Spin your tales about spinning

I am loving spinning.  In fact, I've knit almost nothing this week because I've been spinning in the few minutes I have to spare at the end of the day.

I'm spending too much time on the internet looking at and reading about wheels. 

I'm taking Michelle's advice and being a wheel slut--shamelessly asking friends to let me try their wheels.  Michelle volunteered her Kromski Sonata and I'll try it at the Knitter's Frolic.

Right now I'm using Keri's Ashford Traveller and tonight I'm picking up Kim's Lendrum.  I want to try the Ashford Joy at class today too.  I used at Louet last week; I didn't like that one as much.

I have determined one thing--I want a foldable wheel.  The house is small and having something I can fold and store away is a good thing (my rigid heddle loom is under our couch).  And, I like the idea of a wheel I can take to the cottage or to my LYS.  I'm drawn to the Lendrum and to the Sonata right now (I didn't like the Sonata at first--I like clean and modern, but am seeing its charms the more I look at them).  But I'm also open to the possibilities.

And I want to hear from you spinners (I know you're out there).  Tell me about your wheel(s), portable or not, and one thing you love about it and one thing you don't like.  Any other advice is always welcome.

Comments

[Theresa]

I have a Lendrum DT -- it's a great wheel and it has lots of potential to grow with you. Honestly, I can't think of anything I really truly don't like about it -- except that I think the bobbins are smaller than I like. But I replaced my flyer with a WooLee Winder and that pretty much fixed that issue. (I love my WW, as well).

[Rachael]

Ashford Joy, joy, joy. I have two other Ashford Traditionals, and I love them, but honestly, I love the way the Joy spins best of all, and it folds flat!

[Kim U]

My Schacht Ladybug isn't foldable, but she's quite compact. One thing I love: she's a very cheerful wheel, I don't think it's possible to look at the Ladybug and not smile. One thing I don't like: hm... really, I like everything about her. I don't think there's such a think as one perfect wheel - everyone has their own preferences and we've all got the good fortune to have many different manufacturers and styles to choose from right now. It's a great time to be a spinner!

[Suzanne (Yarnhog)]

I second the Ashford Joy. I have an Ashford Traveler, and I love it, but one of the women in my spinning group uses a Joy, and it seems both more solid and more versatile than mine.

[naomi]

I have a Lendrum DT complete, and I love it. It's large for a folding wheel, though, and it's not super easy to walk with, at least with the bag I got with mine. So I got a Louet Victoria (flyer-lead, like the Julia but not like other Louets, which are bobbin-lead). It's great for portability, and it spins fine (in both senses), but it feels less sturdy. (Yes, I'm saying the bigger, heavier wheel feels sturdier. There are tradeoffs.)

[beth]

i love love love my schacht matchless double treadle. not foldable, but light and small - and very simple lines and beautiful. have fun spinning!!!!!!!

[(formerly) no-blog-rachel]

I lurve my Ashford Joy! I chose it for several reasons - it's not a 'cheap' wheel but the price point is moderate compared to some. I too live in a small place and so for me, foldable is important too. And I often put it into the bag and take it somewhere else to spin - it's very nice that moving it from place to place is so very easy. Last, it's a versatile wheel - it has a number of ratios and I know that as I improve, I won't 'outgrow' it.

Enjoy whichever wheel you choose!

[Tivity]

Another Ashford Joy lover here!!! I'm actually a new knitter, took a class last August, and finally just bought my little wheel from a fellow raveler. I don't have the bag, but it has a very nice little built in handle and is small and very light. I have a tiny apartment and it is not at all in the way. I just plied for the first time. It's nice and sturdy and spins like a dream!

[Christy]

I started with an Ashford Joy, and got a Lendrum DT complete 2 or 3 years afterward. I figure Theresa up there hasn't dealt with the absolutely itty bitty bobbins that the Ashfords have -- maybe 2, 2.5 ounces. I can put 4-5 ounces onto a Lendrum bobbin, depending on how well I pay attention to it.

I love the Lendrum. I use the fast flyer almost as much as the normal flyer, and definitely use the bulky head for giant yarns or for plying 2 of the 4 oz bobbins together.

[Lynne]

I love, Love, LOVE my Lendrum DT. I also recommend a WooLee Winder - forget all the other special heads. I can spin cobweb on it.

[Jessica]

I have a Lendrum ST and it's a great all-around wheel. You can spin big or small, it's portable, it stores easily, it's reasonably priced. And most of all, Judith Mackenzie-McCuin, my personal spinning guru, says it's the only wheel you need. And it's made in Canada!

[Justine]

I have a louet, I don't really love it or anything but it was a gift... I am in love with double treadles of all sorts though, I really like them. Dave makes Kiwi's fold up and they are very affordable as far as wheels go.

[Micki]

I wouldn't trade my Lendrum DT for anything, and while it certainly is portable, it can be a bit unwieldy. Strangers have asked me if I'm hauling a cello around. :) The Lendrum is one of the most versatile wheels on the market, though, so you get a lot of value for your money.

[Knittripps]

I learned to spin on an Ashford Traditional and developed a preference to single treadle wheels. I also tried out my sister's Majacraft Rose which is a double treadle. My decision came down to the Ashford Traditional and the Kromski Prelude. Ultimately I went with the Prelude and I'm very happy with it.

[Cara]

I haven't spun in awhile, but I absolutely LOVE my Lendrum DT complete. Love it! Bought it without trying it because I had heard from so many spinners I respected that if you could only buy one wheel - this one was it. It hasn't failed me yet. I miss it.

[claudia]

Lendrum DT: versatile, foldable. There isn't really anything I don't like about it.

[jen l]

I echo the thoughts of the Lendrum DT lovers. I love love love my Lendrum. I don't travel a ton with it -- sometimes I take it to the LYS, but that's about it. I love the way it looks, and the way it spins. Super versatile and very well-made. I don't think you could go wrong with the Ledrum. Good luck with your search!

[Lisa Beamer]

I have an Ashford Traveller...I got it by default as it was on Craigslist and the price was right. Not sure it would have been my choice had money been no option, but its working out well for me as a first wheel. No real complaints. Its small enough to take places, though it does not fold up, and that would indeed be a plus. I have seen the Sonata in use, and though I haven't spun on it, I LOVED the stretchy drive band that lets you change ratios with no fuss. It's definitely more of an ordeal to change with the Traveller.

Hope you find the right wheel for you!

[Emily]

I've got a Joy, which you are welcome to try out if you didn't get a chance at your class. It's very different from the Elizabeth I firstlearned on, but I love the asthetics of it as well as it's foldability!

[Robin]

I LOVE my Lendrum DT! A very versatile wheel with different heads - regular, plying, fast, and very fast. Sets up or folds up in a flash. I ordered mine from The Woolery and bought the bag they sell for it, too. Very pleased with the bag, also. The Bee is getting good reviews. You might want to GOOGLE it.

[Donna]

If I hadn't managed to score a Matchless from an estate sale, I was seriously considering a Fricke, or a Kromski Sonata - if you get a chance to try a Fricke, I'd take it.

[Jocelyn]

I have an Ashford Traditional, and a Pipy. I got the Traddie because it was a good eBay bargain, and the Pipy was a gift from a friend; neither is folding, but the Pipy is small enough to put in the car if I wanted to. They're both single-treadle, which I really like, and they can both be scotch tension, which I also like. I think if I could get any wheel I wanted, I'd probably get a folding Ashford -- I like how solid they are (nothing worse than a wheel that scootches). I can't wait to see what you decide on!

[jen]

I have an Ashford Kiwi and I like it a lot. It's a workhorse beginner's wheel, but it's only 12 lbs. and fits in my closet so I can keep it out of reach of the kiddos (mine are 1 & 3), but if I want to bring it with me places (never have, but I *could*), it's not impossible - it would fit in the backseat on the floorboard no problem.

[adrienne]

I would say, don't ignore the Louet Victoria if it's the S10 you tried. The feel is completely different! I loved my Victoria. I'd also suggest trying a Majacraft Little Gem, although I really do prefer the Rose, which isn't foldable.

Unlike everyone else commenting, I have no love at all for the Lendrum. It spun well, but the angle drove me crazy. I so badly wanted to like it, but it didn't work out that way.

[deb]

I have a Majacraft Little Gem. Love it. I got it mainly because of the small footprint, foldability and portability (comes with travel bag) although i've never put it away because of the small footprint and i haven't found anywhere to go with it yet.

i did try a few others but this is the one i loved because i could spin at an angle i was comfortable with.

[emmy lou]

I'm in love with the lendrum dt but I don't even have one yet. I have my savings half way there. Until I can buy the lendrum I'm borrowing an ashford traditional - eh, it's a wheel, but I drool when I dream about the future spinning on a lendrum dt

[Sharilyn]

I have a Louet s15 which is my first wheel and is perfectly functional. Saying that there are some additional features that I'm interested in as I go looking for my next wheel -- which I think will be a Sonata. Here are some of the criteria I'm using to evaluate wheels.

Portability - I will be taking it with me various places, foldable wheel seems best fit. Really like a carrying case.
Durability - Has to be able to take being touched. I have 3 kids 10yo and under and a curious DH so it can't be too delicate or fussy.
Big Bobbins - I'm totally spoiled with the bobbin size on the Louet (easily 6 oz), I don't want to have to fuss with a gazillion bobbins.
Using my heel - I like to be able to treadle with a rocking action -- both toe and heel.
Price - Has to be in the realm of possibility.

[denny knows the joy of spinning, I knew you'd come around!!!!!!!]

Mawhaaaa mawhaaaaa mawhaaaaa ( thats my evil laugh)

[taobao]

Never too old to learn.*