I've noticed some things about myself over time. When I think about buying something, I tend to research and research and over research. Then I find a good deal, and agonize about it. I weigh the pros and cons, and generally make myself somewhat crazy in the process. And thinking about buying a new spinning wheel has not been one jot different.
When I was first thinking about getting a spinning wheel, I researched and researched and then researched some more. I ended up buying a Spinolution Queen Bee, because of the ease of treadling on my knees, the portability, and the expanded spinning ratios that were included. Well, it was a success in that the treadling was very easy on my knees, the orifice height was just right, and it was portable. However, those were really the only things I loved about the QB . . . so down the road she went.
I went to the opposite extreme with the Merlin Tree Roadbug, after an agonizing research process between the RB and the new Schacht Sidekick. Now, don't get me wrong. I love this little RB wheel. I have enough ratios to keep me happy, and she's very small and very portable. She fits nicely (with the offside treadle removed) in the wonderful Laurel Burch bag I got to be my "spinning bag". She's direct drive, so no fiddly strings to break, or stretch, or jump their tracks, or what-have-you. The bobbins are generous, holding six or more ounces of spun fiber. Plying is relatively easy. I've spun some really nice yarn on her. And, I really love Dave's philosophy about making a wheel that can be, in a pinch, repaired from items commonly found at Ace Hardware. (Not so easy at Home Depot, btw.)
Then I started having this issue with my neck. I went to the chiropractor a couple of times, and he poked and prodded and jackhammered and cracked and crunched, and it was all better. Until I started spinning on the wheel. Now some of it is, sans doubt, my own body mechanics. But there is no way around the fact that the RB has an orifice height of 17 inches, with no possible adjustment that I can see without rebuilding the wheel. I have an office chair that I use for spinning that adjusts up, down, tilts, and has arms that get right up out of the way easily, and even sitting with the chair in its lowest position, I'm still having a particular neck pain that I did not have with the QB.
So, once again, I'm in the market for a wheel. I've found a heck of a deal on a used Majacraft on Ravelry . . . and thinking strongly about it. It's one of those deals that includes virtually every add on a person could want, and that few that are not included are quite reasonably priced. So total outlay of cash is in the "acceptable" range. So what's my hold up?
I fell in love with the looks of the Majacraft Rose, and discarded it as 1) Too expensive at the time and 2) Not really very portable. Well, the one I'm looking at is heavier but less expensive used. Did I mention not really very portable? I spin in the kitchen, and keep the wheel stored in the craft room down stairs. A matter of two doors, and two steps. Plus, I really like to go to spinner's study group at my favorite LYS, and while either wheel will fit in the back of my Suby Forester, the getting it in and out of the back may be something of challenge, given the state of my neck.
But I digress. I really fell in love with the looks of the Rose . . . and the "good deal wheel" is not a Rose. So I wonder, if I buy the "good deal wheel" will I end up being annoyed with myself because it's not a Rose?
When I was first thinking about getting a spinning wheel, I researched and researched and then researched some more. I ended up buying a Spinolution Queen Bee, because of the ease of treadling on my knees, the portability, and the expanded spinning ratios that were included. Well, it was a success in that the treadling was very easy on my knees, the orifice height was just right, and it was portable. However, those were really the only things I loved about the QB . . . so down the road she went.
I went to the opposite extreme with the Merlin Tree Roadbug, after an agonizing research process between the RB and the new Schacht Sidekick. Now, don't get me wrong. I love this little RB wheel. I have enough ratios to keep me happy, and she's very small and very portable. She fits nicely (with the offside treadle removed) in the wonderful Laurel Burch bag I got to be my "spinning bag". She's direct drive, so no fiddly strings to break, or stretch, or jump their tracks, or what-have-you. The bobbins are generous, holding six or more ounces of spun fiber. Plying is relatively easy. I've spun some really nice yarn on her. And, I really love Dave's philosophy about making a wheel that can be, in a pinch, repaired from items commonly found at Ace Hardware. (Not so easy at Home Depot, btw.)
Then I started having this issue with my neck. I went to the chiropractor a couple of times, and he poked and prodded and jackhammered and cracked and crunched, and it was all better. Until I started spinning on the wheel. Now some of it is, sans doubt, my own body mechanics. But there is no way around the fact that the RB has an orifice height of 17 inches, with no possible adjustment that I can see without rebuilding the wheel. I have an office chair that I use for spinning that adjusts up, down, tilts, and has arms that get right up out of the way easily, and even sitting with the chair in its lowest position, I'm still having a particular neck pain that I did not have with the QB.
So, once again, I'm in the market for a wheel. I've found a heck of a deal on a used Majacraft on Ravelry . . . and thinking strongly about it. It's one of those deals that includes virtually every add on a person could want, and that few that are not included are quite reasonably priced. So total outlay of cash is in the "acceptable" range. So what's my hold up?
I fell in love with the looks of the Majacraft Rose, and discarded it as 1) Too expensive at the time and 2) Not really very portable. Well, the one I'm looking at is heavier but less expensive used. Did I mention not really very portable? I spin in the kitchen, and keep the wheel stored in the craft room down stairs. A matter of two doors, and two steps. Plus, I really like to go to spinner's study group at my favorite LYS, and while either wheel will fit in the back of my Suby Forester, the getting it in and out of the back may be something of challenge, given the state of my neck.
But I digress. I really fell in love with the looks of the Rose . . . and the "good deal wheel" is not a Rose. So I wonder, if I buy the "good deal wheel" will I end up being annoyed with myself because it's not a Rose?
1 comment:
Buy the Rose. It's the wheel that lifts your heart!
Post a Comment