Advice My New Spinning Wheel

Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
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!

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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?! :eek:

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!
 
E

ejagno

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

spinner

Veteran Member
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.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
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!
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
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

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
shepherdess said:
Congratulations! Those are very nice wheels. You will enjoy spinning. So peaceful and meditative.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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shepherdess

shepherdess

Member
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

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
shepherdess said:
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!
Click to expand...

Do you suggest installing the scotch tension they sent with the wheel? My goal is to spin sock weight.
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
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!20221007_170118.jpg20221007_170206.jpg20221007_170257.jpg

I was turning roving into glorified hash, and then... I wasn't! So excited I forgot to treadle. LOL.
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
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?! :eek:
 
Melodi

Melodi

Disaster Cat
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

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Melodi said:
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.
Click to expand...

That is awesome!
 
D

Deb Mc

Veteran Member
Seeker22 said:
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.
Click to expand...
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...
 
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