O.K. I know this is a weaver group, but I know many of you spin too. I hope that you don't mind me asking what spinning wheel is your favorite and why? I' ve been spinning on a Jenkins drop spindle since last Jan. I've fallen in love with spinning. I'm thinking about getting a wheel within the next year.
Thanks for you responses,
I'm always open to learning.
Liza
Hi, I have a Jenkins spindle too, and they are fabulous!
As to which spinning wheel............. what suits one person may not suit the next. For example I don't like Ashfords, which are well loved around the world, and I love my Babe Liten Spindel and have seriously considered one of their production wheels, despite the cost of shipping it to Australia, but the Babe's are an acquired taste visually, because they are made of PVC. You have a lovely choice of wheels and lots of wheel vendors available to you, so don't be in a hurry to buy one. Try, and try, and then go back and sample your favourites again before buying one that you may hate in a few months time. And beware of that bargain wheel on Craig's List - its a probably a bargain as long as you don't want to use it to spin yarn!
If you have a spinning and weaving Guild close by, see if you can hire a wheel. Some craft stores also hire out wheels, so its worth asking around. If you come across any spinners at craft shows or fibre fairs, ask if you can try their wheels, talk to them about them and ask them to show their good points and bad so you get a cross-section of opinions.
I love my wheels, each one is different, and I use them to spin different yarns, but the spinning tool I use the most is a spindle! They are much cheaper to collect as well, lol!
I keep going back to my Louet 75. As Caroline says you must try wheels to see what you like. I like the Louet because I like to spin FAST. I can do all kinds of spinning on this wheel, with the exception of finest thread competition. The take-up is too strong for the finest thread. I can spin lace weight yarns, by lacing the yarn through hooks back and forth across the bobbin. I can also spin very bulky designer yarns on this wheel.
My second wheel is an Alden Amos Bull Pup Charkha. After several years I still am not very proficient on this one. I need to put some more time in on it, because it puts a lot of spin into the yarn quickly. There are times when I need that, such as spinning for backstrap woven bands.
Good luck in your pursuit of a special wheel for you.
Aunt Janet
I've been spinning for longer that I care to tell, and have more wheels than I want to admit. Note Caroline's warning!
I agree with both Caroline and Aunt Janet that there is no "one size fits all" spinning wheel and it would be good to try several.
If you are looking for help in narrowing the field, here are some of my suggestions. Budget aside, the most important thing to look for is quality engineering. It makes a big difference if you are spinning for any length of time. Beauty counts! You will want to spin more on a wheel that you love the looks of. Versatility is important, especially for a beginner who has not yet figured out the type of spinning she/he will be wanting to do. Most wheels on the market today have a pretty good mid-range. Extremes at the end may require specialty wheels.
My only antique that I will mention is a St. Hyacinthe. It spins superfine to fine beautifully, easily ..... but that's all. My "Rolls Royce" is a Norwegian wheel made by Michael Wilson in the mid 1980's. It's beautiful, its engineering is wonderful. If I could keep only one wheel, this is the one. I have a Louet S70 which I originally purchased for students to use. I use it A LOT. I can spin bulkier; I do all of my plying on it; the skein winder on top is very handy. It doesn't wimp out when the bobbin gets full. Generally I don't like double treadles, but I can use this like a single treadle if I want. I have a Kromski - a delightful wheel. Well engineered and amazingly nice design and finish for the price. I have a couple of Ashfords which I don't use much. One is Scotch tension only, which I don't like. The other is a Traditional with double drive option; this is better, but I have other wheels which do the same thing far better. I don't own but have used a Schacht - its engineering quality is right up there with the Wilson. And if I had to give up every wheel that I own and only buy one new one, it would be a Rio Grande.
As for the collection problem, I've found that collecting antique postcards of spinning wheels can be just as satisfying. They display easily, store easily, and are far easier to move!
Whiteoakgrandmother,
You have made a good day wonderful! I love this quote, it's perfect:"As for the collection problem, I've found that collecting antique postcards of spinning wheels can be just as satisfying. They display easily, store easily, and are far easier to move!"
You nailed it. Thanks for sharing your wonderful sense of humor and some excellent advice on spinning wheels.
Claudia, smiling
Hi Liza,
If you're getting the sense that no one can tell you exactly what wheel would be perfect for you, you're on the right track. ;-) We all approach yarn and tools differently, and "perfect" depends on a huge number of factors!
The advice to try before you buy is excellent. If you're in an area without guilds or shops, see if you can get to some kind of regional fibre festival -- there are usually vendors selling wheels on-site there, and they'll be happy to let you sit down and take something for a spin! Having spun on a spindle for a year, you have all the skills you need to "feel" the difference between wheels. Even if the details of wheel spinning feel unfamiliar to you (the wheel participates in the process differently from a spindle), drafting is drafting. You'll do just fine.
My wheel collection (really, it didn't start that way!) began with a Louet S70 that I bought new in the 1980s -- a wheel that has been upgraded and maintained all this time and is still with me. I still use it a lot. I also have 4 antique wheels (including a great wheel and a double-flyer wheel), a small Scotch tension wheel made in the late 1980s, an Indian charkha, two other small(ish) spindle wheels, and the newest addition, a Louet Victoria. I use them all and love them all. In almost every case, the wheel has one or two things it does exceptionally well, and a few things it really isn't suited for -- that's especially true of the antique wheels (I suspect it's the case with most antiques). The exception to "does one or two things exceptionally well, but..." is the newest member: the Victoria has so far been able to spin every kind of yarn I've asked it to.
If you're looking to buy a new wheel, you have lots of great choices! A lot of the modern wheels can spin almost everything with ease, which is fabulous -- it means the wheel won't determine what kind of yarn you make. Lendrum wheels are excellent that way (I think the original Lendrum was the first wheel I met that could spin anything-anything-anything), as are Schachts, as are the newer Louets, as are most of the Majacrafts. (I've never tried a Kromski wheel, so they're not on this list even though they might merit it -- or not). I've heard excellent things about Fricke wheels in terms of their versatility and engineering-- but again, I haven't tried one myself.
How much you're thinking to spend can play a big role in your choice, too. I live in Europe, and wheel prices here won't match the ones you see there (some wheels that are nicely affordable over here are very expensive in the States!) -- but the prices cover a wide range these days. Don't dismiss a wheel just because it has a low price tag, by the way -- Lendrums and Frickes are on the lower end of the scale as far as prices go, but they're versatile, powerful wheels.
Hmm. Feels like I'm giving you more options instead of narrowing things down. ;-)
One last thing: wheel ownership doesn't mean your affair with spindles is over. Just thought you should know. ...Even with my full stable of wheels, there are spindles here, in every shape and size. When I travel (which is a lot!), there's always at least one spindle in the suitcase. Wouldn't have it any other way!
Happy shopping! It's a wonderful world out there, and you'll have a great time exploring it to see what it can offer you.
Ruth
And, since Ruth does not mention it herself - go look at her website! Her spinning videos are excellent - thank you Ruth!
Portability is another consideration that we've forgotten to mention. If you will be taking your wheel to guilds, fairs, a friend's house, etc., you will want to have a wheel that travels easily. There are several options in this category.
I think all of us here giving you advice are confirmed spindle spinners; that should really tell you something! There is a saying, by Ed Franquemont I think, that goes along the lines of "slower by the hour, but quicker by the week". And that sums up spindle spinning. You can do it where-ever you are, and when-ever you have a free 5 minutes. You cannot do that with a wheel.
They each have their place in your spinning life, and there will be times when the wheel gathers dust, and times when the spindles ( please note its a plural, hehe!) will sit there looking pretty; but they all spin well, and its going to depend on what you are doing, and what the fibre tells you. If I want to ground myself, I use a spindle because I love the feel of the fibres through my fingers, and coming out miraculously as yarn, and it feels timeless and so natural to be doing this. Its like a meditation. But my latest love is an e-spinner, so there is a place for every kind of wheel in your life!
Its going to depend totally on what you are wanting to do, and whether its the process of spinning yarn that is most important at any particular moment, or whether the resulting yarn is more important. If you feel at one with your spinning tools, you can have the best of both worlds.
WOW!!!
Thanks for all the ideas and thoughts. Collecting ?? Who me?? lol I am fasinated by each loom that I see. lol Is there any hope that I will be different with spinning wheels?? I love the idea of postcards, but I was thinking maybe pics would work with the looms. I could have a photobook with pics and info that I found out about each loom. I could build my own coffee table book. lol
I find it very interesting how you all view your drop spindles. I've often wondered if I really want to give that up. I love using my Jenkins delight as I relax in my rocker at night. In fact, I just talked to them last night. I like the weight of my delight better than my full size spindle so I wondered if they could make a full size one that would weight the same as my delight. And yes, they can do that for me. I have this "odd" dream of spinning while I walk our dirt road. I've seen so many pics of women spinning while on their way to and from market. I want to spin, pray, and walk, while enjoying being outdoors in God's creation. I need to get good enough that I don't have to concentrate on my spinning though. lol
Wheels, well, I went to guild meeting today and found out a friend has an Ashford Traditional for sale at a "very" good price. I called and I'm second in line for it. If I get it I will use it while I find the "wheel for me", and then pass it on to either my daughters or someone else wanting to learn to spin at the same great deal.
It does pay to go to guild meetings. lol I found out that there is now a Kromski Dealer about one hour from my house. I called and plan to go and "see" them (leaving all forms of money at home). I also plan to visit different friends who spin this winter and try out their wheels. I'm trying to go able this slowly;)
Things that interest me in a wheel. I like that each of my children could have their own bobbin and spin their own yarn on the wheel. (Not sure that I can afford to keep them in fiber though) I probably would go with a castle type of wheel because of many people and looms in a small space. I think that faster might be good for some projects. Also,
I have one daughter that is much more interested in a wheel than a drop spindle. I actually was given an Asford Scholor, however, it is not a well made wheel. My daughter uses it for plying, but I would rather use my drop sindle. You have to treadle very fast or the wheel reverses. It is a very hard wheel to control. My Dad who is a wood worker took it apart and actually improved it by far. However, His words to me were, "You know that is a very poorly made wheel, right?" He has built and restored plenty of horse drawn carts and such and knows a good "wheel" when he sees one. lol This well meaning gift of a wheel has made me very cautious of buying a wheel without trying it first.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and ideas. I can't wait to get the computer fixed so that I can view Ruth's videos and helps. Hopefully my adventure to find a wheel will bring many new friends into my life and "draw" my children into spinning along with me.
Liza
Circle S Leather
Braintanner.com
Thank you for your kind words, Kerstin! We could get a mutual admiration society going here -- I frequently visit your website for help and inspiration.
While we're on the subject, though, there will be some new spinning videos sometime this fall! They've been on my List for a while, but they're finally about to happen. When they're ready, they'll be posted on my website and on YouTube like the others for free viewing.
Ruth
Hi Liza,
Ashford wheels have a long history. When I started spinning, there weren't as many commercially made wheels to buy new as there are now -- but Ashford was there, and was pretty much the biggest company going. At that time they sold their wheels as "kits", and the price was very low -- which made it possible for a large number of people to buy a wheel and start spinning without putting out a lot of money. They used to have a slogan: The world spins on an Ashford -- and besides being a catchy phrase, it was true!
The thing about their early kit wheels was that the quality was variable. The parts in some kits were smooth-sanded and ready for assembly; but other kits were less lucky, and had parts with rough spots, bobbins that would bind up on the spindle shaft, parts that didn't move effortlessly.... If the person who bought the kit was attentive in putting it together and took the time to make sure everything was as it should be, they ended up with a wonderful wheel! If not -- their wheel might have turned out a little less wonderful.
That was a couple of decades ago. Ashford has made leaps and bounds of progress since then, and I haven't heard any complaints about quality in their new wheels for a long time! Their ready-made wheels are now lovely and reliably well-made.
Whether or not Ashford makes the wheel that will make your heart sing -- that's another story! You'll know when you sit with it and spend time treadling, drafting, listening, meditating. :-)
I just wanted to make sure you knew that not all Ashfords will be like your experience with the Scholar (which, by the way, was an early venture into other forms of wheel for the company). One of the first wheels to convince me that wheel spinning was delicious was an early Ashford -- a kit wheel, made many, many years before they started calling that wheel "The Traditional". Its owner wouldn't part with it -- otherwise I'd have an Ashford sitting here with my other wheels!
Ruth
It is morning here, and as I thought back over my post that I made last night, I wanted to be very clear about my Asford Scholor it was a gracious and unexpected gift. The wheel has its own story that makes it special to me. I am a thankful receiver of it for many reasons. One being because without it I might not even be spinning on my spindle. I purchased a good drop spindle after not being able to draft well on the wheel(couldn't control it). I understand totally about Ashford's early variable quality, for my sister owns an Ashford Scholor and loves it. Learning to spin was on my want to learn list, however this gift of a wheel moved it right up to the top. It might of been years before I got around to it. I've already received many, many hours of enjoyment from spinning, and I look forward to adding many more hours. lol
The Louet and Ashford are the most popular wheels in my area. I've never seen the Louet Victoria though. I love how it folds for storage. I don't really plan to travel with my wheel much, but I might some. That would be really great as far a space in my house, but I wonder if I would open it to use it or just reach for my spindle. lol
I forgot to mention that I spin then make a 3 ply yarn that is a sport weight. This is my favorite weight now because it was my favorite yarn to knit with, but my children are into bigger. lol They like it to knit fast.
Liza
I was one of those many folk who purchased an Ashford kit many, many years ago - probably about 35 years ago. We had a dairy farm and four little kids and absolutely no money and the $45 it cost seemed like $450 to me at the time. Our guild - the Black Sheep Handspinners Guild in Ithaca, NY bought several at a time (10-12) when members wanted a wheel. And you are right Ruth, there weren't too many others to choose from. I had been given a lovely antique flax wheel that had been in my husband's family, but in never spun as well as the Ashford even after having a flier assembly made for it by master spinning wheel maker, Norm Hall in Oxford, NY. It just never felt as comfortable as my Ashford.
I love my Ashford. It's a workhorse and I don't fret when I have to put it in my car to take it off to a SpinIn at our LYS or demonstrate at a fair. I don't know or care if the wheel isn't The new Ashfords are lovely, but my trusty old kit Ashford is the greatest!
:>) Suzy
ps... You can't beat my Turkish drop spindle for portability and spin-ability. It spins and spins and spins and is perfect for summers on the boat!
I bookmarked both Ruth and Kirsten's web pages. I got to glimpse at both. Marvelous! I'll be back to both real soon.
I'm between day one and day two of our local fiber fair. It is a little slow, but still the same amount of work. I have a really big booth. Taught a bit of kumihimo to kids and adults. Slow makes it easier to talk to folks. I met a couple of young women who are enthusiastic about DIY and primitive technology, and wool. They were both invited to join me at my mill for more fibery adventures.
Aunt Janet
One thing people haven't mentioned so far. If there is a fiber festival anywhere near you, it is a great place to try out a lot of wheels at once as well as being a great place to comparison shop fleece, fiber, books, etc.
I must put in a good word for my favorite, the Lendrum castle wheel, especially since there don't appear to be many Lendrum spinners who've responded to you or at your guild. They are very popular arround here. The Lendrum has a series of fliers which can spin a very large bulky with an 8 oz skein through an easy midweight all the way to sewing thead size. I don't know of any other wheel that can really do that. I have a few other wheels - a Country Craftsman saxony, a great wheel and an Indian charka, but the Lendrum is my go-to wheel for versatility.
Also around here, many people go for the very small, very portable wheels now available, the Schacht Ladybug being one example.
Good luck in your hunt!
Babe's Garden Electric Flyer was our first spinning wheel. It's a flyer powered by a sewing machine motor. We bought ours with the plying flyer because we wanted to ply our singles.
The plying flyer can also spin thin yarn but it has a bobbin that holds twice as much yarn. And we really appreciated the big bobbins when it came to plying.
We chose the Babe Electric after seeing members of our angora rabbit guild using it at the rabbit shows. It's small enough to fit in a picnic basket for transport. At rabbit shows the spinner sits on a box or table. We always had extension cords deployed for our grooming blowers so electricity access was not an issue. After grooming rabbits the electric spinners would come out and we would spin while waiting.
My lovely wife spun and plied many hundreds and thousands of yards in the living room while watching television.
Website for Babe's Fiber Garden http://www.babesfibergarden.com
Have a good day!
Well,,, If you want an update. I've ordered a wheel. I'm very excited about it, but it will be a wait. I ordered a Robin Spinning Wheel which are made in Maine. I liked the fact that I could talk to the wheel maker. And I love the fact that he is willing to use "wood" from my father-in-law's farm. My father-in-law is excited to be part of it, too. He has been bugging me to get a wheel for a long time.
I guess I'm just to much of small business person. I love dealing with our customers one on one and I like to be dealt with one on one too.
I'll need to order a couple more drop spindles so that I will have more to go around for the children while we wait. lol They complain that I "hog" the favorite one. lol Some rights just come with motherhood.
Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully this is my one and only wheel. lol
Liza
Liza, great news! I wish you a long and pleasurable relationship with your new wheel, and it will always have a special significance for you. A real family heirloom!
Its great you can talk to the builder too, it makes it very personal.
But never say you hope its your one and only wheel; they have a habit of congregating together, given half a chance, just like coathangers multiply in wardrobes, hehe! its all part of the fun, ;-)!!
Hi, you said that your favorite spinning wheel is a Michael Wilson spinning wheel. I just purchased one for my daughter from the family of a local spinner who passed away last spring. It is cherry wood and is marked "M. Wilson, 1983". I am interested in getting information on how to go about finding extra bobbins. I know nothing about spinning. My daughter is enrolled in a spinning class that will begin next month. We drove over to a town nearby to a shop that sells spinning supplies and the lady there did not know what size bobbin it would take. I read your post on this forum. My email is daw43@aol.com. Thanks so much!
Deborah
Hi Deborah, Michael Wilson made two different wheels, a large Norwegian, which is what I have, and a smaller castle wheel called the La Belle Fleur. My wheel came with five bobbins and I've never had reason to need more. After reading your question I looked at bobbins on my other wheels and those from the Ashford double-drive Traditional that I've had for about 12 years are the right length and diameter. I tried one and it won't fit the wheel without changing the bearings in the end of the bobbin, so I don't know if it would work or not. It would not have the same speed ratio of the original bobbins either. I don't know if both of his wheels used the same size bobbins in length and diameter, but I know from reading his brochure (I still have it!) that the pulley groove would be a different size than mine, because it has a different drive ratio. If you can't modify an Ashford bobbin to fit, you might have to find a fine woodworker who could make some.
Also, I have some antique wheels that have only one bobbin, and while sometimes spare bobbins are nice it isn't really such a big deal if you have a ballwinder to make balls for plying.
My daughter's wheel is the smaller one. It is portable. Thanks for all of your information and advice. Is there a website where we could go to read information about her particular wheel? I understand that since it was built in 1983, it is an older model and hard to find parts and information about it. Thanks for all of your help!
My daughter and I are so excited that we found someone who knows something about the Michael Wilson wheels. Our wheel came with no information. Any information about these wheels, (i.e., who was Michael Wilson, where was he from, where were the wheels made,) anything you can tell us at all would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps even if you could scan and email the brochure as an attachment. We have searched the internet but found nothing other than your post on this website. I are so happy that we found you! Thank you!
Deborah and Adrienne
I don't know a lot about it, but here goes with what info I have. Michael Wilson operated Wilson Wood Works in Berea, KY. Sometime during the 1980's his spinning wheels were featured in Finewoodworking Magazine. What the brochure says about your wheel:
La Belle Fleur "Truly Portable"
This spinning wheel is traditionally designed after several old world examples.
The great wheel is balanced for exceptionally smooth treadling.
Hardware, spindle and crank are entirely of polished brass.
The orifice of 5/16 in. in diameter will spin or play most average size yarns.
The spindle bearings are heavy, oiled leather.
A draw-in hook is included which conveniently fits into the table and is easily reached.
Comes with three bobbins, and more may be ordered at any time.
Overall drive ratio of 12:1 (Simmons)
Handcrafted of Black Cherry, which is noted for its beautiful color and dimensional stability, this wheel is also available in Black Walnut.
Praised for its portability, this spinning wheel will ride in most automobile seats, yet out performs most wheels twice its size.
Weight, 8 1/2 lbs.
Each wheel is completely assembled, and tested before delivery.
Mr. Wilson delivered my wheel to me personally. I don't know about yours, but mine has a lead weight in the wheel to make it always stop in the same position and I can begin treadling again without using my hand to start the wheel. Look for a round plug in the wheel rim at the back. Be sure to oil the flyer bearings well. The wheel is set in teflon bearings and doesn't need oiling.
