I don't know where the name came from, but it's a Niddy Noddy.

that's a real stumper... and i've been a knitter all my life :)

Once the wool is spun onto a bobbin on a wheel, (or plied onto a bobbin if you want two threads), it has to be taken off and made into a skein for knitting (or washing first if you want the lanolin out of it). The niddy noddy is for doing that. When it's full, the skein is tied in a figure of eight in at least four places so it doesn't tangle when being washed.

you guys are so smart. did you cheat? i wouldn't know a knitting needle if i tripped on it.

Anyone who has done spinning and knitting knows it to be a niddy noddy. I've got one in a cupboard...

That is so very interesting, I wonder who came up with that idea, it had to be a woman. Because only we could think of something like that.

My great aunt, who taught me to knit, had one and called it a willie nille.

I agree!!

Grandma called hers "the yarn doohicky". I never knew they had a name. I learned something today. Thanks!