Friday Crazy Brain.
Hmm, is it weird if you are having breakfast and read “skein milk” on the milk carton? Yep. It’s 6 am and I have yarn on the brain.
Note 1: you know that “to-knit” list from yesterday? I have all the yarn for all those projects ready to go. Sob. No more yarn shopping for me!
Note 2: I’m currently listening to audiobook “Getting Things Done” that I got off iTunes. It makes me feel like the cornflower blue tie-wearing boss in “Fight Club” — “…make these your primary action items…”.
Note 3: So the people inhabiting the office below me have finished their renovations… now the people directly above me are renovating. Probably installing hardwood floors or something. The drilling… the nailing. Ugh.
Now, here’s what my brain is pre-occupied with these days: the second wheel.
For a while now, I’ve been thinking about buying a second wheel — something smoother, faster and more versatile than the wheel I have now (Ashford Joy). I love my Joy — it’s super portable and a very good general spinning wheel with ratios between 6:1 and 14:1. But it doesn’t cover anything on the low ratio or high ratio ends… It’s very medium. My thoughts of buying a second wheel are also supported by my spinning teacher who said that I’ve outgrown my wheel! Whee!
So, I’ve was pretty much decided on the Schacht Matchless DT based solely on its specs — I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet (Irene is looking for one that I can borrow)… but in the meantime, she brought in her own wheel (actually one of six wheels that she owns), a Majacraft Suzie Pro… mmm, this wheel spins beautifully! So smooth and quiet. I think my most favourite things about this wheel are 1) the rotating flyer head so that I can spin with either left or right hands or position it more comfortably for a nice long draw, and 2) the delta “orifice”. The Delta orifice is a big wire loop rather than a regular orifice — this is great for spinning slubs or “stuff” because it doesn’t get stuck at the orifice.
Ah, decisions, decisions. You all know how good I am at making decisions. What do you think? Anybody own either of these wheels? Offer any advice?
June, I saw that you sold your Schacht last year — any reason (maybe spinning only on your lovely Drudik wheel?)?
Ok. Back to work now!
Tags: spinning wheel
I’m a newbie spinner, but I bought a Majacraft Suzie Pro in June at the Estes Park Wool market. I love it, love it, love it! It is my one and only wheel (at this point) and I chose it because it seemed like one you wouldn’t really outgrow. It is indeed very smooth and very quiet and the delta orafice is awesome. While it doesn’t fold as small as the Joy, Lendrum or Little Gem, it really isn’t hard to transport either since it folds in half and then had a handle.
If you have specific questions about it I’d be happy to try answer them for you.
I would get a Suzie Pro because the ratio range is just incredible — from 3.5 to 32:1, if you get the add-ons. Also, the design is just sooo cool!
Jensen! Jensen!
I love my Jensen Tina II. It is pretty, versitile, and is the smoothest treadling wheel I’ve spun on.
If you see one, try one. =)
Heehee, it’s almost like guys talking about cars! (Sorry, I come from a car-obsessed family)
No help here on the wheels- but just wanted to comment that I’ve been meaning to read Getting Things Done. Supposedly it’s great. You should check out 43folders.com. It’s a great blog on GTD and has a lot of helpful hints on implementing the GTD method for Mac users.
Uh, I sold my Schacht because I’m a spoiled brat? I wanted to use a wheel that was custom made for me.
Does this mean you’re looking to pass your Joy along?
I want to get into spinning so badly! I just don’t even know where to start w/ buying a wheel. I have to do some research I guess!
Okay, you know that I’m totally new to spinning, but I was at a wonderful gathering this weekend with some expert spinners who were working on both of the wheels that you mentioned and 7 others! (Including an ashford joy). My personal favorite, from both a “looks” perspective and from what the women said about it, was the Schacht. But I think both are considered to be excellent wheels by people (other than me!) who are in the know. I’m going to a spinning festival this weekend, where I will see these women again, so I’ll try to get the lowdown on the strengths/weaknesses of each. Can’t wait to see what you choose!
xox,
I haven’t tried either of those wheels, but I’d pick the Schacht solely on looks. I LOVE the way those wheels look! I have a Lendrum, though, and recommend it–but if you’ve got the extra $$ to spend, by all means, get one of those others! I know I’d love to….
The Langley Weavers and Spinners Guild is having their annual artisan sale in Fort Langley this weekend (Nov 5 & 6) : http://www.fortlangley.com/events.html. You might find out more info about the wheels that you are interested in at the sale.
I am going for the yarn and maybe some roving for thrummed mitts - I’m just a knitter and not a spinner (yet).
Way back when I had the Shacht picked out as my second wheel based on looks alone. I really think it’s a nice looking wheel. When I finally made it to a local fiber fair and was able to try the wheels side by side, it was no contest and I bought the Majacraft Suzie.
I seem to have trouble finding a comfortable position while I’m spinning and I like how adjustable it is.
And it’s so smooth. So smooth!
I have a few wheels but my favourite right now is Jensen Tina II, and possibley the Majacraft Rose which is on its way. The Suzie Pro will be a bit more portable so my suggestion would be trade in the Joy, get the Suzie Pro for travel, and the Schacht DT for home.
You may want to also check out the Lendrum double treadle - its got several flyer heads that can give you a very wide range of ratios.
I’ve got the Suzy Pro, too, which I love. Same ideas as Therese, plus it’s got a nice, big bobbin, I love the orifice that doesn’t need a threader, and I just think it’s pretty. The price was going to go up when I got her, too. The lady who sold it to me said that they weren’t using solid wood anymore because it’s beginning to get rare. Aussie wood - pudak? I forget. Oh, yeah, there’s the attached lazy kate. I just love her.
The Schacht only comes with medium and fast whorls as standard so you will have to buy the extra slow, slow, extra fast and ultra fast whorls separately; they’re around 20-23 dollars each whorl; phew that’s an extra $80. Bobbins are an extra $30 each. The wheel needs extra tuning before it delivers the excellent spinning results you want. The Suzy Pro is nice and the green accent is so extraordinary and unique however the best wheel in the Majacraft line is the Rose. It has a larger drive wheel and spin a wide range of ratios. You even get a matched Rose carved lazy kate box; 2 flyers one standard and one for fast and those jumbo indestructable bobbins are so nice. Of you compare the Schacht and the Rose; the Schacht will treadle equally nice as the Rose but it will need perfect tuning before you can achieve that (extra work for ya) however, the Rose does not need tuning everything is set for you to spin nice, lovely yarn. I hope this helps. I just got back from the Kid n Ewe Fiber Festival and there is no doubt the Rose wins hands down; the Rose is an excellent spinner and definitely great workmanship; however, today for the first time I tried the Kromski Symphony (wow, that underdog spins like butter! for a wheel that price!)I speak from experience; I have a Wendy Pipy Upright, Pipy Saxony, Reeves Frame, Reeves 30 inch Saxony (Original collectors’ wheels), Majacraft Rose (love it!), used to have a Schacht DT (sold), Jensen Debbie Gossip, Jensen 30 inch Ashley and a Van Eaton 24 inch Production and working on a Bill Wyatt!
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I tried a Majacraft Suzie, Tina Jensen, Louet S10, Hitchiker, and Schacht before I settled on the Schacht. It spins smoothly, beautifully, and with the extra whorls, has all the versatility one would need. I haven’t had to “tune” or fiddle with it at all. I bought it to have a wheel that would grow with me and my spinning needs.
The only disadvantage is weight. It’s about 12 pounds, which isn’t a travel wheel.
I have the Schacht and absolutely love it.
Just want to chime in to say that what I mean when the Schacht needs tuning is that, you just cannot do a sheep to shawl with a Schacht; the wheel just takes too much time, but with a Majacraft you can easily do a sheep to shawl anytime anywhere.
You have to try them both. On reputation the matchless is just that, matchless. But wheels are such an individual thing for people. I tried a Suzie Pro and already decided this or a regular Suzie will probably be my next wheel, they are glorious to spin on.
I have no recommendations about spinning since I haven’t learned yet, but your skein brain story with the milk made me laugh. Yesterday morning I was in the shower, my husband comes in, has this concerned look on his face and asks if I’m ok because I look like I’m deep in thought. What he doesn’t realize was that I was just planning my knitting projects for the day. laughs
I saw one of those little Suzies at the GLASG I went to some weeks ago. Those things are so small but boy they spin fast!
Haven’t tried the Matchless, but lucky you!