To spin or not?

CJ · To spin or not?

Well, my parents and DH have said I can have either an overlocker or a spinning wheel for my birthday in october/xmas. Shocked

I'm leaning towards a wheel, cos I can do a lot on my sewing machine. Wink

I've found a place I buy dyes off called wingham wool work, and they run courses, tuition etc. So next time we head over to the in-laws I'm going to maybe try and book an hour or so's tuition. Very Happy

http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk/

anyway, I have a question. can anyone recommend a good wheel? I'm not going to buy immediately till tried it out, but it's nice to have an idea what people use. so far, I like the look of the ashford traveller or tradtional and the kromski sonata. any thoughts? I can only afford at most £250-ish.

pictish

I love my Lendrum Cool

P & M Woolcraft do them and they are about £280 I think. Definitely try a few and I wouldn't recommend buying WITHOUT trying it first. The one I originally wanted I just couldn't use Confused

Wingham Wool Work do lovely fibre!!! Twisted Evil

YarnAddict

I love my Ashford Traveller. I didn't try any other wheels before I bought it. It was a bit impulsive. decided I wanted a wheel (had been thinking about it for a while), saw one advertised locally, went and saw it, tried it out and brought it home. Very Happy

And I love it.

And I'd definitely go for the spining wheel rather than sewing machine. But then I can't sew. Laughing

Hanne

I have a Sonata and I've been very happy with it.

I've written several posts about it here, take a look at the thread link below:) I'm happy to help if you want to ask anything. I

http://craftythreadsnyarns.myfreeforum.org/about6814.html

probablyjane

I have an Ashford Traditional which is the wheel I learned on. I can get pretty decent yarn from it and it's very simple.

But then n let me try her Suzie Pro at Skipnorth and it was like being given the keys to a Merc after a mini!

blueadt

I'm not a spinner but I LOVE Winghams heart

Prepare to give up at least 2 hours of your time.....

lindyloop

What does an over locker do that a sewing machine can't? ( I am not good at sewing!)

I have a Louet S10 and I love it. It is so basic and sturdy and I am finding it good to learn on, but I have never spun on anything else!

Thats a great present idea though. the trip for a spinning lesson is a fab idea.

Lin x

modelwidow

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I love my overlocker and wouldn't be without it - but then again I've haven't tried spinning, I'm hoping to have a lesson at some point soon so I may well have a completely different answer then Wink

melody yarns

I'm with modelwidow I'm afraid - I wouldn't be without my overlocker! It produces fabulously neat and professional seams that won't fray at all.

Overlocker over a spinning wheel any time!

Sprite64

I think if you're really enjoying your sewing an overlocker is a fantastic bit of kit - it makes it so quick to finish seams - and as Melody has said - they look lovely.

I reckon you should get an overlocker - then you can whizz up loads of nice bags and sell them to finance a wheel hehe!

CJ

thanks

I'm still not sure what I want. but am definately gonna try spinning first to see if I want a wheel or not Wink