I can now proudly say I bought my first spinning wheel, a Schacth Ladybug.
Here are some of my opinions and a mini review of the Ladybug;
It is quirky looking and it took me a while to get used to its styling, but now I have decided it is beautiful. Every Ladybug has a tiny Ladybird stuck on it somewhere, Mine is on the front of the right hand leg, at the bottom. I can just about see it if I peer when I’m spinning. I bought my Ladybug from firbrecrafts.com , I’m very very pleased with it and have no regrets. I got one with an attached lazy kate, and have plied from it with no problems, but I guess it will depend on your style, but if you haven’t done much (or any) plying on a wheel before it you may well be ok with it as you have no previous preference. I do tuck the ends of any yarn on the bobbins in when not in use just incase they get caught up in the wheel (which hasn’t happened yet, but a few other people have said its happened to them, as the lazy kate is directly infront of the moving wheel).
I think its an all round fantastic wheel, the scotch tension and double drive option make it very flexible, it has a good range of ratios with the additional whorls ( 5:1 – 16:1), it has a smooth double treddle with an easy action, a nice wide orifice for bulky yarns, the flyer an orifice are in the center; combined with the duble treddle I think this really encourages you to sit straight at the wheel and not favor one side, its light weight (5.6kg) and easy to move with the 3 handles, it seems robust and well main. My wheel came complete with; 3 bobbins, tensioned lazy kate (which holds 4 bobbins), poly drive band, drive band for using double drive, orifice hook, a medium and a fastt whorl (giving ratios of 7:1, 9:1, 10.5:1, 12.5:1).
Official Website.
I span some green and grey wool, to give me enough to finish the handspun hat I’m making. Then I started on the beautiful “Roses Swirl” BFL superwash which I bought from wildcraft.co.uk , I’m spinning the singles quite fine, and will be 2-plying, I haven’t checked the WIP’s but it will be between a 2ply and 4ply weight yarn. Probably for a shawl but maybe socks, it depends what the plied yarn comes out like.
I’m really pleased with how even I can spin on the wheel compared to my hand spindle. It all comes down to being able to use both hands 100% of the time for drafting and being able to vary the speed so easily.
I will post photos in my next post.
Ooh I’ve also made some tiny ladybugs and other bits for the shop.
