In desperate need, with a laceweight 1000 yd skein, I taped a cup to the top of an exercise ball propped on a laundrybag, laid the skein over the ball, held the yarn above the contraption and cranked with the other. Next time I do the trick with the umbrella clamped to the chair. A red drink cup with a plate screwed to it would prevent the overtopping of yarn, but we love the Lego cup too much to make a hole in it.