Advice My New Spinning Wheel

[Seeker22]

My brand new Kromski Symphony arrived safe and I got it all assembled. Oh my! Gonna be eating a lot of beans and rice, but she was worth it!

Despite building a few custom gun stocks in my day, I got it finished in Walnut like the photo. A 24" wheel and double drive. Now, here's the funny part:

Once I got the tension right, I grabbed some top and started to spin. My very first attempt at a wheel, ever. Ya'll, that poor fleece looks like my two Cats had a fight in the sack. This "yarn" definitely doesn't look like my top whorl hand spindle did it?!

My goal is to spin sock weight #2 wool yarn. I have lots of Angora Mohair, but also some Sheep Wool. Is there a wool that is easier for a beginner spinner? At least until I get the motions down?

Any snickers, laughing, pointing, holding aching sides, or just friendly advice would be greatly appreciated.

My booger bear right now is tension, quickly followed by proper drafting technique, and when to move yarn on those little hooks on the flyer. In a few months, I'll be an old hand, but right now, I feel like a duck out of water. I'm scouring Youtube and trying to locate books but nothing beats another spinner's wise teaching. TIA!

 

[ejagno]

I'm so happy for you. I know nothing about spinning but certainly go through mountains of yarn enjoying every second.

 

[spinner]

Start by treadling it without any wool. Next, tie some already spun yarn onto the bobbin just to feel the take up, that will help you know how to adjust the tension. As for wool that is easy to start with, something with a long staple like Romney for example. Treadle slowly to get the feel of the wheel. There are different drafting methods so probably start with a short draw till you and your new wheel are friends. You can start with a "park and draft" method until you get going, just don't make it a habit that you can't break. Don't expect to make the yarn you want at first, just make yarn.

I don't spin any more because of arthritis in hands and wrists and I really miss it. I have a beautiful hand made artisan wheel and it just sits and taunts me, but I love it still.

 

[OldArcher]

Very nice, Seeker22!

All the Best,

OA

 

[jward]

She's booful! May you two have many many happy projects together :: pops champaign cork ::

 

[Broken Arrow]

Congrats on the new baby! I second spinners recommendation of romney. Good starter wool. Just enough slip but good grip.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Congratulations and you'll be a pro at spinning on that wheel in no time... hoping to finish setting up my spinning/weaving room this winter!

 

[patriotgal]

Congrats. Have fun learning.

 

[philkar]

Oh that looks heavenly!

 

[Seeker22]

Thanks all. I cut a piece of worsted as long as my arms could stretch apart and doubled that length. I have good twist and proper takeup.

I will order some Romney for practice. I got a copy of the Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook. Amazing reading.

This morning I walked over to my comfy chair with breakfast coffee and to read another chapter in Louisa May Alcott's "Spinning Wheel Stories", which is a delightful change from the sewer pipe modern reading has become- and smiled softly over at my new friend, shining in the morning sun.

I overnighted the check to pay for the last Symphony they had in stock and still lost out. Another had to be shipped from Poland. If you read that thread in BS, you understand I was hoping very much it would ship ahead of Poland's anticipated troubles. I said, If Mother Frig wants me to have a Wheel, then it will come. And come it has. I do worry for the Kromskis and their business. They were knocked out of business in WWII and built back. A lesson for us all.

Treadling- is a lot like feathering the brakes on a car with standard transmission. Slow down a bit and the wheel will stop without rolling backward. I am amazed at how easy it is to treadle and how quiet this wheel is. The craftmanship is just grand!

 

[Seeker22]

Romney ordered. Good 'ol Etsy. I wanted a lovely gray but there was none to be had. Natural cream, it is.

 

[shepherdess]

Congratulations! Those are very nice wheels. You will enjoy spinning. So peaceful and meditative.

 

[Seeker22]

Congratulations! Those are very nice wheels. You will enjoy spinning. So peaceful and meditative.

Once I get this tension set right, I'd tend to agree with you. I keep getting yarn yanked out of my hand. Guess I used up my beginner's luck?

 

[shepherdess]

You have too much take up. Just loosen your tension until your bobbin slips, then gradually increase tension. The Symphony is a double drive and a little more challenging for beginners than scotch tension wheels, but you can do it!

 

[Seeker22]

You have too much take up. Just loosen your tension until your bobbin slips, then gradually increase tension. The Symphony is a double drive and a little more challenging for beginners than scotch tension wheels, but you can do it!

Do you suggest installing the scotch tension they sent with the wheel? My goal is to spin sock weight.

 

[Seeker22]

Peaceful and meditative may come, but right at the moment, I'm just Jazzed!!!

Six feet of that poor Romney looks awful, and then I watched a video by Crafty Housewife called,
"how to spin even yarn on a wheel - beginner lesson - shown on my spinolution pollywog spinning wheel".

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yru2DGnmZ-Y

She pulls off a length of Roving the diameter of her pinkie finger and drafts it. I also put my drive band on the largest whorl and tightened up leathers on the Footmen that had gotten loose. Treadling slower. Finally tamed my Tension problem. Thank you, shepherdess!

I was turning roving into glorified hash, and then... I wasn't! So excited I forgot to treadle. LOL.

 

[packyderms_wife]

save that six feet of mess, you can show it to other beginners going forwards so that they can see they too will eventually create gorgeous yarns!

 

[Seeker22]

Yarn on the card looks more like an 18 or a 22- altho parts of it were 32. LOL. Onwards and upwards. I find I want to spin longer than I have Roving for. Eventually, it will be a seamless thing to connect another long piece and away we go- now it's, Oh carp- I'm almost to the end?!

 

[Melodi]

I made a knit Scottish tam out of the most hideous, hopeless-looking yarn I spun my first day with my Traveler wheel (at Highland Games it was rather embarrassing. The proud owner, a piper still wears it over 40 years on with a feather stuck in it and a clan badge, whenever he performs.

 

[Seeker22]

I made a knit Scottish tam out of the most hideous, hopeless-looking yarn I spun my first day with my Traveler wheel (at Highland Games it was rather embarrassing. The proud owner, a piper still wears it over 40 years on with a feather stuck in it and a clan badge, whenever he performs.

That is awesome!

 

[Deb Mc]

Peaceful and meditative may come, but right at the moment, I'm just Jazzed!!!

Six feet of that poor Romney looks awful, and then I watched a video by Crafty Housewife called,
"how to spin even yarn on a wheel - beginner lesson - shown on my spinolution pollywog spinning wheel".

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yru2DGnmZ-Y

She pulls off a length of Roving the diameter of her pinkie finger and drafts it. I also put my drive band on the largest whorl and tightened up leathers on the Footmen that had gotten loose. Treadling slower. Finally tamed my Tension problem. Thank you, shepherdess!View attachment 369078View attachment 369079View attachment 369080

I was turning roving into glorified hash, and then... I wasn't! So excited I forgot to treadle. LOL.

Congrats!! That is some fine looking yarn! How do you like it compared to your top whorl spindle?

I want to spin on mine so badly, but need to have my hand and elbow surgeries first. Maybe some day...

 

[Seeker22]

Congrats!! That is some fine looking yarn! How do you like it compared to your top whorl spindle?

I want to spin on mine so badly, but need to have my hand and elbow surgeries first. Maybe some day...

Sorry for late reply. The wheel compared to the spindle is like comparing a child's one octave keyboard to a pipe organ.

Sometimes, I still prefer the vibration and movements of the spindle to those of the wheel. Which I use depends on how much fiber I have to spin and how fast I need it.

 

[Melodi]

I got a new wheel, too, but I still need to play with it. Mine looks highly modern, but it was inexpensive and had a sizeable single treddle so I could use one or both feet. If I like the wider treddle, I will look for a more traditional one and possibly start gifting some of my other wheels.

My new wheel is made by the daughter of the couple who started Lovet wheels in the Netherlands. My favorite wheel to do production spinning on is my SJ10, bought in a junk shop (and it looks like junk, but boy, can it spin). This is an updated version with Scotch Tensioning and a bit more design. But it is still pretty much a giant circle with a treddle.

It was suggested that my ankles might do better with a single treddle. I love the Karpinskies. I've got one of their ridged heddle looms, and their craftmanship is epic.

 

[Seeker22]

I got a new wheel, too, but I still need to play with it. Mine looks highly modern, but it was inexpensive and had a sizeable single treddle so I could use one or both feet. If I like the wider treddle, I will look for a more traditional one and possibly start gifting some of my other wheels.

My new wheel is made by the daughter of the couple who started Lovet wheels in the Netherlands. My favorite wheel to do production spinning on is my SJ10, bought in a junk shop (and it looks like junk, but boy, can it spin). This is an updated version with Scotch Tensioning and a bit more design. But it is still pretty much a giant circle with a treddle.

It was suggested that my ankles might do better with a single treddle. I love the Karpinskies. I've got one of their ridged heddle looms, and their craftmanship is epic.

I did a lot of research on different wheels and almost bought a Louet. The superb craftsmanship of the Kromski Symphony won though, and I have no regrets.

I do envy all you Weaver birds though! Weaving is the next thing I need to learn and it is daunting.

 

[Melodi]

My view, without having tried a Kromski wheel (no one I know has one), is that Louet (or their daughter's version, I forget the new name; I will find it and post) is the best for production.

My antique wheels look wonderful (two are professionally restored by the engineer who did this for the Swedish museums), but they need to travel better and be easier to spin on.

My Ashford Traveler is the best for demonstrations because it resembles a traditional castle wheel but has a modern tension system.

But the Louets and their "children" are the best for production spinning.

Please let us know how the Kromski is for moving about a room and falling apart. Because of looks and the fact that they are made like period wheels, they would be great for demonstrations in historical garb - but not if they are too challenging to move around. Note my historical wheels tend to fall apart when moved very much.

I haven't had a chance to do much more than band weaving for about a decade, and I look forward to returning to my Baby Wolf four-shaft loom as soon as my housemate moves the main piece of my restored knitting machine (that I can't lift) off the table where I have the shuttle winder set up. Meanwhile, I want to play with my new wheel. But I have to clear out a space to use it, and this past week has not been a good time to be in a room without the internet (only half our house as wifi, and our wiring is too old to support the electrical boosters and our 2 foot stone walls block the wifi ones).

This computer is wired in...

 

[Melodi]

Here is the company founded by the couple's daughter, who started Louet. I will review my new wheel as soon as it is set up. Oh, and I gather that even though he sold his company, her Dad came out of retirement and is also working on this new project (the original company has been sold to someone else).

Home - Lojan wheels and looms

Cleverly thought-out spinning wheels and looms that last a lifetime. Designed by Lojan: Jan Louët and his daughter Loes van Aken.

lojan.nl

This is the wheel

Buddy - wide treadle - Lojan wheels and looms

Lojan Buddy is a versatile spinning wheel for thick, thin or art yarn. Incl. lazy kate and 4 bobbins. Designers: Jan Louët and Loes van Aken.

lojan.nl

 

[Melodi]

A US Distributer - 3 are listed so far

Lojan Spinning Wheels | Fiber Fate

www.fiberfateshop.com

 

[Seeker22]

My view, without having tried a Kromski wheel (no one I know has one), is that Louet (or their daughter's version, I forget the new name; I will find it and post) is the best for production.

My antique wheels look wonderful (two are professionally restored by the engineer who did this for the Swedish museums), but they need to travel better and be easier to spin on.

My Ashford Traveler is the best for demonstrations because it resembles a traditional castle wheel but has a modern tension system.

But the Louets and their "children" are the best for production spinning.

Please let us know how the Kromski is for moving about a room and falling apart. Because of looks and the fact that they are made like period wheels, they would be great for demonstrations in historical garb - but not if they are too challenging to move around. Note my historical wheels tend to fall apart when moved very much.

I haven't had a chance to do much more than band weaving for about a decade, and I look forward to returning to my Baby Wolf four-shaft loom as soon as my housemate moves the main piece of my restored knitting machine (that I can't lift) off the table where I have the shuttle winder set up. Meanwhile, I want to play with my new wheel. But I have to clear out a space to use it, and this past week has not been a good time to be in a room without the internet (only half our house as wifi, and our wiring is too old to support the electrical boosters and our 2 foot stone walls block the wifi ones).

This computer is wired in...

Kromski does make wheels more suitable for travel. This big Symphony has been moved in a car trunk twice, on a thick folded blanket. It held together but I wouldn't recommend it.