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by: Amos
May 3rd, 2016 by Amos | Posted in Fiber Arts Education, General News |
Luckily, spinning wheels these days are built to be good all-around performers. They are also generally made by small companies that are
passionate about spinning, quality and service: Ashford, Louet, Schacht, Kromski and Majacraft are great supporters of the spinning community and
we offer a complete selection of their products. Plus when you buy a spinning wheel at Halcyon Yarn it ships free within the continental USA!
Except for a few specialty wheels, most all models will help you learn to spin quickly, and make a great variety of mid weight yarns. That said,
there are important differences and you can definitely give yourself a head-start with a little planning. Some things to consider at the outset and
some questions that may guide you… Do you:
• Have limited space or lots of space?
• Want to be able to take your wheel with you to spinning groups or for travel?
• Find yourself drawn to traditional looks, or prefer a modern take?
• Want to spin mostly mid weight yarns, or know you’ll concentrate on either super bulky or super fine yarn?
As we talk about how to choose a spinning wheel, we’ll consider some of the parts of a wheel. These parts should be functionally similar even
between very different looking wheels:
Ok, now we’re ready to make some comparisons. With a little looking, you can get a wheel that will feel just right, look just right, and spin yarn
you’ll LOVE! Making a “good choice” for a first spinning wheel will keep you smiling for many years to come!
• Are the ones in storybooks. The Saxony style is what • Are diverse, with many shapes and sizes
Rumpelstiltskin used. • Tend to focus more on function than traditional design per-se
• Often have ornate construction and may take up more space than (though some are very cute).
modern wheels. • Often are able to fold, are lighter, and have a smaller
• Not typically able to fold for travel. “footprint”.
• Do still take advantage of modern components; they can be • Evolve more quickly to incorporate new ideas, trends and
versatile, and spin easily and well. improvements.
If your priority is a lightweight wheel that you can fold up and take to your spinning group, is versatile and takes advantage of new trends, you’re
most likely to find a good fit with a modern spinning wheel.
If you don’t have a strong preference, keep an open mind, as other factors may help you to narrow your choice.
…
… Why choose single treadle:
Why choose double treadle: • They can have an elegant and more traditional
look
• You like the rhythm of treadling with two feet • Fewer parts: simplicity of design and maintenance
• Beginners may find double treadle easier to control • You strongly prefer treadling with one leg over
• The work is split between both feet, allowing more opportunity for control and the other
dividing the work • Easier to switch feet, and rest one leg while the
• You can still treadle with one foot if you prefer other works
• Easier to change your orientation toward the
wheel
Single treadle spinning wheels are great for those who like a traditional look and simplicity of design. They’re also good if you like a little more
freedom in how you orient yourself toward the wheel.
Many wheels come in both styles, so feel free to select double treadle if it makes sense, but don’t necessarily rule out a single treadle, even if you’re
just learning.
… …
Scotch tension, or single drive flyer lead spinning wheel: great all-around performers, these do well with very fine yarns. You can adjust the
brake to let the bobbin spin with the flyer even when pulling very lightly, which is why it works well for superfine yarn. You can also adjust the
bobbin to pull more strongly for heavier yarns. Scotch tension wheels are versatile and popular.
Double drive spinning wheels: you could almost say they have auto-pilot. Without tension, both the bobbin and flyer are spun. The bobbin spins
faster so you’ll wind on yarn while adding twist with the flyer. You can change how much twist is added by using different “pulleys” to let the
bobbin spin a little or “a lot” faster (see “ratios” below). You can also cause the bobbin “slip” and therefore to spin with the flyer to add more twist,
like with Scotch tension. Adjusting how easily the bobbin slips can be tricky, but it’s easily learned. Double drive wheels are a joy to use for
spinning fine and medium yarns.
Many double drive wheels can be converted to single-drive Scotch tension, so if you’re interested in either Scotch tension or double drive, you may
want to consider a double drive wheel. All in all, this is a very versatile set-up.
A typical low ratio might be written as 4, 4:1, or “4 to 1”. This simply means that the bobbin or flyer rotate 4 times each time the drive wheel rotates
once. An example high ratio might be anywhere from 10:1 to 30:1.
You can change ratios! Simply change the pulley or whorl size. A larger pulley or whorl means slower spin. Just like on a bike how low gear is
easier to peddle, on a spinning wheel low ratios are easier to treadle.
The extras
Turns out there is more to spinning than just the wheel! Does the wheel come with extra bobbins, whorls, or flyers? What about a Lazy Kate (which
is a stand for bobbins, very useful for plying spun fibers into multi-ply yarns)? Does it include a carrying case?
We hope you enjoy these wheels as much as we do, and we look forward to hearing from you!
The Spinning Wheels
So many good choices! Take a gander, give us a call…
Elizabeth II* 24” 20 lbs D/D 8.5, 11, 15:1 4 bobbins (3.-4 oz)
Lazy Kate
• Unfinished Threading Hook
• Clear Lacquer How To Spin Booklet