort (better with lighter weights than the heavier weight yarn). The updated yarn feeder handles most yarn weights smoothly, although bulkier yarns can occasionally snag. One thing to note: part of the feeder is completely enclosed, which means if a tangle happens inside that section, you may need to cut the yarn to release it. Thankfully, the feeder’s design allows you to skip that section entirely if needed.
My first cake was wound quite tightly—it looked beautiful but was tight enough to affect the yarn’s tension. I recommend either adjusting the tension before you start, or rewinding the cake a second time more loosely once you’ve confirmed there are no knots hiding inside. Loose yarn cakes are more relaxed and will crochet up nicer and won’t leave you with any surprises after crocheting with them.
Check out the Video Version of the Review to See the Caydo Electric Yarn Winder in Action:
How Much Does The Caydo Electric Yarn Winder Cost?
At the time of writing this, the Caydo yarn winder is available for $100 CAD / $53.99 USD on their website or around $107.99 CAD / $49.99 USD on Amazon. Here are some quick links to buy the Caydo electric yarn winder on Amazon or Caydo store, if you’re interested in checking it out: Caydo on Amazon or Caydo.com
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
If you’re looking for the perfect present for the yarnie on your list, are someone who winds a lot of yarn—or you just want to ditch the crank—the Caydo 10 oz large automatic yarn winder is a solid investment. Is it a must-have helper? That’s up to you. It’s not perfect, but I personally think it is a worthwhile addition if it saves you time, energy, and frustration. Whether you’re winding larger yarn balls or just want a (mostly) hands-free, smooth winding experience, this little yarn cake winder delivers a noticeably upgraded winding experience that handles different amounts of yarn easily (up to 10 oz of yarn).
If you use a lot of super bulky yarn or blanket yarn, you may be better served with a manual crank machine like a Stanwood since you can rely on it to be reliable no matter what you use.
FAQs About the Caydo Electric Yarn Winder
1. What types of yarn can I use with the Caydo yarn winder?
The Caydo yarn winder works with most different yarn weights, from lightweight cotton to medium-weight acrylics. Bulky yarns may need some manual guiding for the smoothest experience.
2. How much yarn can the Caydo yarn winder hold?
This electric yarn winder can handle up to 10 oz of yarn, making it a great choice for larger yarn balls.
3. Does the Caydo yarn winder have adjustable winding speed?
Yes! It features stepless speed control, allowing you to adjust the winding speed easily based on your yarn type and personal preference.
4. Is the Caydo yarn winder better than a traditional manual yarn winder?
If you want a more efficient automatic winding experience without manual cranking, the Caydo yarn winder can definitely be a worthwhile addition, especially for yarn lovers who experience wrist, arm, or shoulder pain.
5. Can I use the Caydo yarn winder for hand-dyed or delicate yarns?
You can, but I recommend watching the yarn winder while it winds your yarn. Never leave it unattended so that you can deal with any potential knots, tangles or mishaps before it can damage your yarn.
6. What should I do if my yarn gets stuck in the feeder?
If a tangle happens inside the enclosed feeder section, you may need to cut the yarn to release it. To prevent this, you can skip that part of the yarn guide during setup.
7. How noisy is the Caydo yarn winder?
The Caydo yarn winder is surprisingly quiet during operation, making it a nice companion for winding yarn while watching TV or listening to audiobooks.
8. How durable is the Caydo yarn winder?
The winder body and yarn guides are made of plastic, so while it’s lightweight and easy to move, the long-term durability compared to manual metal-guided winders is something only time will tell.
9. Where can I buy the Caydo Electric Yarn Winder?
This can currently be purchased on the Caydo website or HERE on Amazon.
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