In the February 2007 issue of the newsletter we started a section for members to share about their particular wheel.
We would welcome your wheel information. Please include the following information: the name of your wheel (the brand name), the type of your wheel (Saxony, double treadle, or whatever), and anything else that is unique about your wheel. This needs to be a little more than the catalog description. What do you especially like about your wheel? What do you wish your wheel would do (or do better)?
Please send your synopsis of your wheel to Charlotte Iverson by the newsletter deadline so I can include them.
We want to make these descriptions available to newcomers who are trying to decide on which wheel to purchase. I plan to provide a cumulative hard copy of these descriptions at our meetings.
Lendrum Double Treadle:
Review by Charlotte Iverson
I bought my Lendrum Double Treadle wheel in 2000 after several years of searching, checking out, and pondering. (I had spun on my Ashford for many years and was on the hunt for a double treadle) I had seen several fiber friends in the Asheville area that had the Lendrum double treadle wheel. What initially impressed me about it was that I saw CHILDREN (who had never spun ever before!) sit down and immediately start spinning!
When I tried it, I found that (with properly prepared roving) the wool almost spun itself!! And the action on it—I kept saying—“it’s like spinning butter”—so smooth!! This really allowed me to concentrate on spinning consistent yarns, rather than fiddling with the function of my wheel. I liked the fact that I could fold up the wheel and transport it easier and safer (I used to have to kind of force my Ashford through the door opening of my car!). I also like that you can more gradually “load” your bobbin with the spring action guide on the flyer.
After just a little practice you can get the feel of being able to restart your wheel with your feet, rather than stopping and starting each time. These are just a few of my favorite things about this wheel. You may have the same wheel and like other things about it. Don’t hesitate to send in your thoughts.
Schacht Matchless Double Treadle:
Review by Martha Weaver
I have 2 wheels, a Schacht double treadle, and an Ashford Joy. I had my Schacht 5 years before I ever learned to spin. I didn’t have any contacts to teach me or the time since I was in the process of raising 6 children, but the purchase was a promise to myself that one day I would learn.
Janis Garwood taught me (who met my mother by coincidence at a Crossville doctor’s office waiting room). Mom noticed Janis knitting and got into a conversation with her, telling her that I raised sheep and was Janis excited!
Well things progressed from there and now I love spinning and love my spinning group. I am a member of the Kindred Spirits spinning group that meets every other Thursday in the Crossville area. When I first attended, they informed me that I had to name my Schacht wheel. I named her “Hope” because I hoped for five years that I would one day finally learn to spin.
I enjoy my Schacht wheel. I am an active person so the double treadle keeps both legs amoving. It is versatile, spins fine wool extremely well, bobbins are decent size, and it is very solid. It is a little heavy for transporting, so I have enjoyed my Ashford Joy when needing to carry a wheel. I have had no trouble with either of them.
Schacht Matchless Double Treadle:
Review by Barb Keyes
My Favorite Workhorse is my Schacht double treadle wheel. I had my initials burned into it for a reason....it's my favorite wheel, the one I'll keep forever! I've tried many of the 100+ wheels on the market and this one just worked for me in so many ways.
I have 4 working wheels: a Shaker Great wheel that needs a new home (hint, hint), an Ashford Elizabeth that I use for flax spinning and demos at historic sites, a Butterfly Electric with the Woolee winder that is the best plying machine I've ever seen or used (good for spinning singles, too, but I prefer non-electrics for that) and the Schacht.
My first wheel was an Ashford Traveler that I upgraded to a double treadle when the kit came out. I sold that reluctantly, since it was an anniversary gift from my husband, to get the money to buy the Schacht.
Why do I like it? In no particular order:
- It's sturdy...no delicate parts to break ...I tend to be clumsy and rather non-frilly, if you know what I mean.
- I love the steam-bent supports made of different laminated woods...the middle one holds my ball winder, another tool I use often.
- The height of the orifice fits me better than any other wheel. I'm tall; many wheels are too short for me.
- It has many whorl sizes available (I have most of them) making spinning everything from sewing thread to boat anchor easy.
- I got to meet Barry Schacht during a dyeing class at the Estes Park Wool Market in 1996...okay this really has nothing to do with the purchase, but he is an interesting critter.
- It's got 2 fat treadles for my 2 wide feet!
- I like the diameter of the drive wheel....nothing bothers me more than a tiny drive wheel. If I wanted THAT type of spinning, I'd stick to my bicycle!
- It's portable, but I prefer spindles on the road and at meetings....they don't take up so much space in the bag. It has gone to many workshops and classes with no trouble at all.
- Nice sized bobbins....not so small that they seem to fill up immediately, producing tiny skeins, and not so big that you seem to never fill them. And finally...
- The drive string STAYS where I put it....another big gripe of mine with the Majacraft-type wheels.
Ashford Traditional Single Treadle:
Review by Sherry Nichols
I use an Ashford Traditional single treadle to spin with. This was purchased by first contacting an individual at the "Spinners and Handweaver's Housecleaning" pages.
I really like the simplicity of the wheel (not too many knobs or things to adjust or mess up), and I think it is well suited for beginners and beyond. I understand you can purchase attachments for making it double treadled, or for making the diameter of your yarn smaller or larger. The only trouble I have with mine is not keeping the treadle moving smoothly. It may be a problem with my leg not getting the rhythm, or the worn leather that connects the treadle.
Ashford Traveler:
Review by Nancy Shedden
I don't know much about the mechanics of spinning but this wheel is easy to set up, spin, and adjust the tension. My wheel fits easily into the back seat of my vehicle and is relatively light - ~ 15 lbs. therefore, making it a convenient piece to "travel" with. The Traveler also takes up minimal space in our living area.
Ashford Traveler:
Review by Janis Garwood
The Traveler is an upright or castle style wheel. My first wheel was an Ashford Kiwi (another upright) that I would loan out to new spinners. Someone talked me into selling it so I replaced it with the Traveler. I was lucky enough to buy mine for a fabulous price when Melissa at Knit 'n Purl went out of business. I am using the scotch tension on my single treadle Traveler but I do have the double drive unit when I get inspired to use it. It does require that you use double drive bobbins which are different from the 'regular' bobbin.
I love my built in lazy kate because I'm a lazy old thing that hates to drag along another piece of equipment if I don't have to. It also keeps me from losing my lazy kate.
Having had an Ashford before, I knew about the wonderful customer service provided by Ashford. If you need more bobbins or accessories, you can find them anywhere and for a reasonable price.
For more information on Ashford Traveler and their other products, check out their web site.
There is a wealth of information on their site.
Ashford Kiwi:
Review by Darlene Laverdure
Jensen Production Wheel:
Review by Jenny Bennett
This double treadle wheel comes with 4 bobbins and 3 different drive whorl sizes that allows you to change the ratios between the ‘drive’ side and the ‘bobbin’ or ‘take up’ side of the drive band, so that it spins more or less revolutions per peddle push. The 2 you are not using mount on the side of the wheel’s ‘table’, out of the way, but handy – they won’t get lost. It will work equally well as a double drive or scotch tension. I like the idea of the flexibility, but the reality is, I just use the double drive, and the fastest whorl, and adjust my peddling and fiber drafting as needed.
The treadling draft of the double treadle on this wheel fits me very nicely. Some wheels require a pretty long draft (that is, from the top position to bottom of the treadle as you peddle is a long way) and some very short (requiring a little more precision with the peddling because a little push goes all the way). I like this one – not too big or small. With 2 treadles, I can use either one or both, giving my different body parts rest or stretches. And with double treadles it is easy to stop and start without using your hands to get the wheel going the right direction.
The two things I don’t like about this wheel are the shaft that the treadles ride on is a 2 part deal, with a ‘joint’ in the middle, and the hooks on the flyer are pretty flimsy. If the floor is not very flat, it squeaks and groans no matter how much oil you use, because of that 2 part treadle shaft. It really (Jenny Bennett continued) wants a flat, level floor. The hooks on the flyer are across from each other on the same side, which is handy when spinning extra fine, but they are so flimsy that after the first year of spinning, my yarns had cut all the way thru 6 of them. I replaced them with brass cup holder hooks from the hardware store and they have not shown any wear yet!
This wheel spins so smooth. It feels very nice. And it is so pretty – isn’t it nice to use pretty ‘tools’?
Jensen Tina II:
Review by Linda Frank
Kromski Mazurka:
Review by Carmen Bonnell
I own a Kromski Mazurka. The wheel itself is fairly small as wheels go, a mere 18 inches. It is a single treadle, with the option of either Scotch tension or double drive. It is a castle wheel, and weighs nine pounds – both of these features lend themselves to making it a very compact, lightweight model, both easy to move and efficient for floor space at home. I had a case made for it, with which I’m overwhelmingly pleased; the case allows me to backpack it, or carry it with a single hand, as well as to manipulate it easily into odd spaces when it is being moved.
As a novice spinner, I wanted to have the confidence that a warrantee afforded – I retailed harps for years, and I didn’t want to find myself in the position that I had seen other bright-eyed and overconfident bargain hunters in. I needed something on the low end of the price-spectrum, but I’m a terrible snob when it comes to esthetic appeal, and this wheel answered both needs. Thankfully, there are other benefits. My Mazurka, if kept well-oiled, runs very quietly, and very smoothly. The treadling is almost effortless, with an easy rhythm. My spinning is relatively consistent on it, without undue focus necessary. For the moment, I am thinking about controlling both the evenness and diameter of my yarn. If it doesn’t happen, it isn’t the wheel, it’s me; we’ll worry about ratios and other options, later.
After experimenting with both double-drive and Scotch tension, I prefer the latter on this wheel. Plying is the only time I miss the Ashford that I borrowed from the guild – for whatever reason, that process was easier on it. I use both feet for treadling, just not at the same time, this being my answer to the ergonomics of a double-treadle wheel!
My many thanks to Charlotte Keathley for encouraging me to consider a Kromski, against other (loudly) voiced advice. Please also note that this is not necessarily a monogamous relationship!
Lendrum Double Treadle:
Review by Tracy Farris
The Lendrum DT has a clean “look”. Its style is non-traditional; while it is made in Canada, its simple lines remind me of Scandinavian furniture. I think it is important to like the way the wheel looks, as it really will be a piece of furniture in your home.
It has been an excellent beginner’s wheel, and given its multiple whorls, I believe it will grow with me. I really like the way my Lendrum “fits”. I am tall, and everything on the wheel is at a comfortable level for me.
It is extremely functional. It folds and travels easily, and is lightweight and easy to carry. Folding and unfolding are simple, requiring movement of only one bolt.
I bought the complete wheel, including the plying head, lazy kate and fast flyer. I do not think there is a huge financial advantage to doing this, except for saving on shipping costs if you plan to purchase these items later.
I had no problem locating and purchasing additional bobbins online. Replacement belts and other replacement parts also seemed to be readily available, in addition to a really nice carrying case.
Kromski Sonata:
Review by Penny Tschantz
I knew I wanted an upright folding wheel that I could travel with, I wanted a traditional-looking wheel, and I preferred a dark finish. I tried treadling an Ashford Joy at SAFF, but it didn’t feel right. I tried a Lendrum and liked the way it felt, but its looks just didn’t grab me. I did some research on the Internet and learned about the forthcoming Louet Victoria. When I called the Woolery, which was going to be selling it, the owner told me that he hadn’t been able to spin on it; he had only the information that Louet had provided. He had, however, tried another new folding wheel and could recommend it without hesitation. He suggested that I look it up online and call him back. So I did, and what I found convinced me that Kromski is a reputable company and its new wheel was just what I wanted.
Kromski is a fairly small, family-owned and operated business in Poland. They make a variety of wheels. I loved the look of the Sonata, and the price was right. At that time, I could get a free carrying bag as well. So I took a deep breath and ordered one. In the sixteen months since then, I have never regretted my rash decision.
The Sonata uses 4-oz. wood bobbins and has a 19-inch wheel. It has Scotch tension and a stretchy drive band, with drive ratios of 6.7, 12.5, and 14. A high-speed flyer and a jumbo plying flyer are available. So far I’ve been able to spin as fine a singles as I want with the standard flyer. I bought a Woollee Winder which is great for plying, but a bit fiddly for spinning singles. Though the Sonata’s instructions say that the drive band’s tension should not need adjustment once it’s set, I’ve found that I do have to adjust it when I change whorls; and certainly when I use the Woollee winder. Other than a fairly frequent need for oiling, my wheel has been trouble free. It folds easily for taking along to guild meetings, workshops, and demonstrations, although it’s too big to carry onto an airplane and rather heavy for lugging very far. A wide range of accessories is available; I have the spinning stool, a niddy-noddy, and a tensioned Lazy Kate.
As a beginning spinner, I’ve found the Sonata very easy to use. At this time, I can’t imagine needing another wheel unless I wanted a really small one or a double drive. I enjoy spinning on my walnut-finish Sonata as well as just looking at it, and I would recommend it to anyone.
