My great uncle was a wheel wright. As the call for wooden wheels for carriages fell off, he began making furniture. He also made spinning wheels. My sister has a miniature of one of his spinning wheels and it is fully functional. He passed on to his reward at the age of 94, in 1962.
I have a Ashford Traddy (from the Woolery some 13 years ago.) It has been upgraded with Alden Amos high speed fliers, double treadle, an accelerator, Differential Rotation Speed whorls/bobbins, and most importantly, a revised tension mechanism. I see a commercial wheel as it comes out of the box as something to build on. As currently configured, my wheel will produce 2,800 yards of worsted spun singles spun at 9 tpi in 5 hours. Then, it takes me about half an hour to reconfigure with a stock Ashford jumbo flyer that with a “tension box” lazy kate allows me to ply a hank of very nice “gansey yarn” in a about an hour. Thus, I can spin the yarn for a fine gansey in 3 easy days. I can also produce worsted 5,600 ypp singles at 17 tpi for weaving or knitting hose at about 400 yards per hour. No modern commercial wheel will let me do those things. Textile artists should think outside the box and should read Alden Amos’s Big Book of Hand Spinning until they know the text and understand everything between the lines. I am old. If an old man tells you something cannot be done - do not believe him. If an old man tells you something can be done - believe him.
I love Amy Florence and her podcast! Thank you, Amy, for your commentary and comparisons...I found it to be very informative! Seeing each one gives a great picture of the variety and styles available.
It would be wonderful if she could make a video on each wheel with far more detail about them as well as showing the full wheel in action. Then do a compare and contrast.
I had an ashford traditional and couldn’t handle single treadle. The ashford kiwi is a nice beginner wheel. And I liked my kromski minstrel a lot but the squeaking and need for oil all the time drove me nuts. Now I have the Majacraft Aura and it’s the most amazing wheel ever 😍
This was very useful, I am just going back to spinning having sold all my equipment about five years ago. I bought a little electric Eel Wheel 6.0 which is great but am missing treadling (gives me a greater link with the yarn somehow...) and this film was useful to give scale to some of the wheels as it isn't always apparent how big or small they are in sales pictures (should always have a spinner in the picture somewhere...!) Some are very much bigger than I realised, especially the flatiron. Thanks for posting.
I have an Ashford Traditional (called the Kit Wheel) from 1978. I have spun more yarn with it than I would ever have believed possible. Occasional oiling and a new drive band in 2000 and it still spins like new. I was in Vancouver in 2006 and bought a little bobbin driven wheel with a huge flyer. It is supposed to be an ancient Leclerc. I use it for plying only. I got a Walking Wheel five years ago and it makes a great soft Woolen spun yarn. Hopefully there will be Sheep fairs in May so I can get more wool.
I find the feel of spinning on my ladybug to be truly smooth and comfortable. I’ve had many different too of the line wheels over the years. When it came time to thin the herd they all left except my ladybug.
@@gramma14 that's interesting because I sold my lady bug and went back to my Ashford Joy.. the ladybug was so noisy and the flyer was such a pain putting it on and off when changing bobbins and the tension wouldn't just be in the sweet spot I was constantly fiddling with it instead of enjoying my spin and lastly the main wheel just looked too cheap looking not a nice red at all 🤷♀️
Exactly - I didn't really glean much else above that - other than apparent confusion, might as well have talked about a cat they don't own or patching a leaky roof for all the additional help it added.
I have (and love) a Majacraft Little Gem - wish she had tried that one. I learned on an Ashford Traditional and it was very good, too. But when I wanted to invest, I wanted something that could do everything-and the Little Gem can and with style and grace!
Lord someone put a drop of oil on the inside of those bobbins. Does wonders for the clacking. Thanks for the quick run down of different wheels out there. While I would have loved to see some more in depth conversation around the wheels, fun video regardless. Thanks for sharing! 💜
I've previously owned a lady bug..it was noisy and getting the bobbin on and off wasn't easy.. the orifice doesn't allow for art style yarn making . It doesn't fold down and it's heavy. I've also own a majacraft aurora..it was extremely heavy .. the treacle action was hard and again not practical for art yarns.. and not a good wheel for short people like myself.. I've had an ashford traditional.. good beginners wheel.. I've owned and sold my ashford joy wheels thinking that the other brand of wheels were a step up.. they were more money and in the end I hated them and I've gone back to my sweet quiet smooth treadling ashford joy 2 and I'll never trade her for anything!..
My wheels "talk" at different points depending upon the load of the bobbin and the position of the yarn in the hooks....it can be quieted easily with adjustment. I personally love the song they sing and they are great for putting babies (and husbands) to sleep!
Yikes. No. I’m quite sensitive to racket and it would kill me to have to deal with that kind of racket. This is a great idea for a video but maybe doing something about the noise prior to filming.
I learned little to nothing watching this - there are many wheels to chose from.. Wheels are not shown. Just a random lady telling us what she may and may not like herself. Fun for her.
Thanks for editing the title of this video. Another reason I like ordering from you. Thanks for honoring Jude.
My great uncle was a wheel wright. As the call for wooden wheels for carriages fell off, he began making furniture. He also made spinning wheels. My sister has a miniature of one of his spinning wheels and it is fully functional. He passed on to his reward at the age of 94, in 1962.
I have a Ashford Traddy (from the Woolery some 13 years ago.) It has been upgraded with Alden Amos high speed fliers, double treadle, an accelerator, Differential Rotation Speed whorls/bobbins, and most importantly, a revised tension mechanism. I see a commercial wheel as it comes out of the box as something to build on. As currently configured, my wheel will produce 2,800 yards of worsted spun singles spun at 9 tpi in 5 hours. Then, it takes me about half an hour to reconfigure with a stock Ashford jumbo flyer that with a “tension box” lazy kate allows me to ply a hank of very nice “gansey yarn” in a about an hour. Thus, I can spin the yarn for a fine gansey in 3 easy days. I can also produce worsted 5,600 ypp singles at 17 tpi for weaving or knitting hose at about 400 yards per hour. No modern commercial wheel will let me do those things. Textile artists should think outside the box and should read Alden Amos’s Big Book of Hand Spinning until they know the text and understand everything between the lines. I am old. If an old man tells you something cannot be done - do not believe him. If an old man tells you something can be done - believe him.
Love Jude’s podcast he’s such a safe space to share an interest with
I love Amy Florence and her podcast! Thank you, Amy, for your commentary and comparisons...I found it to be very informative! Seeing each one gives a great picture of the variety and styles available.
It would be wonderful if she could make a video on each wheel with far more detail about them as well as showing the full wheel in action. Then do a compare and contrast.
Timestamps for the various wheels:
0:35 - Ashford Kiwi 3
1:23 - Ashford Joy 2
2:18 - Ashford Traveller
2:57 - Ashford Traditional
3:40 - Kromski Sonata
4:16 - Kromski Minstrel
5:01 - Kromski Interlude
6:12 - Kromski Symphony
7:20 - Lendrum Original
8:17 - Louet S10
8:51 - Majacraft Rose
9:44 - Schacht Ladybug
10:25 - Schacht Matchless
10:57 - Schacht Flatiron
Thank you that is so helpful!
I had an ashford traditional and couldn’t handle single treadle. The ashford kiwi is a nice beginner wheel. And I liked my kromski minstrel a lot but the squeaking and need for oil all the time drove me nuts. Now I have the Majacraft Aura and it’s the most amazing wheel ever 😍
I would love to try out multiple wheels. I only have a Kromski Sonata, and I have had mixed experiences with it.
A good and valuable demonstration.
This was very useful, I am just going back to spinning having sold all my equipment about five years ago. I bought a little electric Eel Wheel 6.0 which is great but am missing treadling (gives me a greater link with the yarn somehow...) and this film was useful to give scale to some of the wheels as it isn't always apparent how big or small they are in sales pictures (should always have a spinner in the picture somewhere...!) Some are very much bigger than I realised, especially the flatiron. Thanks for posting.
I have an Ashford Traditional (called the Kit Wheel) from 1978. I have spun more yarn with it than I would ever have believed possible. Occasional oiling and a new drive band in 2000 and it still spins like new. I was in Vancouver in 2006 and bought a little bobbin driven wheel with a huge flyer. It is supposed to be an ancient Leclerc. I use it for plying only. I got a Walking Wheel five years ago and it makes a great soft Woolen spun yarn. Hopefully there will be Sheep fairs in May so I can get more wool.
The Kromski Interlude is my choice. Great video Thanks for making it.
I wish the reviews had covered more about the actual spinning feel rather than some more obvious facts like double treddle, and finishes
Liz Kimber I don’t think these are intended to be reviews. These are just her thoughts on trying these (sometimes criminally loud) wheels.
I find the feel of spinning on my ladybug to be truly smooth and comfortable. I’ve had many different too of the line wheels over the years. When it came time to thin the herd they all left except my ladybug.
@@gramma14 that's interesting because I sold my lady bug and went back to my Ashford Joy.. the ladybug was so noisy and the flyer was such a pain putting it on and off when changing bobbins and the tension wouldn't just be in the sweet spot I was constantly fiddling with it instead of enjoying my spin and lastly the main wheel just looked too cheap looking not a nice red at all 🤷♀️
Exactly - I didn't really glean much else above that - other than apparent confusion, might as well have talked about a cat they don't own or patching a leaky roof for all the additional help it added.
What a surprise to find Amy here! Super fun!
I have a Majacraft Rose and I am so glad it is so quiet. I don't think I could stand all the clattering with some of the others.
Me too but I just can’t seem to spin very good.
I have (and love) a Majacraft Little Gem - wish she had tried that one. I learned on an Ashford Traditional and it was very good, too. But when I wanted to invest, I wanted something that could do everything-and the Little Gem can and with style and grace!
Lord someone put a drop of oil on the inside of those bobbins. Does wonders for the clacking. Thanks for the quick run down of different wheels out there. While I would have loved to see some more in depth conversation around the wheels, fun video regardless. Thanks for sharing! 💜
The Ladybug also spins in double drive and Irish.
Need to set your camera at a different angle so we can actually see the machine operation.
The diameter is measured across the center of the wheel, my dear.😁
Can a beginner learn on the flatiron or is that more of an advanced wheel
Oh the clacking!!! Is this how some of these sound all the time? It’s really painful.
I've previously owned a lady bug..it was noisy and getting the bobbin on and off wasn't easy.. the orifice doesn't allow for art style yarn making . It doesn't fold down and it's heavy.
I've also own a majacraft aurora..it was extremely heavy .. the treacle action was hard and again not practical for art yarns.. and not a good wheel for short people like myself..
I've had an ashford traditional.. good beginners wheel..
I've owned and sold my ashford joy wheels thinking that the other brand of wheels were a step up.. they were more money and in the end I hated them and I've gone back to my sweet quiet smooth treadling ashford joy 2 and I'll never trade her for anything!..
I forgot to say if you pit the freedom flyer on you can make art style yarns on the joy2.. so it's a win !
Some of our floor model wheels are a little more clacky than they normally would be because they get a lot of love and wear being floor models!
My wheels "talk" at different points depending upon the load of the bobbin and the position of the yarn in the hooks....it can be quieted easily with adjustment. I personally love the song they sing and they are great for putting babies (and husbands) to sleep!
Yikes. No. I’m quite sensitive to racket and it would kill me to have to deal with that kind of racket. This is a great idea for a video but maybe doing something about the noise prior to filming.
!
What is the name of the first wheel? Video started too late to hear. 1:09
I think it is the Ashford Kiwi. She mentions it in comparison when she tests the Joy 2. I checked out the wheels on their website and it looks right.
You don’t rest give many details about the wheels in reviewing them.
I learned little to nothing watching this - there are many wheels to chose from.. Wheels are not shown. Just a random lady telling us what she may and may not like herself. Fun for her.
Thank you, but not enough info. to be helpful🙃.
His name is Jude Harper, please step up!
Thanks for pointing this out to us, we'll make the changes right now!