1 post tagged “spinning”
My first wheel was a Babe Fiber Starter like this one in the picture. It's a pretty decent little wheel to learn on, but the orifice isn't very big, so if you like to ply bulky or novelty yarns, you're kinda up shit creek at times. They'll get tangled and it can be frustrating. I'm selling this one now to make room for wheel #3. I haven't used it at all since I got wheel #2.
My second wheel is a Louet S51. I got it used from someone on the Spin-Sales yahoo group. The Louet is super sturdy, super portable, and has HUGE bobbins. I love it to death. It is kind of difficult to get it to spin really fine yarns without yanking it out of your hand and breaking the strand, but so far I've mostly been a heavy worsted - bulky spinner. I have since gotten a woolee winder for it, and I can't say enough nice things about those. They rock. No more stopping to move the yarn to the next hook or any of that.
I tried out a Kromski Minstrel on Thursday. I thought I wanted to try out a different one, but when I saw this I was smitten. I'd never used a double treadle or a double drive wheel before, but ohhhh it was niiiiiice. It doesn't pull nearly as hard as the Louet so I can spin super fine, and the bobbins are about half the size of the Louet's bobbins. That sealed it. I can spin fine singles on the Kromski and ply them on the Louet.
It'll be here at the end of next week. Hopefully not till Friday though, cause I won't be back from Vacation till then. I got the unfinished wheel so I can get different color rub-on stains and make it look all spiffy. Eventually I'll probably get a Woolee Winder for it too. YAY!
