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| Hanne |
Should I upgrade?I've started to spin my first sock yarn with Lucrezia (my Sonata) and now I need a new Lazy Kate. Lucrezia's built-in Kate holds only two bobbins. I asked DH to build me one, but he thinks that Kromski Kates aren't very expensive and I should buy it instead. The German shop I use has the Jumbo Flyer in stock and their shipping policy makes more reasonable to buy it also (or some fiber) to get discounted shipping.I just started to think about the bigger picture. As I get better with my spinning, I need either to upgrade my wheel with things like 3 bobbin Lazy Kate, jumbo flyer, fast flyer or to buy another wheel at some point. Jumbo flyer, lazy kate and fast flyer cost more than hundred euros and that is one third of a new Symphony price. A basic Sonata is more expensive wheel than Symphony, which was my dream wheel when I first started looking. Portability means I have to buy extras to achieve results I'd get with a basic Symphony and Sonata will never have as small ratios as Symphony does. I'd like to spin laceweight and maybe even cobweb at some point. The problem is that I feel I should decide if I'm going to stick with Lucrezia and start buying extras as I need them or do I think that I might buy another wheel later and spin with features I already have until it happens. I shouldn't spend money to upgrade Sonata if I'm not planning to keep it as my only wheel. Spinning wheel market for new (not antique) wheels is non-existent in Finland so I cannot count on being able to sell Sonata for an adequate price, especially if I buy all the extras. Buying another wheel isn't going to happen for a year or two, because hiding the wheel into closet is a requirement as long as boys are little. Right now I'm happy with Sonata. I spin left hand forward, so castle wheel works for me. I want a traditional look, which I have. I cannot imagine spinning on a single treadle wheel because I like having two treadles. I don't know whether I'd like having a double drive, because Sonata is ST only. It doesn't take much space. I couldn't put a big Saxony between my bed and drawer, where I usually spin. All in all, I don't know any other wheel which would have all things I like in Sonata. But it's only wheel I've tried and I don't know if having a portable wheel as my only wheel will limit me as a spinner later on. 18:1 is as high ratio as I'm going to get. I'm stuck with Scotch tension. If Symphony was a castle wheel, I'd buy it straight away. It's more versatile wheel. I know that the answer to my question depends on how much I like the Sonata, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on upgrading in general. If you have or are planning to get a second wheel, why you decided to get one? |
| probablyjane |
In terms of my 'at home' wheel I have had an Ashford Traditional single treadle scotch tension since I started learning to spin in April which is probably as basic as you can get butt has allowed me to build my confidence and to spin some eminently useable yarn. I don't think I have begun to explore all the things I could do with even this simple wheel so I am going to concentrate on learning and developing my style and preferences before think about upgrading.
The temptation for me to get another wheel resides in the fact that some friends and I have set up a small spinning group that meets every other weekend in each other's houses. My wheel isn't portable so some time in the future I would like to think about a folding wheel but for now I am just tucking my drop spindle in my pocket! I am hoping to go to a couple of festivals where I might get the chance to try a few wheels so I think I will wait until then to decide. Best wishes Jane |
| Twinkle Toes |
Oh... lots of qu's...
I have a Sonata (Frank), and had similar questions to you.... With reference to the laceweight.... I spin thin laceweight to cobweb weight quite happily on the current base gears... so there shouldn't be an issue there with what you have.... However, I am going to get a fast flyer (just because I can - rather than because I need it) I am also about to get a jumbo flyer - that's because I've been playing about with "fancy" yarns and fining I need a bigger orifice for this..... You may need to think why you bought the sonata in the first place... for me it was because it was foldable and therefore easy to transport about, etc, and part of the negotiation with my OH was that it could go away if needed to too... (not often hee hee hee!) I also have the upright lazy kate as although useful for basic plying the built in one is limited, so I prefer to use both 
You say these will cost several hundred euros, where are you buying from? Have you looked at http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/serv01.htm Their UK postage is reasonable and always quick so can't see why they wouldn't be similar for te rest of Europe...
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| n |
When I bought my Kiwi it was always with the intention of upgrading if I found I used it more than occasionally. I never intended for it to be my only wheel... even though I didn't know what I would actually want next at the time.
For me, it was absolutely the right thing to do. Like you, I spin left hand forward, so a traditional type wheel with the bobbin on the far left is not the best one for me, I would end up spinning across myself all the time. My suzie pro is a castle wheel of sorts, but it has the added bonus of being set up by the shop with the bobbin on the right hand side of the "castle" instead of the usual left side. It's a marginal thing, and we are only talking about a few centimetres of a difference, but since I am the only one who uses it, why not make it as easy for myself as possible? The majacraft comes with a built in Lazy Kate for two bobbins. I do wonder if you are thinking of plying three on a regular basis whether in fact you really DO need a three bobbin braked Lazy Kate. As far as I know, even three bobbin built-in LK's aren't braked and it may be that any built in LK won't give you the finish you are looking for. So I don't actually think that buying a good quality LK is money wasted at all. The majacraft one is here.... Hmmmmmm my fingers are itching.... I like the universal tensioned LK Quite A Lot. n |
| Hanne |
Thank you all for your replies.
twinkle toes, I think there was a misunderstanding, the cost for those three items was around one hundred euro. n, I ordered tensioned Lazy Kate like this one here I think I'll stick with Sonata for now. I cannot get Woolfest this year like I originally planned  and I really want to try wheels before buying another one unseen. I was very lucky with Sonata since I never got to try it.
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