I was at a fiber fest a couple weeks back and finally got to try my hand at various new wheels.
I’ve been spinning on wheels since 2002 and am very happy with the wheels I have but I have never had a selection of wheels to spin on to compare.
Susan McFarland (susansfibershop.com) had a wide variety of wheels available to test.
I was interested in Merlin Tree’s HitchHiker (http://www.themerlintree.com/the_merlin_tree009.htm) since I will be traveling more for work. It had a different treadling because of the friction drive. But I think it will work well.
I tried a couple Louet models since I’ve heard such rave reviews from them, but I wasn’t happy with the action of them. They seemed harder to treadle than my Ashford Traveler. bummer.
Majacraft Little Gem II was a nice wheel. Had great action and spun wonderfully, but the price tag (over $700) Ouch!
The Schact Matchless spun really nice in scotch tension, much easier than my Traveler, but I didn’t like the way it spun with a double drive.
Then I sat downn at the Kromski Sonata, all I can say is WOW! I mean :woohoo: ! It treadled so easily and the fiber seemed to spin itself (I used roving I brought myself to spin on all the wheels).
Now I want one. Price tag is over $500, but I’m thinking if I sell my 70’s era Ashford Traditional and my late 1700’s Irish style saxony, I may have enough to buy it.
i 'd like to try out a bunch of different ones but it’s too early for me to fall in love with another wheel… heh
you may want to give ebay a try… i saw a Kromski, not sure which model… going for around 220… and i just gave it quick glance but it seemed to be complete.
All I can say is that I love, LOVE, love my Kromski (Minstrel.) I am a beginner and amaze even myself with the quality of yarn I am making. I had a chance to work on an Ashford Traveller recently and was so elated that I had made the choice to buy a Kromski; what a difference! The wheel comes directly from Poland, packed in Polish news papers and signed by the maker! It is a piece of art in my living room.
A Sonata came up on ebay and a friend (who has my traditional) emailed me about it. I could have waited for the auction to end (2 days and 10 hours) but I knew someone would snipe it in the last few seconds, so … I opted on the buy it now for $500 (free shipping and a 72" niddy noddy)
Woohoo!!! I am excited for you! (This from the one who sniped her Scholar, heh, heh). Can’t wait to hear all about it and see your beautiful newly spun yarn.
I just finished plying it up last night but haven’t gotten pictures of it yet. The roving came with the wheel - it came from http://www.cjkopeccreations.etsy.com/ Wonderful hand dyed rovings!
She spins like butta! Such an easy treadle. With my Ashford Traveller, I never really ‘got’ spinning with scotch tension (thankfully, it is also a DD!). The scotch tension on the Sonata is a breeze!
I ordered a Jumbo kit for it, but will be sending it back … they sent a clear finish and I have a walnut wheel. I don’t think I would really care for having to change out the front maiden to switch between the regular bobbin and jumbo bobbin. With the Traveller, I put the jumbo front maiden on and only have to insert/remove a grommet to switch between the regular and jumbo. Guess I’ll be doing my plying on the Traveller
I ordered a WooLee Winder for it last week and it came last night!!
Dear old Abigal (the stove). She’s a working 1930-32 Montgomery Ward woodburning cookstove. I use her a LOT in the winter for cooking. Really saves on the utilities (both heating and cooking)
It really speeds up your spinning not having to stop to change hecks. I’m having a little bit difficulty getting use to it. It’s operator error though. Just getting use to a new piece of equipment.
I was able to spin about 100 yards on each of 2 bobbins, then turn around and ply them in less than an hour. And that’s with starts and stops and fiddling.
I have a Woolee Winder and I really like it. Not only to you not have to stop to adjust where your thread is, its also very efficient space wise. I can fit a lot more on a bobbin.
