Introducing...
At long last, I am no longer wheel-less! I had narrowed my choices to a Schacht Matchless, a Majacraft Rose or a Kromski Minstrel. I didn't really feel I could take on the price of a new wheel so I searched for something used. And although I found a Matchless it was in the USA and the shipping was right out of this world since it couldn't be disassembled so I kept on looking. I was determined not to fixate on one model over another but to let fate make the choice for me! Yes, a bit of a risky gamble... sort of... and then I found a used Rose Majacraft on Ravelry! Although it came from Ontario the shipping was still fairly high but I got the wheel itself for a good price so that helped. She arrived on Friday and it didn't take me long to get her out of the box!
In this photo I have the flyer assembly on the right but after spinning for a bit I realized I am much happier with it on the left since my left hand is my drafting hand. I have nothing but good things to say - I am really, really satisfied with how this wheel performs! It suits my spinning style and I revel in having excellent wheel control again with just my feet! She is sturdy, well built and quiet too! I have learned to sit well away from her so treadling is smooth and easy. It took me a bit to get used to the delta (instead of an orifice tube) but once I got the hang of it I've had no trouble with broken singles.
Not bad for a choice made by fate, eh? But wait! There's a little more to this story! While I was cruising the Ravelry selling groups wheel hunting I came across an ad for another Majacraft wheel - a Millie! She is new but has a crack in one leg. She came from a dealer so was not selling for new price because of the damage. In addition, the Millie is a discontinued wheel, Majacraft doesn't make them any more. She takes all the Majacraft parts like bobbins and flyers so she and Rose could share things. I just "knew" I wasn't likely to come across a new one again any time soon, so thanks to a very successful Year End Clearance sale in my Etsy Shop I purchased Millie too! Not exactly part of my original plan but I'm SO not sorry I did!
Not bad for a choice made by fate, eh? But wait! There's a little more to this story! While I was cruising the Ravelry selling groups wheel hunting I came across an ad for another Majacraft wheel - a Millie! She is new but has a crack in one leg. She came from a dealer so was not selling for new price because of the damage. In addition, the Millie is a discontinued wheel, Majacraft doesn't make them any more. She takes all the Majacraft parts like bobbins and flyers so she and Rose could share things. I just "knew" I wasn't likely to come across a new one again any time soon, so thanks to a very successful Year End Clearance sale in my Etsy Shop I purchased Millie too! Not exactly part of my original plan but I'm SO not sorry I did!
Being a new wheel, Millie didn't come assembled but I enjoyed getting to know her by putting her together. She doesn't fold but she's a nice wheel for taking somewhere because she's so compact.
I loosened off the screws in the cracked leg and used some good quality carpenter's glue. I had planned to clamp the repair until the glue set but no matter how I tried I couldn't get a clamp to hold the way I needed it to so I used the handyman's secret weapon. No, not duct tape - in a house full of linemen I used electrical tape because it stretches but pulls back towards it's original length so I got a good tight seal. The other bonus is it doesn't leave glue residue like duct tape does.
So here are my two girls, Millie and her big sister Rose. I love Millie's little "chair". It's so convenient to put my fiber or lazy kate on it! Millie's speed is more like my Baynes but Rose - oh she's a fast wheel! I can see myself spending many happy hours introducing her to members of my stash! LOL!
Posted by Gloria Patre at 1/18/2012 6:36 PM 
Categories: Spinning
Tags: majacraft millie majacraft rose
Categories: Spinning
Tags: majacraft millie majacraft rose
Those are two beautiful wheels. I'm glad that you are starting the year right! Enjoy.
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Huge congratulations! I'm so glad that you have a wheel, or two(!), that suit you now! When you talked about wanting good control with your treadling, I was pretty sure that you would like the Majacrafts.
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