How to Buy a Spinning Wheel

I started spinning on a lap spindle. I still have one and use it when I want to spin something bulkier than my wheel can handle. It also spins very fine yarn and is easy to learn on since you don’t have to worry about dropping it

Drop and support spindles are inexpensive and you can even make them yourself. My favorite now is my version of the Turkish drop spindle. I have directions for making these spindles. I still like to carry one with me if I need something to do while I’m waiting somewhere.

 I know when I first started spinning, I just wanted to produce a yarn that didn’t come out like a lumpy rope. Figuring ratios was way beyond my comprehension. Later on, I realized that the reason I had trouble spinning on my wheel was that the ratio was so high, it spun faster than I could manage. It would have been easier on a wheel with a lower ratio. Of course, you can learn on any wheel, but if you have a choice, ratio is something worth considering.

What is ratio? Ratio is the number of times the bobbin spins in relation to the drive wheel. In other words, if the bobbin goes around 10 times, as the drive wheel goes around once, your ratio is 10 to 1, or 10:1. The larger the ratio, the faster the wheel spins and the finer the yarn can be spun. Charkhas, wheels made for cotton, a fiber that needs more twist, often have ratios as high as 100:1.

One of my favorite wheels is the Ashford Country which does big, chunky single yarns with a ratio of 3:1. My Louet has variable bobbins so I have a selection of 8.5:1, 10:1 and a large one I haven’t checked yet. If you don’t know the ratio, you can put a piece of tape on the side of the drive wheel and another on the side of the bobbin. Move the drive wheel one revolution while counting the number of times the bobbin revolves.

Now, on to wheels

Castle or upright wheels are fairly portable and take up less room that the Saxony style wheel. The can come with a fairly low ratio for bulky spinning but the smaller drive wheel may mean more treadling for your foot.

 The upright wheels usually fit in the seat of a car, but some actually fold or are built very small to fit in a bag. They are perfect for the student or traveler who likes to take projects along with them.

Antiques may look nice, but might not be a good choice for spinning unless you are mechanically inclined and have the patience of a saint. Not only may you find things out of alignment, and parts broken or missing, you may not be able to get replacement parts for a wheel that has been out of production for years.

Used wheels can be a good buy but educate yourself first with the makes and components of some common wheels.  All of my wheels were used. I am pretty handy with tools and fairly mechanically inclined. My first wheel was a disaster. My second has been a delight

On certain types of wheels, the yarn is spun off of a point instead of winding on the bobbin. This can be a little more difficult for a beginner since you have to draft with only one hand. It takes a little longer to spin since the bobbin is spun and wound manually in two steps. The two types most commonly seen are the charkhas and the great or walking wheels. Most great wheels are antiques but occasionally you can find someone making modern day versions.

Charkhas were created specifically for spinning cotton but can be used with other fibers. There are two styles, the folding book type and the table top or floor type. Gandhi promoted the use of charkhas to encourage self sufficiency.