Spinning Wheel?

[corvaxgirl]

I want to get a wheel in the near-ish future. I'm looking for a wheel under $400 that can be used while sitting on a couch, if spinning on a wheel on the couch possible? I'm just starting the wheel shopping process and I've never used one or owned one before.

Comments

[fraises]

I LOOOOOVE my ashford kiwi! It's awesome, and I use it at the couch all of the time! It's within the price range you're looking for, too. It's a great beginners wheel.

[jadecat9]

I'll second the Ashford Kiwi, esp. if that's your particular budget for a wheel is limited. (Here's my knitting blog with my Kiwi) You can spin with it on a couch if you sit up straight, but I find that ergonomic spinning (sit up straight in a regular chair) works much better than if you slouch on the couch.

HOWEVER, I highly suggest going to your LYS to try out different wheels. When I was looking for a wheel, I wanted a Victoria Louet (having never owned a wheel), and it wasn't until I got into the LYS to try out different wheels that I realized that it Did Not work for me.

I tried 6-7 different wheels. Luckily, the Ashford Kiwi worked really well for me and was in my budget cost a LOT better than the other 2 wheels that worked for my physically (Schact Ladybug & the Ashford Fairy Tale)

Plus, I got to stain and decorate my Kiwi.

Also, my particular LYS had a FREE spinning lesson if I bought the wheel for them, so it worked out well.

(Note, I started spinning on spindles before I got a wheel).

[fraises]

Question - Have you ever had to repair your Kiwi? The left pedal/treadle is loose - like REALLY loose - on my wheel...and it's just held on by a door hinge, from the looks of it. But, I'd have to take the whole thing apart to fix it! Ever have any issues like that?

[jadecat9]

Nope. My Kiwi's been pretty much perfect after I put it together. I take it that you had someone else put it together? The pedals near the edge are held on by a hinge.

Have you tightened screws and such? Moving parts need to be tightened with constant usage. You just might need to tighten the hinge underneath the pedals and the clear plastic tube that attaches it at the top of the pedal to the wheel. LYS suggested that I go through it once a year for a small tune-up if I'm using it constantly (and it's getting to be about that time)

Are you on Rav? There's a specific Ashford Kiwi group. They might already have a solution for you on the boards, or will answer relatively quickly if you can't find it.

[jenstclair]

Are you on Ravelry at all? There's quite the spinning community there. Most people will suggest that you visit a local yarn store if you have one, and try out a bunch of wheels.

[corvaxgirl]

I am on ravelry! Is there a specific community you suggest?

[hugh_mannity]

About the only wheel you can't spin on while sitting on the couch is a great/walking wheel :D

That being said, I prefer single treadle to double for couch-lounging.

I love my Ashford Joy -- it's perfect for that sort of relaxed lazy spinning.

If there's a local to you yarn store that sells wheels or a spinning guild or group, see if you can try out a few before plonking down any money. Both of these might also be a good source of a second hand wheel.

[colorwhirl]

About the only wheel you can't spin on while sitting on the couch is a great/walking wheel :D

Eh. I've had trouble using true castle style wheels (like the Kromski Mazurka) on a couch because the treadle is set so far back under the wheel. I spent a lot of time bumping my knee against the wheel and just making a mess. My wheel (a Kromski Sonata) is a modified castle style so it's much more couch-friendly.

I think the trouble stems from being short with short to average length legs.

The moral of this comment is: Hey OP, you need to try before you buy.

[ayse]

I'm short (5') with long legs for my height, and I have no trouble with schlumping on the couch with any of my wheels (Lendrum and a pair of Saxonies). I do think I want to get a mirror so I can watch the bobbin fill more easily, but apart from that I've never had trouble treadling double or single from a semi-reclined position.

(But it's hard to do long draw while schlumped.)

That said, I'm also a big advocate of trying wheels (at a store, at shows, at spinning nights, whenever you see one). I ended up buying the Lendrum because it just fit me perfectly when I tried it out. Some wheels that I was really drawn to were just not right for me, ergonomically.

[sen_ichi_rei]

I'm also short (4'11") and can spin on my Lendrum from the couch. That being said, after a while of doing this my back started hurting from bad posture, so I ended up buying a wooden chair from Ikea that I now sit in to spin.

[brieza]

I also advocate trying before you buying, but another really good wheel in your price range is the Fricke ST or Fricke DT. I have a Fricke ST, and the only place I have to spin in from my couch.

[linzbinz]

I spin from my couch, but I put a few extra back cushions behind me so I have extra support. Spinning ergonomics are super important! :)
Do you have an active Craigslist where you are? I bought my first wheel (a ST Ashford Joy) for $350 on Craigslist! I also just bought a ST Schacht Matchless in perfect condition for $350, which is INSANE considering that they cost almost $1000 brand new. I actually felt GUILTY for buying it that cheap. Otherwise, I second what a few other people said- Ravelry has TONS of spinning wheels for sale everyday! :)

Seconded on the back support.

[marveen]

I also enthusiastically support the used-wheel market: I just got my own Ashford Traditional a few weeks ago for $125, and Bessie turned out to need little more than oiling and some time out of the damp.

I have a very small living space indeed (I have to move Bessie over to get in my chest of drawers), and a chair is totally out of the question. I spin perched on the edge of my couch with pillows behind, shifting position periodically.