Ashley started spinning yarn in 2003 and now enjoys graphic design, marketing, social media, and web design in the fiber arts industry. She is a SpinOlution Associate Partner, the Marketing Director for Unicorn Editions, as well as an Author of THISyarn.
The Black Whorl Echo has even higher and lower ratios than the Golden Whorl Echo. We began printing our whorls (or pulleys) to create a more sustainably made product and rely less on imported hardware. Below is a copy of the Echo ratio guide.
Beginner tip: start at the middle pulley/whorl and move up (bigger whorl) to spin slower for bulkier yarns and move down (smaller whorl) to spin faster for finer yarns.
The peg no longer stays in the magnetic bearing hole.
The treadle hub separates from the drive wheel.
You see the peg wiggling in the hole in the bearings.
The peg doesn’t feel secure (magnetized) in the hole.
There are multiple reasons why this happens. We will repair the treadle free of charge regardless of the reason why it needs to be repaired.
User Error: the peg either was not pushed in all the way
Wear and Tear: the glue holding the magnets broke after use or the bearings (which we do not manufacture) become defective after continued use.
Ship your Monarch wheel base (do not include the feet, flyer, bobbins) to SpinOlution Headquarters for a free treadle upgrade! Cost of round-trip shipping to SpinOlution is the customer’s responsibility, but we will repair the wheel at no charge
Mike Pauly, 196 Hawkins Road, Winlock, WA 98596 USA
NEW: 3D Printed Tension Blocks
It’s easier to replace the felt on the new Tension Blocks on 2022 SpinOlution wheels. Unscrew the screw, replace the felt, and screw it back in. These blocks absorb sound and are quieter than the wooden block design in previous wheels.
You can order a new tension block in our parts shop at https://www.spinolution.com/parts.
3D printed black whorls have a greater spectrum of ratios (higher and lower) for spinning fine to bulky yarns on all wheel models.
This is one of several updates to our wheel collection happening in 2022-2024 as we evolve our wheels to use more components made in the USA.
NEW: 3D Printed Tension Blocks
It’s easier to replace the felt on the new Tension Blocks on 2022 SpinOlution wheels. Unscrew the screw, replace the felt, and screw it back in. These blocks absorb sound and are quieter than the wooden block design in previous wheels. You can order a new tension block in our parts shop at https://www.spinolution.com/parts.
“Norlha is about the skill of artisans and precious raw materials. The men and women who spin, weave, felt, sew and knit were all nomads earlier in their lives, and most have relatives who still are. Only their work and lifestyle have changed and they dwell in the same environment and work alongside the people they grew up with.
Our spinners, weavers, knitters, tailors and felters were all trained at Norlha and have achieved the level of skill it took to create a presence for Norlha in the luxury market. As 2019 begins, we celebrate their talent and look forward to an exciting year of achievement, new developments and creativity.” - Norlha
Shop Norltha Products at https://www.norlha.com/
Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoyed this video! Grab your own Spinolution Wheel: www.etsy.com/shop/gracehopkins -- LINKS --Blog: www.graceshalomhopkins.com...
Find Me https://www.instagram.com/caseymauraxo/
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I love to spin and do all those crafty things. This factory creates the wheels that I use and sell in my etsy store. http://www.spinolution.com In case you ha...
Crafty Housewife Yarns - https://craftyhousewifeyarns.com/spinolution
Spinolution Pollywog - https://www.spinolution.com/pollywog
Using an 8 oz Spinolution Echo Ingrid will show you what makes a Spinolution unique.
Info@sprywhimsy.com
Sprywhimsy.com
64 oz flyer head shown on a Spinolution Firefly
Spinolution Bullfrog shown with the built in lazy kate.
While the Art of spinning your own yarn has been around for many years traditionally yarns were spun very thin. This way partially due to the need for thinner yarns for fabric, etc but also because many wheel designs worked better for thinner yarns. Spinolution Spinning wheels have always had a strong focus on innovation and design and quickly became popular with fiber artist who wanted a more enjoyable way to spin larger yarns or art yarns with embellishments.
The features that make our wheels so attractive to spinners who dream of chunky yarn is the open faced pegs on the sides of the flyer and the open hook orifice. Both of these features allow larger yarns to easily pass through and be wrapped on the bobbin with a steady tension. Our wide rage of wheel designs and gear options also makes it much easier with some practice to find the perfect tension and speed for your particular spinning comfort.
Many of our wheel models are well suited for larger yarns. The Firefly, Monarch , Echo and Hopper are all modular style wheels that can all be purchased with different flyer head options in larger sizes like our 16oz or 32 oz bobbins. You can either purchase these wheels with just one flyer head size or they are also available in “ Art Yarn Packages” which come with the two largerst flyer head options , and all of the accessories. Many spinners enjoy having the different flyer head size options to have the greatest amount of flexibility and comfort for many different spinning projects.
Our most popular wheels for spinners looking to specialize in chunky or art yarn are the Monarch or the electric Firefly. These wheels are both powerful production wheels and can easily handle the extra weight and momentum of our larger bobbins. These two models also can accommodate our largest bobbin with the Spinolution 64 oz flyer head. This size is exclusive to SpinOlution, and is the biggest bobbin size in the industry. Expert production spinners find this size ideal for spinning single-ply bulky weight yarns. This Flyer size was engineered specifically for the Firefly and is recommended for use on the Firefly. It can fit and be used on the Monarch; however, is very heavy to treadle and is not as ergonomic on the Monarch as on the Firefly.
The Hopper and the Echo are also popular options that are also modular wheels. While these two wheels are very different in appearance, the echo being a traditional studio wheel and the hopper being an unusual yet highly portable wheel, they both easily work with our 16oz or 32 oz flyer heads. So no matter your wheel style preference there is a Spinolution wheel that is perfect for your chunky yarn needs.
It is also worth noting that our newest wheel the Spinolution Bullfrog comes standard with 16 oz bobbins. This is our most popular bobbin size and is great for larger yarns or extended yardage. The bullfrog is a great hybrid wheel because it folds and is portable while also having a built in lazy kate and a more traditional studio wheel style.
Too much twist? Getting the right amount of twist for bulky weight yarn can be a challenge if you are used to spinning thinner yarns. You are probably used to not letting the twist travel into a larger amount of fiber so it may seem awkward at first. Pre-drafting your fiber into roughly the size you would like it to turn out makes for an easier transition and then slow down your treadling speed so that the twist is easier to control.
Too little twist? Not as common but if you are getting too little twist in your bulky yarn and it starts coming apart you may need to go down to a smaller spinning gear or speed up your feet slightly. Even just holding on your bulky single for a bit longer before it’s pulled onto the bobbin may quickly solve this problem.
Too much uptake? If your bulky yarn is being pulled to strongly from you it may be hard to have the amount of twist desired. This can be fixed by turning your tension block so that there is less tension.
Too little uptake? A more common problem with bulky weight yarn. If you have too little of uptake then your bulky single my get twisty and get stuck around the orifice hook, this will then cause even more twist to build up which then makes the uptake worse. To fix this problem stop treadling and untwist the yarn and fiber between the hook and your hands as best you can and get it twisting onto the bobbin past the hook and then add more tension slowly to the tension block so that the yarn is being fed onto the bobbin more easily. Either slowing down your feet or moving to a larger gear will also help with this problem.
With our new golden whorl technology our wheels currently have the quickest spinning speeds on the market. This is achieved due to the lack of drag and smooth flyer head design. If you desire to spin super thin, fine yarns or shorter staple length fiber such as alpaca or cotton then you’ll be in love with our golden whorl wheels with smaller ratio options.
Spinolution offers a wide range of wheels so picking your prefered wheel may feel a bit overwhelming at first.
If portability and multiple gear options with a quick small bobbin is what you’re looking for then the Queen Bee may be for you. The Queen is the smallest wheel of our Bee line, and can be folded completely into itself forming a perfect travel box complete with carry handles and can even fit in a carry on suitcase. The Queen Bee has the most gear options of any of our wheels so you are sure to find the perfect option for a range of fine or thin yarns. The Queen Bee is only compatible with our 4 oz bobbins but due to their lightweight, small design they are optimum for the quickest speeds without the added momentum of larger bobbins.
If a studio wheel is what you’re looking for then the echo, monarch or firefly with smaller bobbin size or our accelerator option may be a great fit. The echo is our smaller traditional studio wheel while the monarch is our largest production wheel. The firefly is our very popular electric table top wheel and all three are modular meaning you can switch the heads out from smaller sized options to larger sizes if you prefer.
You can select these wheels in either standard 4oz or with our newer “4A” option. Many of our fine-spinning customers requested higher ratios, so we designed a head upgrade with a built-in accelerator for short staple spinning.
Another fantastic option for spinning thinner yarns is the pollywog spinning wheel with or without the accelerator option. The pollywog is a very unique spinning wheel due to its small size and many options. The pollywog base model comes with 3, 4 oz bobbins which are light and perfect for thin yarns especially combined with the smooth golden whorl technology which comes standard on all of our wheels. The standard wheel has 4 different gear options and with the accelerator you would have a total of 12 gear options. The accelerator for the pollywog is a different piece of equipment than the 4A accelerator which fits our other larger wheels.
Tips for achieving a smooth and enjoyable spin on your spinolution spinning wheel.
Reducing the tension by turning your tension knob so that there is hardly any pressure will greatly reduce the uptake on the yarn which will give you more time for thin drafting and twist.
Cross-lacing is a technique which involves pulling your singles from the bobbin and wrapping it first over the opposite side of the flyer arm pegs before placing it on the side you would normally spin from before entering the orifice. Cross lacing helps to slow down the uptake of the yarn onto the bobbin which allows for more twist to build up and strengthen the fibers to help you spin fine yarns without breakage.
Spinolution wheels come standard with a hook orifice which is great for fine-super chunky but some people prefer the tube orifice for thinner yarns and we have an option where you can easily switch back and forth between the hook or tube orifice for your wheel.
An example of cross lacing a flyer head.
Do you have an idea for an innovative spinning wheel accessory or fiber art tool that you'd like to see us design? Please share your ideas with us by completing the following form. If we make your innovation - we will send you one for free when it is ready to enter the product testing stage!
Yes, we ship our wheels around the world fully insured so if there are any damages those will be fully covered by insurance. International customers are responsible for paying any import duties or fees upon package arrival.
Most packages are shipped out FedEx or USPS. Our goal is that you to receive your wheel in perfect condition. And we reserve the right to choose the shipping service that does this best.
If a wheel arrives damaged, we will file a claim with the shipping service to process the repair / replacement of your order.
Spinning Daily recently posted an article by Carol Leonard that discusses what to look for when purchasing your first spinning wheel. I love this article. And I thought it would be helpful for you to see how the SpinOlution product line fits into their thorough Q & A.
“Do you have any physical issues that might make a difference? Something as simple as being tall or short might mean that you would prefer a wheel with a higher or lower orifice/flyer.”
When Mike Pauly first invented SpinOlution, one of the biggest requests of the spinning industry was for a wheel that was pain-free to spin. Mike used multiple bearing systems in every moving part of the wheels for a "liquid gold" spinning feel. The treadles have a gentle rocking motion - like a glider rocking chair. When you sit at a SpinOlution, you will naturally sit with your legs a little wider apart than at other spinning wheels, which reduces muscle tension.
SpinOlution wheels are designed to be ergonomic production machines. I have spent many 8-hour days at my wheels during my high-production season. For 10 years I was on a different brand of wheel. I am familiar with the aches and pains of sitting at a wheel that is not ergonomic. But I have never felt aches or pain after spinning 8 hours on a SpinOlution.
Now to the second point of Carol's first question. Orifice height. Personally, I find that orifice height and chair height are like peas and carrots. In order for your orifice height to feel comfortable, you also need to be in an appropriate spinning chair. For wheels with a lower orifice, a lower chair solves the issue. I know many spinners who sit in camping chairs while spinning on their SpinOlution Pollywog and love it. Many spinners love sitting on a cushy couch when spinning on a SpinOlution Hopper. So keep that in mind when you test drive. If an orifice feels too high or low, ask if there is another chair for you to sit in and try again.
Pollywog Basic - 19.25 inches
Pollywog + Accelerator - 25 inches
MACH III - 27 inches
Echo - 25 inches
Hopper - 21 inches
King Bee - 26.5 inches
Queen Bee - 26.5 inches
Worker Bee - 26.5 inches
Firefly - VARIES. Since you can kickstand the wheel on the floor, or place it on a table, or folding chair - you decide what height the orifice is at for spinning.
“How portable do you want your wheel to be? This is one of the big questions these days, as so many of us travel to workshops and shows.”
Absolutely. Portability is one of the biggest requests that the market had when Mike started SpinOlution. So here's a basic run-down of each wheel's portability.
Pollywog - Portable @ 8-9 pounds. Carry the wheel by the lazy kate "handle" and take it anywhere. You can also get a craft supply rolling cart to pack the wheel in and roll it around wherever you're going.
Firefly - Portable @ 13-14 pounds. Carry the wheel by the carrying handle. Just make sure your head is screwed securely into the base. This is my preferred wheel for travel because it is so compact. It also fits beautifully in a craft supply rolling cart.
Queen Bee - Portable @ 13-14 pounds + FOLDABLE. This wheel fits in a carry on luggage case and many spinners take it with them on flights so they can spin in the airport on layovers. If portability is determined by TSA - then the Queen Bee is one of the most portable wheels on the market. There is a handle in the back you can carry it with after it's folded.
King Bee - Portable @ 13-14 pounds + FOLDABLE. This wheel fits in a carry on luggage case and many spinners take it with them on flights so they can spin in the airport on layovers. If portability is determined by TSA - then the King Bee is one of the most portable wheels on the market. There is a handle in the back you can carry it with after it's folded.
Worker Bee - TBD
Hopper - 90% Portable @ 12-14 pounds. The reason I marked this down to 90% is because it is awkward to carry by the handle. It's the same reason I didn't use one of those carseat baby buckets for when my kids were little. It's a lot of weight to be carried in one hand on one side of your body. It makes my shoulder hurt if I'm carrying it for too long. When I am walking thru a large vending event with the Hopper - I often have to switch which hand is carrying it if I have a long way to walk. This is why I consider it to be "less portable". The shape is just bulkier than the other portable wheels. If you're walking a long distance with it, you'll feel it in your shoulders as you'll need to hold it away from your body to keep it from bumping your side as you walk.
Echo - 90% Portable @ 14-15 pounds. The reason the Echo is less portable than the other wheels above is because the handle is lower down on the neck and requires you to carry it in a specific way which limits hand movement and it's difficult to switch the wheel from hand-to-hand if you're walking a long distance. You'll have to set the wheel down, turn it around, and switch it to the other hand. Whereas with the Firefly you can switch from hand-to-hand while you're walking. It's also a taller wheel, with more mass. If you're walking a long distance with it, you'll feel it in your shoulders as you'll need to hold it away from your body to keep it from bumping your side as you walk.
MACH III - 75% Portable @ 25 pounds. If you purchase the straps & wheels kit for the MACH, you'll be able to roll the wheel behind you like a large piece of luggage. So technically, it is portable. But what would you rather do - roll your biggest suitcase around an event, or roll a carry on? I prefer carry on size for bringing to shows and events. But there are many spinners who adore their MACH and bring it everywhere. Technically it is portable. It's just not my personal first choice.
“Do you want your flyer to be on the left or right of the wheel, or would an upright work better for you?”
This question doesn't apply to the SpinOlution brand as much because all of our wheels are upright in style. This is because we prioritized portability in our designs (many wheels with left / right flyers are awkward to bring places) as that was more important to our customer base.
I hope this helps you when you're looking into your first wheel to purchase! Look at our Dealer Map to find your local dealer, or check out our SpinOlution Facebook Group and browse thru gently used wheels for sale by other customers if you're shopping on a budget.
Happy Spinning!
