Spinning in Marengo
Saturday was official "spinning wheel testing day" for me. Julie and Bonne Marie and I all headed out to the Fold in Marengo, Illinois. For those of you who have never been to the Fold, this is definitely one of those stores that is worth he hour and a half drive from the city. So much great stuff and friendly people to help you with it. Even if you're a knitter and not a spinner, there's something here for you, since there's a fair amount of nice yarn stocked in this store -- besides the "proto yarn" that you have to spin for yourself. Some of my favorite proto-yarn greets you at the door:
How could a girl not like a bookcase full of Blue Moon hand-dyed spinning fiber? So many good colors!
But I did't spend too much time with fiber. I was there to try out wheels. I have no issues with the Ashford traditional that I have been working with (in fact, it's been a nice wheel to learn on -- the fact that it has a few "personal issues" means that I've learned a little bit more about how wheels work), but it's not meant to be my wheel forever. Ultimately, it's supposed to go back to Ann Arbor with my mother, its true owner. Thus, I'm out looking for a wheel to call my own.
And let me tell you, there's a lot of wheels to choose from! At the Fold, alone, there are at least 6 different wheel brands to try, and each of those brands has a couple of different wheels. It can be a little bit of wheel sensory overload for a newbie spinner. I would have loved to try them all, but there were a few criteria that I used to determine whether I sat down in front of a wheel.
1) Could I figure out the basics of using the wheel without a lot of assistance? I figure if I can't figure out how to get spinning on it in about a minute or less, I'm just going to end up frustrated in the long run. Probably anything I can't figure out easily would be better left to my spinning future.
2) Was it in my price range? I'm willing to make a reasonable investiment in a good piece of equipment, but since I'm a new spinner, and many things are likely to change as I grow, I want a wheel that isn't going to break the bank but will still give me a good experience.
3) Did I find it aesthetically pleasing? Realistically, any wheel that I own will probably sit out in someplace that I will have to look at it a lot. So it would be nice if it was easy on the eyes as well as a good tool.
4) How portable? Idealy, it would be nice to have a wheel that wasn't too hard to move around the house, was easy to store, and could occasionally make the trek over to Julie's house
.
Criteria number 1 eliminated two whole wheel manufactureres: Majacraft and Winsome Timbers. I don't want to create the wrong impression here -- I am sure these companies make great wheels and that I was likely missing something obvious about them that would have made them simple to spin with. In the case of the Winsome Timbers wheels, however, they were somewhat complex and out of the price range I was looking in. For the Majacraft, I just couldn't, for the life of me, figure out the bobbin/flier mechanism and how to feed in the fiber. I figure they just don't use the paradigm I'm used to. They make awfully pretty wheels, though.
So what did that leave me with?
The first wheel I tried out was the Lendrum Double Treadle -- it's not a "true" double treadle, but you still use both feet to treadle. This wheel has a very smooth mechanism and it's very comfortable to spin from (Julie seconded my opinion of spinning on this wheel). It also has the added benefit of being fairly portable (it can be stored almost flat, which means it can live under a bed or futon sofa when not in use. I also like it's simple lines and the clear finish on the maple. I also really like the flier and the mechanism that moves the yarn along the bobbin -- it's basically a pinch clamp that slides along one side of the flier instead of the hooks that are on my Ashford. The reason I like this better? Well, those little hooks can break off in the wood, and then you've got no easy way to put another hook in and you have a part of your bobbin that you can't reach. This pinch clamp thing looks like it would be pretty easy to replace. One last nice feature? The orifice hook has it's own special place attatched to the wheel. You never have to worry about losing or putting it somewhere out of reach since it's stowed in the wheel itself.
The second wheel I tried was the Louet S-75. I'll admit right up front that it is the only Louet that I tried because I really just don't like the way that most of the Louet wheels look. Once again, I'm sure they're perfectly great wheels, but their styling doesn't appeal to me, they're just too spartan And a tool that I'm going to look at a great deal needs to appeal to me visually. The S-75 has a more "traditional" spinning wheel look. It's also a "fake" double treadle like the Lendrum. But I just didn't bond with this wheel. For one thing, I didn't think it was as smooth the Lendrum (to be honest, I don't think it was even as smooth as my single treadle Ashford Traditional) -- I could tell almost every time the drive shaft reached the top of its circle and that disrupted my flow a bit. I also though the treadles were too narrow. It was light weight and easy to move around, though.
The third wheel I tried out was the Schacht Matchless -- a wheel with a true double drive mechanism. I have to start by saying that I do think this wheel is lovely. I really liked the details in the wood. I also loved the big treadles that the rather large bobbin and flier assembly -- you can go a long time with this wheel without having to stop to change bobbins. And I really enjoyed spinning with it, too. It was very smooth and effortless to work with. The only negative for me with this wheel is it's size. It's a pretty good-sized machine and there's no way to fold it up and get it out of sight when you need extra space. And it's not a tiny wheel. It takes up at least as much space as my Ashford Traditional. It certainly won't fit in the trunk of my car easily if I want to take it to visit Julie! But, otherwise, from my perspective, the Matchless was a thoroughly lovely wheel.
The last wheel I tried out is the Lendrum Saxony. I'll be honest, I should have eliminated this wheel based on both the price and lack of portability criteria alone -- I never should have even sat down in front of it.. But this wheel, especially in it's walnut incarnation is really a thing of beauty. I could easily imagine it living in my living room. Both Julie and I were drawn to this wheel. And this wheel isn't just another pretty face, either. I think it was my favorite wheel to spin on of all the wheels I tried. So smooth and effortless -- both in the spinning and in getting the spinning started. That big wheel starts and stops easily and it's equally easy to reverse directions on it. This wheel comes in both left handed and right handed styles. I'm a lefty when I spin, and the way this wheel is set up, you sit in a very natural position and work with the fiber in a very comfortable position as well -- you draft almost perpendicularly to your legs (as opposed to the rest fo the wheels that I tried, where you draft parallel to your legs). This wheel is not very portable due to it's size, but that is about the most negative thing I could say about it. I think it's going to fall into the category of my "dream wheel" for a while. But if I get to the point where it is time to get a second wheel, this one will most definitely be high on my list!
The only wheel brand that I wanted to try that isn't at the Fold is Kromski. I love the look of both the Mazurka and the Minstrel, and given my husband's ethnic backround, I also love the idea of having a Polish spinning wheel. But there's only one place in Illinois that I could probably try one out in. I'm not sure I'm going to get a chance to try one out before my birthday arrives (which is the major catalyst for this wheel shopping expedition).
My first choice after the testing I did at the Fold is the Lendrum. It meets most of my criteria and is a pleasure to spin on. The Matchless is a close second, but it's lack of portability puts it out of the running until I start thinking about a second wheel (which isn't likely to be for a while). Julie tells me I need to try out the Ashford Joy again (my first attempt was before my first spinning lesson and I was having real problems co-ordinating my hands and feet), which is fabulously portable. I must admit, though, that I like the look of the Lendrum a great deal. But I am hoping that I can take a little trip out to Julie's house sometime just to make sure I give the Joy a fair shake.
Of course, I didn't buy a wheel on Saturday. But that didn't mean that I left the shop empty handed...
I guess sock yarn is just like eating potato chips for me -- I can't buy just one. The Austerman Step is a yarn I am really curious about, because it has both Lanolin and Jojoba Oil in it -- you can tell when you pick it up. I'm wondering if it lasts beyond the first wash or if it's just a nice treat for your hands. The Trekking XXL is more grey variations for the husband -- for whom there can never be enough grey sock yarn. The Blue Moon Seduction is a Merino Tencel blend that I think is meant mostly for sock yarn, given the 400 yards in the put up. The Black Onyx is clearly for John, and the Carbon Dioxide is for John, but it's probably wishful thinking on my part that he will ever select it. Finally, the Blue Moon Sock Candy is a Cotton/Elite yarn that I think will be perfect for my sister in law who lives in Houston. I love the colorway and the "Elite" must be what gives the yarn the stretch it needs to be an acceptable sock yarn. It's also pretty soft, so I am hopeful that the resulting socks will be liked by the recipient.
And, given my renewed spinning excitement, I just couldn't leave the store without a little something special to spin up -- just under 6 ounces of a Merino/Silk blend in springy colors. This reminds me a lot of the Cormo/Silk blends I bought at last year's MS&W and I'm thinking it's going to be a real pleasure to spin up!
If anyone has anything they want to share about their own wheel buying and owning experience, I'd love to hear it!
I enjoy reading your blog. I just bought a Lendrum wheel and I have to say I love it. It might be kind of basic but that is part of its beauty. There is really almost nothing that really can't be spun on it. I do think the Ashford Joy has bigger bobbins though. But I don't like the looks of it quite as much (not sure that matters) but I will be very curious to see what you think after trying it compared to the Lendrum. I am very very happy with the purchase that I made!! Lisa
I'm sorry to hear you rejected the Majacraft, since I have a Rose and it is fabulous. (Not really good for storage, though.) It too has the sliding clamp on the flyer. And no orifice hook needed. It spins so effortlessly I don't believe it's possible to make bad yarn with it.
However, I like your choice too, visually, although I've never spun on a Lendrum. I was attracted to the Kromskis too, but never had a chance to try one. And I learned to spin on a Louet S-75, which was easy to use, but like you, I didn't like the look of it.
It's a hard decision, but I hope you are enjoying the selection process. There are worse ways to spend a day than trying out great wheels!
Good luck.
I have a Lendrum DT and an Ashford Traditional. The Lendrum is really smooth and I like the portability of it - I have the padded bag for carrying it around, too. Someday, I'm going to have a Reeves-Schact but that's way in the future!
I too enjoy reading your blog. I too have spun on a majacraft rose and did enjoy it thoroughly, along with the lendrum saxony. The lendrum dt doesn't appeal to me visually, to me they look raw and on the verge of tipping over. Kromskis, the only thing that I've heard about them is that they can be light and walk across the floor when you're spinning on them.
I do have a schacht dt, which I enjoy immensly. I find it very portable, it fits in the trunk of my mazda protege, it's also fit in the back seat and the front seat too. We discovered, by accident, that it is a very sturdy wheel. It's been tipped over, stood upon (by my toddlers) and knocked over by the car when I left it in the carport, and only has one scratch on the tensioning knob to show for it. My eleven year old totes it around the house for me quite easily. the only thing I don't care for about it is the threaded plastic that is used for the tensioning gear, if you pick it up by the tensioning knob, which the eleven year old has a problem remembering not to do, the knob pulls out to the highest position and I have to readjust it before spinning on it again. After five years in my house my wheel, purchased used, still works smoothly and effortlessly, spinning everything from cobweb silk to bulky wool, so I have to say it's a tough, dependable, and flexible wheel.
Having said all that, I recommend that you buy the wheel that you feel the most drawn to, it will probably be the one that you enjoy the most regardless of whatever issues may arise.
Ah, wheel-test-driving! What fun! :)
Last year I thought I had decided on one of the Kromskis... then I spun on a Minstrel and a Mazurka (I love the look) and tried a Lendrum DT... ended up with the Lendrum, it just spun more easily for me. I love my Lendrum DT -- it also has more ratios than the Kromski castle styles.
I love how every wheel spins differently for every person!
Thanks for the thorough review, Theresa. As someone who's nibbling around the edges of spinning, I found your post very informative. I'll be interested in seeing what you end up with.
I might mention that I was at a s&w festival in the fall (Ohio) and overwhelmingly people were spinning on the Ashford Joy. I spoke with several who said they were experienced spinners and had several wheels but loved their AJs.
Theresa, the most important thing about getting a wheel is to choose one that you love. Personally, I own an Ashford Joy, a Majacraft Susie Pro and a Louet S-75. Of all the wheels I have tried, I find the most wonderful treadling to be found in the Lendrum and the Majacraft wheels. I couldn't deal with the lean of the Lendrum or I would have bought one in lieu of my majacraft!
I will say this about Kromski's, while they are beautiful, I found the treadles to be too slender for my taste. Again, I highly recommend trying one before making a decision. It will be with you for a very long time...
I still had to laugh at your ruled out wheels as the one at the top of my coveting list is the Fiona from Winsome Timbers! :)
Thanks for the review. That Lendrum Saxony seems magnificent. One way to try out wheels is to join the local spinning guild. People are usually more than happy to let you try their wheel and give their opinion. My mind was set on a Joy before the meeting, but I ended up with a Jensen Tina II.
If you want a truely portable wheel (carry-on) the choices are Joy and the small Majacraft. If it is driving all wheels are portable in theory ;-)
Cheers,
Ulla
You've definitely gotten try most of the top contenders. I have a Lendrum DT and its been a great wheel from my beginning days up until now (and beyond -- there is no practical reason for me ever to get another wheel). The bigger wheels are also wonderful -- I've tried a Lendrum Saxony and really liked it -- but storage is indeed an issue. It will be interesting for me to see what you end up choosing.
I just bought a Lendrum DT, from Toni no less, without trying anything really. And I love it. LOVE IT. (Check my blog tomorrow for a spinning post.)
I've had it a couple of weeks and totally feel in sync with the wheel. It didn't take me long at all to get the rhythm of it and I'm very happy with the yarn I've been spinning - and seriously - I'm as beginner as a beginner can get.
I have to say I'm happy to read your post, because I had pretty much the same criteria you had when buying a wheel and I now feel even better about my decision. Good luck!
Gorgeous sock yarns! I'm curious about the Step - as you wondered, will the lotion last past a washing? Will it leave greasy smudges on clothes, knitting bags, furniture? Etc. Looking forward to your report on this yarn!
I am looking at my possibly purchasing my first wheel and your post has really help steer me in the right direction. (Thanks so much for the time you spent writing all! that info.) On another blog (?) the blogger also bought the Lendrum double treadle.
In my city, there is Carolina Homespun so I believe I have a place to try out a number of wheels when I am ready. But gawd! I gotta get to The Fold!
WOOT! I'm so glad you got a shot of the View from the Doorway! That wall of color almost made me weep with JOY!
I enjoyed both the Road Trip and the Road Test of the wheels - it was very soothing to watch the spinning. I've actually never seen it done up close - just passing through at a fiber fest.
I, too, have a Lendrum DT folding wheel and love it. Just love it. I went from an Ashford Kiwi--perfectly nice for learning on--to this one, and there's just no comparison. No complaints about the Lendrum at all, it's just fabulous. I do recommend getting the plying head, though--it definitely makes plying easier.
I ordered my Lendrum DT from the fold right before the holidays and got is 7 days later. Oh I luv my wheel! Love tyhe fold :)Sadly I will probably never visit the state to actually go in the store.
I started spnning on a drop spindle in October and my Christmas present to myself was the Louet S51DT. I liked its clean spare lines and, since I'm 5'2", the height was perfect for me. I bought the double treadle model and and took a set oflessons from an experienced spinner at the store. I got into the rhythm pretty quickly and I find that I can spin for a long time without getting tired. Good luck on your search!
I have to say that the portable Lendrum is really nice! After trying that and the Saxony out Saturday, I have such a high opinion of Lendrum. It was so much fun trying out all those wheels!!
My first wheel was/is a Kromski Minstrel and I still like it a lot. I bought a Lendrum as a "travel wheel" about a year later and adore it. In addition to the features you mention, it has that wonderful big plying head that is just the best thing about the wheel! However, I bought another Kromski a year and a half ago...the Symphony. I adore this wheel! Now, I did a side-by-side test against the much more expensive Schacht-Reeves solid cherry Saxony, and the Kromski won, hands down! I thought about the Lendrum, but here's the thing. I have a WooLee Winder for the original Kromski that fits on the Symphony. I could not rationalize another WooLee Winder! BTW..the new Kromski Prelude is a NICE little wheel and quite portable. I tried one at SOAR and was really tempted......
I tried the Kromski wheels as I two was attracted to the look of them--but I kept tipping them over!!!
I have a Matchless and love it. I take it with me to spinning classes in the back seat or front seat of my little VW Jetta. Because of its upright nature I find that it doesn't take up that much room in my small overstuffed house. The other nice thing about this wheel is that you can get a high speed whorl and bobbins to extend your range. The customer service and craftmanship is excellent as well. No complaints here.
I thought you did a great job reviewing the various spinning wheels - many newbies will find this information very helpful. I have a louet S15 and I really enjoy it. I like the minimalist look to it and the fact the orifice is so large - it really helps with those bulky yarns. I've been very curious about the lendrum - I'm thinking about buying a second wheel and this is top on my list...I'll be checking back to see if you buy it and like it.
My first wheel was the Kromski Polonaise. I loved the look of it, and after I put a Woolee Winder on it, I loved it more. The second wheel was a Lendrum DT. I probably use it more because it is so portable, and has that very handy plying head. I think there will be more wheels in the future, the money pit of the fiber world. Good luck with your search-that's half the fun!
Thanks for the info. I went to SAFF & took my first spinning class. I want to visit Toni's sometime too & try some wheels but it is a little trip for me. So hopefully I can get to Greencastle & try some wheels there.
Isn't that a great shop? A spinner's paradise. I started with a Joy. Great wheel, but I knew it was my travel wheel.
My second wheel was the Matchless. I love the Matchless - I can easily spin 8 hours and not be tired, get a cramp, or anything. I tried the Lendrum and it does spin nice, but not being true double treadle bugs me a bit. I feel like I'm going to have a Popeye leg if I spin on it too much. The forward tilt also bugs me a bit. Overall, for the money it's the best buy out there and I'd second the plying head.
I ruled out the Majacraft also, but I loved how it spun. It was for the simple fact that I saw one crack in a very unusual place and the fix was wood glue. Than I was searching blogs and saw another crack in a different odd place. For the price, I really didn't like that. I figured if anything happened to the Schacht it would easily go back in the box and back to CO to be repaired.
Sigh. Noone ever mentions the Jensen Tina II!
I like to crusade for this wheel. =) Sometimes they're hard to find, but I think they are the smoothest treadling wheels in that price range. They're all hand turned and solid cherry, but cost a bit less than the Matchless. They use scotch tension and double drive, have lots of ratios, some add-ons, are true double tredles and fit easily in the front (or back) seat of a car. I've tried Schachts, Lendrums, Louets, Majacraft...the only other wheel I want right now is a Schacht-Reeves 30" cherry DT. Never really liked the Kromskis. If you can find one, give it a try. It's not quite as 'clean' looking as the Lendrum (A little more traditional), but it's compact and georgous. And the bobbins are huuuge!
Can you tell I love my wheel? =)
I bought a Kromski Minstrel last summer, and I adore it. I went into the shop with an Ashford in mind, but I just couldn't get the rhythm of it. Also, since the Ashford is from New Zealand and the Kromskis are from Poland, the Kromskis (at the time) were less expensive because of the exchange rate. I tried a bunch of wheels at a local store but ended up buying mine from Pacific Wool and Fiber, because they give you a full size niddy-noddy and two extra bobbins for no extra cost, and they were very, very helpful. I also like the Minstrel because it came with a good video showing you how to put it together and how to start spinning (I mean, I knew NOTHING when I bought this wheel, save the half-hour I practiced while I was shopping).
Good luck on your search! It's so fun, but also so hard, isn't it?
What a coincidence! I was at the Fold this Thursday for the first time, on my way to visit a friend in Wilmette. I was coming from Wisconsin. Although I was looking for some Socks that Rock yarn, I found lots of yarn that I liked and purchased it! Great selection of great yarns in a small space!
Based on your notes, I think you can probably rule out a Columbine like I have. :D I truly appreciate the durability and unique look of this particular wheel, though when I use a wheel it's more likely to be the Ashford Traveller I got used at an insanely reasonable price. A friend of mine is a Kromski dealer, and all of those are really fabulous - the look is so complex, but they spin really well. Great notes, and I hope you find a wheel that's just right for you!
I love my folding Lendrum. It's very smooth. I also sat at the Lendrum Saxony at The Fold this summer and adored that wheel. It's seriously beautiful and spins wonderfully. Maybe someday! I love being able to fold my Lendrum down and keep it out of site (DH likes that too) when I'm not using it. It has a lot of flexibility too in terms of the sort of spinning you do--it's great with bulky or super fine yarn, especially when you get the fast flyer to go with it. I'll be interested to hear what you decide on!
My first wheel was (and I still have it) a Lendrum DT. It is a great wheel and I'll never part with it. I like the looks of it, the availability of parts, the accessories that you can add, etc. It is an amazing workhorse that handles everything I've ever thrown at it. AND it is amazingly portable.
I have a couple of wheels (umm 6 at last count), including a Majacraft Suzie Pro (the orifice is super as you don't need a hook, just thread through the eye on the flyer arm and into the triangle in the front. That's it.) and your dream wheel, the Lendrum Saxony. As I told Julie, it is a great wheel that while I don't use it often enough am always pleasantly reminded how good she is. I have the maple one to match my Lendrum upright.
The one wheel I've had over the years that I just didn't like was the Kromski Mazurka. Portable, pretty, tiny, all yes. The down side is that it has such a small footprint that unless you got the "sweet spot" on the treadle, the whole works would be unstable and it would tip over. Not my favorite way of spinning.
Using your criteria, I think the Lendrum is an excellent match. Good luck chosing a wheel.
You did a marvelous review of wheels. Thank you. I am jealous that I do not have such a selection nearby to test drive before making a decision.
I owned a wheel before - a single treadle Louet. I never got good at it, I think in part because of the focus I had to commit to working the single treadle vs. a double treadle. My ex took it (no, he doesn't spin - it was spite), and I waited around ten years to re-attempt spinning.
I only had Ashford in town available, and chose a Joy because of it portability for classes and for its wide selection of ratios. The only thing I might change is for it to be able to handle a jumbo flyer and bobbin, which it doesn't.
I am unexplicably attracted to the Matchless as a possible future wheel.... I believe it also has a good range of ratios. I personally would never chose a single treadle again.
I will be interested to see what you choose in the end. Spinning is a wonderful zone to get to & I am certain you will get hours of pleasure from whatever wheel you select!
I learned the basics on an Ashford Traveller, and I just bought a Lendrum DT at Rhinebeck. I love my Lendrum. It just feels right, and I have yet to lose my threader, which I did multiple times before :) I tried the Kromski, and like the reader above, I had trouble finding the spots on the treadles that kept the thing steady. Granted, I have huge feet, but even so, it was frustrating. I'm glad to have tried it, though -- I do like the look of the wheel. The Lendrum was it for me, though! The only problem I've been having is with plying on the Lendrum -- for whatever reason, when treadling counter-clockwise, the pinch clamp thingie likes to wrap the yarn around itself so that I have to untwist it after I take treadling breaks sometimes. It's not a huge inconvenience, though.
Great review, I'm shopping for my first wheel now that I've mastered the drop spindle. Thank you also to all the comments, you all help a newbie like me with your knowledge and opions. Thanks!
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