This is almost identical to my journey. I started with a drop spindle in 2020 and bought my first wheel in 2021. I paid $200 for an Ashford Country Spinner 2 (w/ converted flyer) and a 14” drum carder. I had to buy a $10 washer but besides that, everything was perfect. I also made myself a Niddy Noddy out of PVC pipe. I actually really like my wheel. It suits my needs for the time being. I feel like I got lucky though.
I started handspinning on a drop spindle back in August 2023, and I got hooked. In September, I bought a single treadle, antique Canadian Production Wheel. It is a fantastic wheel, but there are three drawbacks of this wheel: 1. there is only one whorl, therefore only one ratio/speed 2. The bobbin will only hold about 50 g of fiber, so once you fill up the bobbin, you need to unwind to a separate bobbin before plying back. If you ply two or three bobbins together (as opposed to chain plying or bracelet plying), I need to unwind as many times as I made singles' bobbins 3. It is big and old, so travelling with it is a very bad idea. Despite these drawbacks, I still think that it was a very good deal, as it gave me the opportunity to try wheel spinning before jumping in and making a more significant purchase. Because I had no wheel spinning experience, no one to teach me, and a fast ratio of 14:1, the learning curve was steep and I had to figure out how to compensate for the fact that the wheel wanted to spin much faster than I could draft. For this reason, I figured that I needed to spin as far away from the orifice as possible, but drafting backward was uncomfortable and took away any control that I had on the wheel. I eventually figured out that positioning myself to face the tip of the drive wheel and treading with my left foot allowed me to draft with my left hand and pull back my fiber source with my right hand. This increased my control of the wheel and the yarn, as I had extra time to draft and stop as needed to fix overtwisting and inconsistencies. With practice, this allowed me to develop a very comfortable and consistent long draw yarn. I have only been spinning on a wheel for a couple of months, and I am now very good at long draw. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased an EEW 6.0, which will allow me to compensate for any of the limitations of my other wheel. I like it very much, but I still much prefer the feel of a treadle. I think that I will be using both of them equally in the long term. The large bobbins on the EEW will be very useful for plying the smaller CPW singles bobbins.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I love backward draw also and have been advised to NOT draw back as far as you describe for ergonomic reasons. I love to see that long strand develop but it's not worth injuries and not being able to spin altogether.
Aimee, thank you for all of this information. Buying a spinning wheel is such a huge investment and I have been debating it for years. These tips are really helpful and I will definitely take the opportunity to test some out before I purchase one!
Thank you for a very helpful video! I am getting ready to purchase my first new wheel. I have an ancient Ashford "Scholar" that was made in the 1960’s. It's a single treadle, castle style, Irish tension wheel that has been great to learn on. I found it in an antique store, still working. All it needed was oiling, tightening up the screws, and a new drive band. But there are no options for different whorls /speeds. I'm ready to up my wheel options. Your consideration of what kind of spinning and drafting you like to do is not something I'd considered. Your discussion of the relation of the orifice to your feet and body position was also very helpful. I knew I was going to purchase another castle style wheel, but your discussion helped me know why that's the style I I want. Twisting doesn’t work for me, and so far I like making worsted drafted yarns. I'm considering a Lendrum double treadle, which I've tried and find comfortable, or a Schact Matchless, which I've not tried. My favorite LYS has had a Matchless for sale for years, so that's my next step - go try it before I make a final decision. Thanks, Aimee, for a very timely (for me) and helpful video. harpingJanet
I bought the first EEW Nano in 2019 and learned to spin on that. (I'd done a small bit of drop spinning as a kid in homeschool coop decades before.) I also got more seriously into spinning in 2020 and was very lucky that my first spinning wheel - Ashford Joy 2 - turned out to be the best of the affordable wheels and grew with me over the years as I increasingly spend more time spinning than any other craft - fleece processing, dyeing, soap making, etc. I've also bought, fixed/upgraded, used for a while, and resold several new and used wheels - Louët S10, Schacht Flatiron, Ashford Traditional, Schacht Matchless, charkhas, e-spinners... and helped other even more new spinners figure out the quirks of their new/used wheels - I'm a tinkerer and investigator by nature. Besides wanting to find the best first wheel, it seems like many people benefit from a wheel with versatility, so the wheel can grow with a spinner, or be upgraded to grow with them as they learn. Some wheels do this better than others. Among good wheels for both beginners and experts that are also more affordable, I think the Ashford Joy 2, the Ashford Kiwi, the Ashford Traditional, the customizable version of the Louët S10 (allows switching to Scotch tension), and the castle style wheels by Lendrum and Kromski are all great. For more expensive wheels, the Schacht Matchless is great but I wouldn't recommend a beginner spend that much until they know they're going to stick with spinning for a long time. But really, find a way to try wheels out in person. Buying a wheel as a beginner without trying it is a near-guaranteed formula for headaches and heartbreak and does the opposite of setting oneself up for success.
Thanks so much for sharing your adventures in wheel purchasing. I luckily joined a guild and got some wheels to test run. I have a portable Lendrum wheel as they are made locally to me. Now I'm looking for something a little smaller. I love spinning my own yarn, so the content you share is valuable. I will suggest that others, especially new spinners, watch your videos to get the info they need. Cheers,
Good to hear your views! I’ve only been spinning for 6y. I learnt on an Ashford traditional, but since I have a leg injury (R leg), I found the constant treadling aggravated my leg. Because I wanted to continue with this hobby, I (had!!) to move to an e-spinner… which I LOVE! It sits on my breakfast bar and it’s always handy! Only issue is, that I can’t use it when the power goes off… they say you “can” get a battery pack, but Ashford do NOT recommend this. (I just find other stuff to do 🤣) Happy spinning!
I have an e-spinner and I too have moved to spinning on it nearly exclusively due to a R leg injury! It's a total bummer and I'm sorry to hear you have the same. At least we have E-spinners, eh? I have a Daedalus Sparrow now and it is approved for use with a battery pack, so if you ever are in the market for a new one you can check that one out! I have a video about it also.
I started spinning on a drop spindle in 2000. I was lucky and had a shop in town that did sell wheels but the lady pushed me hard to an Ashford Traditional which I bought in 2001. It is a great and versatile wheel. To be honest though if I had to do it again now I would get a double treadle and probably a castle style instead of a Saxony. Double treadle is just easier on my ankles and feet. I am tall and Castle styles have a higher from the floor orifice which means I don't end up with my body in a strange position trying to trade off treadling comfort against hand position. I still have and use my old traditional. Some day I will get something else but not until I can sit down at some other wheels (and save up money).
Thanks a lot, this was really helpful. I'm at my first wheel atm (an old Louet S70) which I got quite cheap. Castle style, 1 treadle, 3 bobbins, Irish tension, BUT the fastest ratio is like 7.5:1 and the new flyer with at least 4 bobbins alone would cost me 200$ and I would need an additional lazy Kate... now I'm thinking I'd probably just get another wheel which really fits me before investing all that money in an old wheel...
Great video. Learned so much. I have a wheel that I bought 20 years ago and now I know that it may be worth it to buy another vs buy all the accessories to make this one fit my needs. Thanks!
Thank you for your video. I have 3 wheels. I didn't test out any at first. I started with drop spindling too. I don't have any wheels that do double drive. 2 are Scotch tension, my Sonata(first wheel )and my Hansen mini spinner(3rd wheel). My hubby was picking up a dirt bike and since we were traveling right by Paradise fibers I acquired an Ashford country spinner which is Irish tension for large amounts and art yarn. That wheel hasn't gotten even an 1/8 of the hours the others have. I've done modified long draw since that is painful. Right now with my neuropathy in my feet my electric is what I most likely will use for Tour de fleece.
That’s too bad. I love my Ashford Country Spinner. I have yet to branch out to other wheels, but I’ve enjoyed my time with this one. It has a converted flyer, so it doesn’t have the art yarn flyer, just the traditional Irish. I found it on Craigslist. It also came with a 14” drum carder, flicker, sample sized blending board, and 2 hand carding brushes. I’m sure I’ll try others as my arthritis gets worse but right now, it’s a cute little wheel that I can drag from room to room. 😊
Thank you so much for this video Aimee! Like you, I pretty much live in a spinning desert (rural Belgium). Due to health issues I can’t treadle for more than a few minutes at a time but should that improve I would definitely have to go for a double treadle wheel. A castle wheel would be an option as my preferred goes towards worsted style spinning. It would have to be a wheel that allows me to put in a lot of twist but that allows me to finely dial in the tension because as a lace knitter, I tend to spin for my projects which is lace weight yarn. I also don’t have a lot of space, so being able to easily fold up the spinning wheel in order to stash it away and take it out again would definitely come into play. As is, when I hit my spinning wall, mere months after diving down the rabbit hole of spinning, I went for the EEW Nano2 as it’s electric, is just about the cheapest e-spinner available to me and I got to try it out at the only craft fair within feasible distance from where I live (again,health issues). I also tried the EEW 6 but it being bigger and more expensive, and my house being just about as small as my budget, the Nano2 it was. The diminutive bobbin size doesn’t bother me as the average commercially available ball of lace weight yarn I tend to use weighs around 25 grams and I can pack that amount of yarn onto a Nano bobbin. I hope one day I will be able to transition to a traditional wheel. I tried out several at that fair. There is something to be said for the sensation and the rhythm of treadling while spinning. I seem to have a knack for it. But for now, e-spinners it is. There still is the tactile satisfaction of feeling the fibre flow between your fingers. I can spin worsted style of longdraw, depending on how I position my little spinner. I can even chain-ply if I affix it onto a heavy board. As for buying equipment: I built myself a lazy Kate out of a wooden box I found at a thrift store and a set of old knitting needles. A champagne cork works as a stopper on one side. All I had to do was drill a few holes. If I want a tensioned lazy Kate, the simple addition of two nails and a rubber band/elastic band made it tensioned. Most of us who don’t own a drill, know someone who does.
I think the nano is a great choice for a lace weight spinner! I'm so glad that you found a solution that works for you. I spin primarily on an e-spinner recently due to a leg injury!
Of course I am watching this video after having ordered my first wheel 😂 I started on a Kromski drop spindle, but I wanted more efficiency. A friend let me try out her Kromski Sonata, which was an amazing experience, however, when I went to a local weaving studio I tried their Kromski Fantasia, and that was the wheel that I personally ended up really connecting to. They also had me try out a Louet wheel with irish tension before committing, but that wheel was something that would take a long time for me to really get the hang of, unlike the scotch tension ones. Here's to my wheel arriving in two weeks!
I have an older Jim Reeves wheel and I did have to find a wood worker who was able to craft 2 bobbins for me on Etsy (his sister had had a shop that had sold the Jim Reeves Wheels before Mr Reeves closed his shop, and he knew about them) but it meant sending my only bobbin to him, a little nerve racking, but when I got the bobbins back they were perfect, they were $50 per bobbin. My 2nd wheel is a Kromski Polonaise, which is my favorite, tho too big to travel. I did have an older Ashford Traveler (castle wheel), my first wheel, that I loved, but it was one my aunt had bought years ago that she gifted to my sister who never learned to spin on and had it as a display in her living room for years. When her husband had to take a job in another state she had to down size and sent the wheel to me. Unfortunately the wood was unfinished and over the years of not oiling the wood, the wheel had warped, which as I used it caused the screws holding the maidens to eat the wood up inside the maidens and shaking loose. That would have meant, buying a new wheel to replace the warped one (not inexpensive) and repairing the maidens or buying that part, so I gave it on to someone who would love it and did fix up old wheels. All that to say, unless you know how and are willing to finish the wood and are willing to do that to all the pieces on your wheel, spend the extra money and get the finished wood wheel ;). Tho I can recommend the Ashford Traveler as a good castle wheel, I don’t know about the whorls as I was a new spinner and didn’t know much about changing speeds.
The Reeves wheels are the stuff of legend! So glad you're able to get extra bobbins. The Polonaise and Traveler are both great also--you definitely have a lot of experience with all the different styles.
Most people learn using wool with a longer draw. I learned to spin using short foward because I learned with rabbit angora. This caused me to prefer a left handed wheel, or a castle. Having thick thighs, I like to treadle with one left foot even though I have double treadles. Things a person learns as they get new wheels...
Thank you for this video! I also have an ashford traditional I found used and I know it won’t be my forever wheel. I am kind of torn on what kind of wheel I would like but I do think the saxony is more comfortable than I expected. The matchless looks like such an amazing wheel though lol. I have considered purchasing a jumbo flyer for mine but also felt like it probably wasn’t worth it considering I only paid $200 for the wheel, lazy Kate and extra bobbins.
Hi Aimee. I am a very avid spinner. I have 4 treadle wheels and recently acquired an Ashford e-spinner. My spinning is 90% sport weight singles for weaving, although I have occasionally spun some fine 2ply for sock knitting. I too like to spin semi woolen with a backward draw and I find the only way I can sit turned a bit to the left to do my draw is to use a single Treadle with my right foot. I have two castle style wheels with single treadle which work well, and I have a Kromski Polonaise which I love, for the same reasons you like your Symphony, left side flyer, large wheel with huge speed choices. I have a Lendrum DT that I find very uncomfortable to spin on unless I’m doing a short forward draw, which is almost never. I like the e-spinner. It has huge bobbins, but is scotch tension only, and I prefer DD. Anyway, I do switch around for variety. When I travel the e-spinner is great. The Polonaise is delicate and absolutely doesn’t travel well. I totally understand your trouble with the Symphony. I really think you need several wheels for different purposes.
Thank you for your comment! I agree that there's going to be different use cases for each wheel and you end up needing at least 2, maybe more! The Polonaise is a BEAUTIFUL wheel---but it is definitely large!
aimee, this video was so so helpful ! i've been spindle spinning for about 2 years now and i am definitely wanting to spin higher quantities of yarn for larger projects and i am hoping to save up to buy a wheel in the next year or so. there was so much you mentioned that i hadn't considered before (like if i would prefer double or single treadle, what type of wheel might best suite my body) and i'm feeling really encouraged to get out there and try out some wheels!!
You bring up a lot of points I hadn't thought about yet! Could you maybe try and explain to me what the difference is between double drive and scotch tension when it comes to the actual spinning? Why would I choose one style over the other?
Hi there! The scotch tension method has fixed tension on the bobbin using a little tension band. The double drive version uses the drive band doubled and the tension comes from the difference of size of between the bobbin and the whorl. That difference is what makes everything move. There’s a little more slip on the bobbin in double drive that I really feel the difference on. The take up on double drive remains consistent throughout a project. This isn’t true in scotch. Often times you need to readjust the brake band tension on scotch drive as the bobbin fills and gets heavier. However, learning to spin on a double drive was a little finicky for me when I first switched over. Hope that helps!
@@jeanneb6320 another point is that double drive is supposed to be better for spinning finer yarns. I have an Irish tension wheel - a Louet, which is supposed to have a stronger pull than a double drive so better for more chunky yarns. I am waiting for the delivery an old Haldane double drive with the aim of learning to spin super fine yarns.
This was a great video. I'm a new spinner and rented a wheel from my local guide. They only had Ashford Joy's. In researching, I'm really drawn to the Kromski Minstrel and Sonata. I'm torn between getting a double or single drive for my first wheel. I'm taking my first spinning class at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival and looking forward to actually seeing and sitting at a Minstrel to see how it feels. Can you talk more about the different drive systems and what they do?
I recommend a double drive because most of them can be converted to Scotch! They are a little more fiddly to set up but once you do, you do not have to adjust it throughout the spin. With a Scotch drive you'll need to adjust take up tension as the bobbin gets heavier while it fills. It won't take up as well as you fill it.
I have an Ashford Traditional of about the same vintage as yours (I know we've discussed this before!) I'm pretty happy with it but I'm starting to wonder if there might be a wheel that sits a little taller to help with posture given my height. I don't think a new wheel is in my budget (or storage space 😅) any time soon but if I do ever buy another I'll be looking for something a little more ergonomic! Your Kromski wheel is SO beautiful though ❤
I know this dates back a bit, but I am 5'7", and it was hard for me to treadle on my single treadle antique wheel. I felt contrived and had no strength in my leg to treadle because my knee was bent too much. I fixed my problem by switching to a swivel chair with adjustable height, set to the highest position. I also started treading with my left foot, holding my fiber source my right hand and drafting with my left hand. It was a game changer, before that I could hardly get the drive wheel to spin continuously. Not sure if these tips would work on a double treadle though.
I really want a wheel but I want to make the right choice and the reality is that I guess there’s no “perfect” wheel until you’ve spun a while and know what subtle differences you prefer so it’s a conundrum. 😣
Hi! I am right now in shopping phase for a spinning wheel. My favourite so far is the Kromski Symphony, I was wondering about the space it takes up. I know that the wheel is larger than other kromski models I saw, about 60 cm. but could you tell me the height of the whole setup? thanks!
Hi! It has a total width of 43” and an orifice height of 27”. The orifice is just about halfway up the wheel part so I would say maybe 39” total height?
I am hoping to buy my first spinning wheel. I wanted one that traveled, was traditional looking and a castle style. I live in RI which is a spinning desert. I had my choices to three, Spinolution Bull Frog, Ashford Kiwi 3 or Kromski Sonata, in that order. When I asked the specialist in a CA business they recommended the Sonata when I was leaning toward the Bull Frog. What do you think from your experience. Thank you! Diana Starr
Hey! I am a HUGE fan of Kromski and I think the Sonata is my favorite wheel of those 3. It just has an attention to detail and design elements that are so lovely. I particularly like the optional magnetic flyer. If I got a castle style travel wheel it would be the Sonata (not out of the question for me, tbh... just don't have space).
okay but you don't actually need to buy niddy-noddy and lazy kate; instead of niddy-noddy you can use a chair (just turn it upside down) or your own arm, and you can make your own lazy kate with knitting needle and box, or just use yarn winder to wind your singles to a cake before plying it it just saved me a lot of money at the starting point
This is almost identical to my journey. I started with a drop spindle in 2020 and bought my first wheel in 2021. I paid $200 for an Ashford Country Spinner 2 (w/ converted flyer) and a 14” drum carder. I had to buy a $10 washer but besides that, everything was perfect. I also made myself a Niddy Noddy out of PVC pipe. I actually really like my wheel. It suits my needs for the time being. I feel like I got lucky though.
I started handspinning on a drop spindle back in August 2023, and I got hooked. In September, I bought a single treadle, antique Canadian Production Wheel. It is a fantastic wheel, but there are three drawbacks of this wheel:
1. there is only one whorl, therefore only one ratio/speed
2. The bobbin will only hold about 50 g of fiber, so once you fill up the bobbin, you need to unwind to a separate bobbin before plying back. If you ply two or three bobbins together (as opposed to chain plying or bracelet plying), I need to unwind as many times as I made singles' bobbins
3. It is big and old, so travelling with it is a very bad idea.
Despite these drawbacks, I still think that it was a very good deal, as it gave me the opportunity to try wheel spinning before jumping in and making a more significant purchase.
Because I had no wheel spinning experience, no one to teach me, and a fast ratio of 14:1, the learning curve was steep and I had to figure out how to compensate for the fact that the wheel wanted to spin much faster than I could draft. For this reason, I figured that I needed to spin as far away from the orifice as possible, but drafting backward was uncomfortable and took away any control that I had on the wheel. I eventually figured out that positioning myself to face the tip of the drive wheel and treading with my left foot allowed me to draft with my left hand and pull back my fiber source with my right hand. This increased my control of the wheel and the yarn, as I had extra time to draft and stop as needed to fix overtwisting and inconsistencies.
With practice, this allowed me to develop a very comfortable and consistent long draw yarn.
I have only been spinning on a wheel for a couple of months, and I am now very good at long draw. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased an EEW 6.0, which will allow me to compensate for any of the limitations of my other wheel. I like it very much, but I still much prefer the feel of a treadle. I think that I will be using both of them equally in the long term. The large bobbins on the EEW will be very useful for plying the smaller CPW singles bobbins.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I love backward draw also and have been advised to NOT draw back as far as you describe for ergonomic reasons. I love to see that long strand develop but it's not worth injuries and not being able to spin altogether.
Aimee, thank you for all of this information. Buying a spinning wheel is such a huge investment and I have been debating it for years. These tips are really helpful and I will definitely take the opportunity to test some out before I purchase one!
Thank you for a very helpful video! I am getting ready to purchase my first new wheel. I have an ancient Ashford "Scholar" that was made in the 1960’s. It's a single treadle, castle style, Irish tension wheel that has been great to learn on. I found it in an antique store, still working. All it needed was oiling, tightening up the screws, and a new drive band. But there are no options for different whorls /speeds. I'm ready to up my wheel options.
Your consideration of what kind of spinning and drafting you like to do is not something I'd considered. Your discussion of the relation of the orifice to your feet and body position was also very helpful. I knew I was going to purchase another castle style wheel, but your discussion helped me know why that's the style I I want. Twisting doesn’t work for me, and so far I like making worsted drafted yarns. I'm considering a Lendrum double treadle, which I've tried and find comfortable, or a Schact Matchless, which I've not tried. My favorite LYS has had a Matchless for sale for years, so that's my next step - go try it before I make a final decision. Thanks, Aimee, for a very timely (for me) and helpful video. harpingJanet
I bought the first EEW Nano in 2019 and learned to spin on that. (I'd done a small bit of drop spinning as a kid in homeschool coop decades before.) I also got more seriously into spinning in 2020 and was very lucky that my first spinning wheel - Ashford Joy 2 - turned out to be the best of the affordable wheels and grew with me over the years as I increasingly spend more time spinning than any other craft - fleece processing, dyeing, soap making, etc.
I've also bought, fixed/upgraded, used for a while, and resold several new and used wheels - Louët S10, Schacht Flatiron, Ashford Traditional, Schacht Matchless, charkhas, e-spinners... and helped other even more new spinners figure out the quirks of their new/used wheels - I'm a tinkerer and investigator by nature.
Besides wanting to find the best first wheel, it seems like many people benefit from a wheel with versatility, so the wheel can grow with a spinner, or be upgraded to grow with them as they learn. Some wheels do this better than others. Among good wheels for both beginners and experts that are also more affordable, I think the Ashford Joy 2, the Ashford Kiwi, the Ashford Traditional, the customizable version of the Louët S10 (allows switching to Scotch tension), and the castle style wheels by Lendrum and Kromski are all great. For more expensive wheels, the Schacht Matchless is great but I wouldn't recommend a beginner spend that much until they know they're going to stick with spinning for a long time.
But really, find a way to try wheels out in person. Buying a wheel as a beginner without trying it is a near-guaranteed formula for headaches and heartbreak and does the opposite of setting oneself up for success.
Thanks so much for sharing your adventures in wheel purchasing. I luckily joined a guild and got some wheels to test run. I have a portable Lendrum wheel as they are made locally to me. Now I'm looking for something a little smaller. I love spinning my own yarn, so the content you share is valuable. I will suggest that others, especially new spinners, watch your videos to get the info they need. Cheers,
Good to hear your views!
I’ve only been spinning for 6y. I learnt on an Ashford traditional, but since I have a leg injury (R leg), I found the constant treadling aggravated my leg.
Because I wanted to continue with this hobby, I (had!!) to move to an e-spinner… which I LOVE!
It sits on my breakfast bar and it’s always handy!
Only issue is, that I can’t use it when the power goes off… they say you “can” get a battery pack, but Ashford do NOT recommend this.
(I just find other stuff to do 🤣)
Happy spinning!
I have an e-spinner and I too have moved to spinning on it nearly exclusively due to a R leg injury! It's a total bummer and I'm sorry to hear you have the same. At least we have E-spinners, eh? I have a Daedalus Sparrow now and it is approved for use with a battery pack, so if you ever are in the market for a new one you can check that one out! I have a video about it also.
Such an informative episode! Thank you🙏🏻🤩
I started spinning on a drop spindle in 2000. I was lucky and had a shop in town that did sell wheels but the lady pushed me hard to an Ashford Traditional which I bought in 2001. It is a great and versatile wheel. To be honest though if I had to do it again now I would get a double treadle and probably a castle style instead of a Saxony. Double treadle is just easier on my ankles and feet. I am tall and Castle styles have a higher from the floor orifice which means I don't end up with my body in a strange position trying to trade off treadling comfort against hand position. I still have and use my old traditional. Some day I will get something else but not until I can sit down at some other wheels (and save up money).
Thanks a lot, this was really helpful. I'm at my first wheel atm (an old Louet S70) which I got quite cheap. Castle style, 1 treadle, 3 bobbins, Irish tension, BUT the fastest ratio is like 7.5:1 and the new flyer with at least 4 bobbins alone would cost me 200$ and I would need an additional lazy Kate... now I'm thinking I'd probably just get another wheel which really fits me before investing all that money in an old wheel...
Great video. Learned so much. I have a wheel that I bought 20 years ago and now I know that it may be worth it to buy another vs buy all the accessories to make this one fit my needs. Thanks!
Great video. I have owned several wheels and your advice is awesome
Thank you so much! 🥰
Thank you for your video. I have 3 wheels. I didn't test out any at first. I started with drop spindling too. I don't have any wheels that do double drive. 2 are Scotch tension, my Sonata(first wheel )and my Hansen mini spinner(3rd wheel). My hubby was picking up a dirt bike and since we were traveling right by Paradise fibers I acquired an Ashford country spinner which is Irish tension for large amounts and art yarn. That wheel hasn't gotten even an 1/8 of the hours the others have. I've done modified long draw since that is painful. Right now with my neuropathy in my feet my electric is what I most likely will use for Tour de fleece.
That’s too bad. I love my Ashford Country Spinner. I have yet to branch out to other wheels, but I’ve enjoyed my time with this one. It has a converted flyer, so it doesn’t have the art yarn flyer, just the traditional Irish. I found it on Craigslist. It also came with a 14” drum carder, flicker, sample sized blending board, and 2 hand carding brushes. I’m sure I’ll try others as my arthritis gets worse but right now, it’s a cute little wheel that I can drag from room to room. 😊
Thank you so much for this video Aimee!
Like you, I pretty much live in a spinning desert (rural Belgium). Due to health issues I can’t treadle for more than a few minutes at a time but should that improve I would definitely have to go for a double treadle wheel. A castle wheel would be an option as my preferred goes towards worsted style spinning. It would have to be a wheel that allows me to put in a lot of twist but that allows me to finely dial in the tension because as a lace knitter, I tend to spin for my projects which is lace weight yarn. I also don’t have a lot of space, so being able to easily fold up the spinning wheel in order to stash it away and take it out again would definitely come into play.
As is, when I hit my spinning wall, mere months after diving down the rabbit hole of spinning, I went for the EEW Nano2 as it’s electric, is just about the cheapest e-spinner available to me and I got to try it out at the only craft fair within feasible distance from where I live (again,health issues). I also tried the EEW 6 but it being bigger and more expensive, and my house being just about as small as my budget, the Nano2 it was. The diminutive bobbin size doesn’t bother me as the average commercially available ball of lace weight yarn I tend to use weighs around 25 grams and I can pack that amount of yarn onto a Nano bobbin.
I hope one day I will be able to transition to a traditional wheel. I tried out several at that fair. There is something to be said for the sensation and the rhythm of treadling while spinning. I seem to have a knack for it. But for now, e-spinners it is. There still is the tactile satisfaction of feeling the fibre flow between your fingers. I can spin worsted style of longdraw, depending on how I position my little spinner. I can even chain-ply if I affix it onto a heavy board.
As for buying equipment: I built myself a lazy Kate out of a wooden box I found at a thrift store and a set of old knitting needles. A champagne cork works as a stopper on one side. All I had to do was drill a few holes. If I want a tensioned lazy Kate, the simple addition of two nails and a rubber band/elastic band made it tensioned. Most of us who don’t own a drill, know someone who does.
I think the nano is a great choice for a lace weight spinner! I'm so glad that you found a solution that works for you. I spin primarily on an e-spinner recently due to a leg injury!
@@AimeeSherMakes - I hope you get well soon!
Of course I am watching this video after having ordered my first wheel 😂 I started on a Kromski drop spindle, but I wanted more efficiency. A friend let me try out her Kromski Sonata, which was an amazing experience, however, when I went to a local weaving studio I tried their Kromski Fantasia, and that was the wheel that I personally ended up really connecting to. They also had me try out a Louet wheel with irish tension before committing, but that wheel was something that would take a long time for me to really get the hang of, unlike the scotch tension ones. Here's to my wheel arriving in two weeks!
Congratulations on your new wheel! The Fantasia is beautiful! Hope you have an amazing time learning on it.
I have an older Jim Reeves wheel and I did have to find a wood worker who was able to craft 2 bobbins for me on Etsy (his sister had had a shop that had sold the Jim Reeves Wheels before Mr Reeves closed his shop, and he knew about them) but it meant sending my only bobbin to him, a little nerve racking, but when I got the bobbins back they were perfect, they were $50 per bobbin. My 2nd wheel is a Kromski Polonaise, which is my favorite, tho too big to travel. I did have an older Ashford Traveler (castle wheel), my first wheel, that I loved, but it was one my aunt had bought years ago that she gifted to my sister who never learned to spin on and had it as a display in her living room for years. When her husband had to take a job in another state she had to down size and sent the wheel to me. Unfortunately the wood was unfinished and over the years of not oiling the wood, the wheel had warped, which as I used it caused the screws holding the maidens to eat the wood up inside the maidens and shaking loose. That would have meant, buying a new wheel to replace the warped one (not inexpensive) and repairing the maidens or buying that part, so I gave it on to someone who would love it and did fix up old wheels. All that to say, unless you know how and are willing to finish the wood and are willing to do that to all the pieces on your wheel, spend the extra money and get the finished wood wheel ;). Tho I can recommend the Ashford Traveler as a good castle wheel, I don’t know about the whorls as I was a new spinner and didn’t know much about changing speeds.
The Reeves wheels are the stuff of legend! So glad you're able to get extra bobbins. The Polonaise and Traveler are both great also--you definitely have a lot of experience with all the different styles.
And yes, the wood finishing part can be so challenging and I'm not savvy enough to buy it unfinished, ha.
Most people learn using wool with a longer draw. I learned to spin using short foward because I learned with rabbit angora. This caused me to prefer a left handed wheel, or a castle. Having thick thighs, I like to treadle with one left foot even though I have double treadles. Things a person learns as they get new wheels...
Yes, I think it's so personal to each person!!
Thank you for this video! I also have an ashford traditional I found used and I know it won’t be my forever wheel. I am kind of torn on what kind of wheel I would like but I do think the saxony is more comfortable than I expected. The matchless looks like such an amazing wheel though lol.
I have considered purchasing a jumbo flyer for mine but also felt like it probably wasn’t worth it considering I only paid $200 for the wheel, lazy Kate and extra bobbins.
Hi Aimee. I am a very avid spinner. I have 4 treadle wheels and recently acquired an Ashford e-spinner. My spinning is 90% sport weight singles for weaving, although I have occasionally spun some fine 2ply for sock knitting. I too like to spin semi woolen with a backward draw and I find the only way I can sit turned a bit to the left to do my draw is to use a single Treadle with my right foot. I have two castle style wheels with single treadle which work well, and I have a Kromski Polonaise which I love, for the same reasons you like your Symphony, left side flyer, large wheel with huge speed choices. I have a Lendrum DT that I find very uncomfortable to spin on unless I’m doing a short forward draw, which is almost never. I like the e-spinner. It has huge bobbins, but is scotch tension only, and I prefer DD. Anyway, I do switch around for variety. When I travel the e-spinner is great. The Polonaise is delicate and absolutely doesn’t travel well. I totally understand your trouble with the Symphony. I really think you need several wheels for different purposes.
Thank you for your comment! I agree that there's going to be different use cases for each wheel and you end up needing at least 2, maybe more! The Polonaise is a BEAUTIFUL wheel---but it is definitely large!
aimee, this video was so so helpful ! i've been spindle spinning for about 2 years now and i am definitely wanting to spin higher quantities of yarn for larger projects and i am hoping to save up to buy a wheel in the next year or so. there was so much you mentioned that i hadn't considered before (like if i would prefer double or single treadle, what type of wheel might best suite my body) and i'm feeling really encouraged to get out there and try out some wheels!!
You bring up a lot of points I hadn't thought about yet! Could you maybe try and explain to me what the difference is between double drive and scotch tension when it comes to the actual spinning? Why would I choose one style over the other?
Hi there! The scotch tension method has fixed tension on the bobbin using a little tension band. The double drive version uses the drive band doubled and the tension comes from the difference of size of between the bobbin and the whorl. That difference is what makes everything move. There’s a little more slip on the bobbin in double drive that I really feel the difference on.
The take up on double drive remains consistent throughout a project. This isn’t true in scotch. Often times you need to readjust the brake band tension on scotch drive as the bobbin fills and gets heavier.
However, learning to spin on a double drive was a little finicky for me when I first switched over.
Hope that helps!
@@AimeeSherMakes oh okay I thought the take up would change with the weight of the bobbin regardless of what tension method, this is good to know :)
@@jeanneb6320 another point is that double drive is supposed to be better for spinning finer yarns. I have an Irish tension wheel - a Louet, which is supposed to have a stronger pull than a double drive so better for more chunky yarns. I am waiting for the delivery an old Haldane double drive with the aim of learning to spin super fine yarns.
This was a great video. I'm a new spinner and rented a wheel from my local guide. They only had Ashford Joy's. In researching, I'm really drawn to the Kromski Minstrel and Sonata. I'm torn between getting a double or single drive for my first wheel. I'm taking my first spinning class at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival and looking forward to actually seeing and sitting at a Minstrel to see how it feels. Can you talk more about the different drive systems and what they do?
I recommend a double drive because most of them can be converted to Scotch! They are a little more fiddly to set up but once you do, you do not have to adjust it throughout the spin. With a Scotch drive you'll need to adjust take up tension as the bobbin gets heavier while it fills. It won't take up as well as you fill it.
I have an Ashford Traditional of about the same vintage as yours (I know we've discussed this before!) I'm pretty happy with it but I'm starting to wonder if there might be a wheel that sits a little taller to help with posture given my height. I don't think a new wheel is in my budget (or storage space 😅) any time soon but if I do ever buy another I'll be looking for something a little more ergonomic!
Your Kromski wheel is SO beautiful though ❤
I know this dates back a bit, but I am 5'7", and it was hard for me to treadle on my single treadle antique wheel. I felt contrived and had no strength in my leg to treadle because my knee was bent too much. I fixed my problem by switching to a swivel chair with adjustable height, set to the highest position. I also started treading with my left foot, holding my fiber source my right hand and drafting with my left hand. It was a game changer, before that I could hardly get the drive wheel to spin continuously. Not sure if these tips would work on a double treadle though.
I really want a wheel but I want to make the right choice and the reality is that I guess there’s no “perfect” wheel until you’ve spun a while and know what subtle differences you prefer so it’s a conundrum. 😣
That’s exactly the trouble and they’re so expensive. I know a few people who were lucky enough to be able to rent or borrow one for a while!
Hi! I am right now in shopping phase for a spinning wheel. My favourite so far is the Kromski Symphony, I was wondering about the space it takes up. I know that the wheel is larger than other kromski models I saw, about 60 cm. but could you tell me the height of the whole setup? thanks!
Hi! It has a total width of 43” and an orifice height of 27”. The orifice is just about halfway up the wheel part so I would say maybe 39” total height?
I am hoping to buy my first spinning wheel. I wanted one that traveled, was traditional looking and a castle style. I live in RI which is a spinning desert. I had my choices to three, Spinolution Bull Frog, Ashford Kiwi 3 or Kromski Sonata, in that order. When I asked the specialist in a CA business they recommended the Sonata when I was leaning toward the Bull Frog. What do you think from your experience. Thank you! Diana Starr
Hey! I am a HUGE fan of Kromski and I think the Sonata is my favorite wheel of those 3. It just has an attention to detail and design elements that are so lovely. I particularly like the optional magnetic flyer. If I got a castle style travel wheel it would be the Sonata (not out of the question for me, tbh... just don't have space).
What do you think about kiwi 3, it appeals to me for economics and portability.
I think it’s a great travel wheel! My first wheel was a 50 year old Ashford Traditional and they’re built very well and solidly.
okay but you don't actually need to buy niddy-noddy and lazy kate; instead of niddy-noddy you can use a chair (just turn it upside down) or your own arm, and you can make your own lazy kate with knitting needle and box, or just use yarn winder to wind your singles to a cake before plying it
it just saved me a lot of money at the starting point