There have been many wheels in The Spinning Shed collection - used for teaching and spinning different methods. Most have gone to new pastures as Michelle teaches one to one now, but the information about them is left here to give some detail about wheels that people may be interested in. If anyone wants any more feedback on a wheel they are thinking of, Michelle is happy to give impartial advice.
This is Rosa. She is an Ashford Kiwi. She is a double treadle, single drive wheel scotch tension; very smooth and beautiful.
This is Janet. She is an Ashford Tradition. She is single treadle, single drive (scotch tension wheel). She has shiny spokes and is a grand lady - very meditative to spin on.
This is Lily. She is an Ashford Traditional, single drive scotch tension and single treadle. They really are the perfect wheel to learn on, but also so versatile. It is possible to up date them to a double treadle.
This is Meggie. She is a double treadle Ashford Kiwi and a single drive scotch tension wheel. Kiwi wheels are so versatile, espeically as now they do a Country Spinner style topper, which has a 27mm orifice to enable you to spin art yarns with large beads!
This is Barbara. Again single treadle, single drive scotch tension. Barbara earns her keep by being so smooth and lovely. You may just fall in love with the simplicity of the Trad.
This is Sheila. She is a lacquered Ashford Traveller double treadle, single drive scotch tension wheel. She is ideal for taking in the back of the car to meetings.
This is Grace. She is a single treadle, scotch tension, single drive wheel from Woolmaker and is known as the Bliss. The ease of use and ease of treadling, with either or both feet, is wonderful.
This is Tess, a majacraft Aura who is magnificent! She was purchased to do super chunky art yarns. It is true that the way she works is slightly different to other wheels (ie she is neither scotch or irish tension, but a different kind of double drive), but once you figure it out and understand her, my word, she can perform. She is extremely heavy - which means she feels so very solid and well built.
This is Arthur. He is a Merlin Tree roadbug double treadle. The spinning method is different and more suitable for the experienced spinner.
This is the Ashford Country Spinner 2. She did not get round to having a name, because she didn't last long. With the irish tension and such big heavy bobbins (if you haven't seen a country spinner bobbin yet, they are a thing to behold) which pulled in so hard, it was hard to produce the sort of work that she was purchased for.
The spindle collection
Spindles are a very portable method of spinning, and you can take them anywhere.
There are top whorl, bottom whorl, turkish, russian support, heavy and lightweight in the collection at Sacred Weft. I am a bit obsessed with them, but don’t agree with teaching on them. I think it’s easier when you know what you’re doing.
Spindles are a very portable method of spinning, and you can take them anywhere.
There are top whorl, bottom whorl, turkish, russian support, heavy and lightweight in the collection at Sacred Weft. I am a bit obsessed with them, but don’t agree with teaching on them. I think it’s easier when you know what you’re doing.