It All Starts with A Cardboard Box
Well, actually, it starts with a trip to Marengo and a visit with Toni Neil at the Fold (I'm just going to gush for a second and say again how awesome both she and her store are. If you need a wheel or fiber and you're in Illinois, you really shouldn't miss out on a trip to visit her!). But the adventure at home starts with this:
Those of you who have also been on this trip probably know what is in this box, even though you don't have a good clear image of the label. For those who don't, a couple of hints: 1) It comes from Canada but will be making it's permanent residence in the US; 2) It's bretheren are well loved by many spinners and 3) I waxed poetic about it in last Monday's post.
Nothing quite like getting one's birthday present just a little bit early and then getting the joy of bringing it to life in your home office. At first, I didn't think it was possible for a whole spinning wheel, two different flyers a lazy kate and 4 bobbins to fit into this box. But, lo and behold, my compact wheel, is, in fact, compact.
And it assembles quite quickly. Screwing down two pegs (the one at the base of the wheel and the one that holds the mother of all to the top of the wheel) and putting the drive band in place is all you need to do to assemble this wheel. Even the husband was a bit surprised at how quickly it came together. The mother of all you see works with both the standard flyer and the fast flyer. There's also a separate unit for the plying flyer that has an enormous orifice and works with some very large bobbins (I also got 2 extra regular sized bobbins and an extra plying bobbin because I know myself fairly well when it comes to projects. I can never work on just one). In addition to portability and storability, I also wanted a wheel that I could grow with. The extra flyers give this wheel a lot of growth potential for me.
You'd think that that would be enough goodies for one day, but when you buy a wheel from the Fold, Toni also makes sure you get a few extra goodies. One of them is a Lendrum niddy noddy (which I am going to need to finish before I use since it doesn't come sealed; if you look closely, you can see it behind the wheel in the picture above), which comes with two different sized center bars so that it can be either a small or a big niddy. As luck would have it, the large version is bigger than the large niddy noddy I already have, which will be a big plus now that I have that big ol' plying head at my disposal. The other thing she sent me home with was this:
Good golly, Miss Molly! It's a whole lot of a merino and alpaca blend in a fabulous chocolate brown. When Toni told me she was going to send me home with some fiber, I thought it would just be a few ounces. But after I picked, she just pulled down everything she had in the bin and packed it in a bag for me. There has got to be at least 2 pounds of the stuff. To quote Toni When you get bored with it, pass it along!*. Even more surprising was the fact that someone laid claim to the yarn almost even before we left the store. It seems that chocolate brown merino and alpaca yarn is acceptable when it comes to man sweaters. Clearly this will become one of those long term labor of love spinning projecfs -- to create enough DK weight yarn to make John a fabulous sweater. Good thing the man I live with is patient.
In addition to the wheel and the fiber, I also left with another yarn stash addition.
Because one can never have enough Socks that Rock! Actually, though, the Beryl color is for John and the Amber Waves will also become gift socks. So even though I was buying more yarn, it wasn't for me!
Like every trip out to the Fold, I also learned some new things. I now understand how the Winsome Timbers/Lennox wheel (that I couldn't figure out last weekend) works. Because it has both Scotch tensioning and can be a true double drive wheel it's a little more complicated. But I did find it to be a pleasure to spin on. Not sure that it overtakes the Lendrum Saxony for first place in my "dream wheel" list, but I certainly wouldn't turn one out in the cold either!
And speaking of spinning well, I am very happy with the Lendrum! I spun a little from the brown brick and I got out some of the natural colored wool and silk blend and was a happy spinnner with both of them. Not only does this wheel spin smoothly, but it's very quiet. Even John commented on this. The tensioning is easy to adjust and I love the control I get from the double treadle. And, of course, it's a real treat to be able to spin onto the entire bobbin. I think it's going to be a long time before I want to go back to a wheel with those hooks!
In honor of my new friend, I thought I would engage in a little polling. I know that I this is probably not exhaustive, and I haven't listed specific types, but now that I've taken the plunge, I'm curious to hear about what kind and how many wheels the rest of you have.
*I think she's doing some store cleaning and this stuff has sat around for a while and this was a good way to see it on it's way. But it was still an amazing thing to receive and I'm definitely feeling a little gobsmacked by this.
Congratulations, Theresa!! It's a beauty! I'm thinking about the Lendrum DT too. Great to know that the assembly is easy. BTW, thanks for all the wheel reviews you posted. =)
I just started spinning this Saturday (on a spindle that a new friend lent me!). I am loving it, and the yarn is coming better than I expected! I expected to make an ugly mess of it, and instead I am spinning a knittable 1-ply! I intend to make it a 2-ply, though... Need to read through your blog to find advice on plying.
Good luck on the husband's sweater!
TGZ
You sound so enthusiastic it's catching! I thought I had finally decided on a Schacht Matchless, but you are really rather influincing me towards the Lendrum. Happy Spinning Theresa!
Congratulations! I'm living vicariously through you.
Hooray! I recognized that box from a mile away! It's great to see you so happy with it. :)
Thanks for the great write-up on your wheel - I'll keep it in mind as I ponder the possibility of buying one! And lucky you - more Socks that Rock.
Have a great time w. the new wheel! (did you do any work the day your wheel came? - I wouldn't have been able to!) :)
So, the Lendrum has a slidey thing instead of hooks? (I'm planning to get a wheel soon, probably at Maryland, so I'm happy to see all of your reviews.)
Excellent choice! I have the Lendrum too and I love it. Have a blast.
I've got a double treadle Babe Production wheel in case you were wondering. Because I am le poor. Enjoy the lendrum! I've heard good things!
yay, us fold lendrum owners seem to be frequent these days. Did you get the "complete" kit?
I'm not allowed to buy the additional head, wooley winder or anything like that for atlest aonther good 6 months heh. I spend to much on fiber and yarn and needles to do it lol.
Gorgeous STR! It will be fun to watch that merino alpaca go from a brick to a sweater. I'm patient. :)
Woohoo! What a great birthday gift, I was secretly hoping you got the Lendrum. I have one also, although I don't know how to spin yet but I'll get there. ;)
Yeah!!!!!!
Ohh Congrats on the new wheel! It was so nice of her to give all of that fiber to you. I'll definately check out the Fold for my next wheel purchase
Great choice!My Lendrum was my second wheel, sandwiched in between two Kromskis that I still use. (My Kromski Symphony is my "main" wheel.) The Lendrum is my travel wheel, my plying wheel, and now, my sock yarn spinning wheel with the fast flier. For those hook haters, get WooLee Winders for your wheels. (I met Toni at SOAR in Utah last November...isn't she a doll?!)
Argh, I so have spinning fever. Although I'm pretty sure I don't want to spin. I just want yarn to magically appear. But then I get spinning fever...
Congrats on your new wheel! I hope to treat myself to that wheel someday to keep my Asford company! Thanks for your thorough commentary..it's greatly appreciated! Enjoy spinning that lovely fiber!
Congrats on the new Lendrum. I got one for Christmas, and it's such a great wheel.
First--congratulations!! You're going to love your Lendrum.
Second, I do technically own two wheels, but really, the Ashford Kiwi I bought first has been doing a really wonderful furniture impression ever since I got my Lendrum. I used it once, for some plying in November, but otherwise, not at all . . . so, it barely counts as another wheel, right??
May the two of you be very happy together.
;-)
I am green!! I am planning on buying a wheel from Toni in the near future.
Congratulations! I LOVE my Lendrum!!! You will too! (well - not love my lendrum, but yours!) Can't wait to see what you spin up.
Congratulations! I LOVE my Lendrum!!! You will too! (well - not love my lendrum, but yours!) Can't wait to see what you spin up.
I chose a Majacraft Little Gem for ease in lugging around, especially when traveling; I simply put it in a hard shell suitcase and it can fly with me anywhere. I was so pleased with it that I ordered the Suzie Pro for spinning at home. I love the delta orifice. Nothing difficult about it. I also use a WooLee Winder which is the greatest thing since slice bread. How did I decide on Majacraft? I tested it at a shop and it felt like a power-steering car. So quiet and smooth. It would spin with a toe nudge. I controlled it, it didn't control me. A big help in getting me to slip comfortably into a new wheel was having the right dealer: Tracy Eichheim of Woolly Designs. He specializes in Majacraft and provides tremendous technical advice and assistance even after you've paid him. If I had bought my wheel at a shop or from an online dealer who simply sold wheels, I might still be struggling to get to know my Majacraft wheel. I also have to add that I'm able to have direct communication with Glynis Poad, Majacraft owner, who is so approachable and helpful. Every email is answered.
You're giving me new wheel envy. I've been eyeing double-treadle wheels with that configuration for years now, but since I have a wheel it seems overkill to think about another one. Even though the one I have needs work.
For recordkeeping, I had to pick "other" in your poll. Mine was homemade, by my grandfather, for me. It's an Ashford pattern, to the best of my knowledge.
I weighed in as a Schacht owner. I love its versatility, and design. I'm also signed up on a waiting list for an "other". It's called a Robin wheel, and is seen only at fiber festivals. It's about 10-11#, smooth (ball bearing mechanism), and a >2 yr waiting list. Great handmade, custom wood. So it would not have been your first wheel.
My 2 others are a Salish Spinner and a Rognvaldson - both Canadian wheels from the early to mid-20th century.
Congrats on your new wheel! I was torn between the Lendrum and Ashford Joy and in the end went with the Joy. I ordered it from Toni and it should be here Monday, can't wait!