Crafty Housewife Yarns - https://craftyhousewifeyarns.com/spinolution
Spinolution Pollywog - https://www.spinolution.com/pollywog
Ingrid McMasters of SpryWhimsy talks about her favorite SpinOlution spinning wheel features.
Using an 8 oz Spinolution Echo Ingrid will show you what makes a Spinolution unique.
Info@sprywhimsy.com
Sprywhimsy.com
Spin Her Free
SpinOlution is proud to be the exclusive sponsor of the 2020 Spin Her Free Campaign. This is an initiative started by Ashley Martineau as a way for hand spinners from around the world to join together and make a difference for woman and children who are being abused by sex trafficking. We start spinning in January 2020 so make sure you register now so you can have a chance to win a free SpinOlution Monarch.
You can find spinning groups who may be participating in spin alongs by searching in Ravelry or the SpinOluton Facebook group.
What to look for when shopping for a spinning wheel to spin bulky or art yarns
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.
Troubleshooting Bulky Spinning
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.
What to look for when shopping for a spinning wheel to spin fine yarns
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.
Send SpinOlution Your Wheel Ideas!
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!
International Shipping Costs & Policies
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.
Carol Leonard discusses How to Choose a Spinning Wheel.
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.
SpinOlution Wheel Orifice Heights
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!
Ashley Martineau
Why choose a SpinOlution spinning wheel?
WHY Choose SPINOLUTION?
OUR WHEELS HAVE THE FEATURES YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.
Durable. Our wheels are made from high quality, furniture-grade, solid Birch plywood. This makes them extremely durable and warp resistant.
Ergonomic. Our wheels provide a smooth, painless, effortless, treadling experience.
Low-Maintenance. Our wheels require no oil. They come finished, and require no stain. Assembly upon arrival is minimal, if any.
Efficient. Our wheels practically spin themselves when you get to your preferred speed. No hard treadling required.
Versatile. We offer 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, and 64 oz bobbins - the largest variety of bobbin sizes in the industry.
Functional. All our wheels come standard with a by-passable hook orifice for spinning any weight of yarn. All our flyers have smooth, durable nylon pegs so your yarn never gets snagged.
Portable. Most of our wheel options are under 15 pounds and have carrying handles. Our heaviest wheel has a handle and can be fit with wheels to roll like carry-on luggage.
Customizable. With our new M O D U L A R series, you can choose a base (Electric or Treadle) and a bobbin size (8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz) to design the wheel that's right for you.
Easy Uptake. Our tension knob is easily accessible on all models, even while spinning, to adjust tension with a quick twist.
30-Day Moneyback Guarantee. If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, you can return it after 30 days for a full refund.
1-Year Warranty. We warranty wheels and parts for 1 year after purchase. We want you to enjoy your wheel for a lifetime.
Made in the USA. From the drawing board to manufacturing - we are proud to say our wheels are designed & made in the USA. Thank you for buying local.
Amy asks about SpinOlution's customer service program.
“Some companies prefer to do all service themselves. Some set it up so the customer needs to go through the dealer to deal with service issues. Some have really set it up so that the products are easily serviceable by the end user. Where do you think the SpinOlution products fall?”
Excellent Question, Amy. We use all the methods of repair service that you mentioned in your question at SpinOlution.
For major repairs or updates, customers can call Mike, the Owner of SpinOlution and mastermind behind the wheel design, to walk thru the repair
Customers can also ship wheels / parts to us for repair whenever they prefer.
For overseas repairs, we usually work thru those over the phone / email to save the customer shipping costs.
For minor repairs and maintenance - your dealer can walk you thru that process.
We have both a Facebook Group and Ravelry Group open for discussing any issues you might have with all our dealers and SpinOlution spinners.
For routine maintenance, we offer videos & education online for how to best take care of your wheel.
Simple repairs are usually done by customers. Replacing flyer pegs, gluing magnets, and dis-assembling heads from flyers are repairs / routine maintenance that you should expect to do sometime during the lifetime of owning a SpinOlution wheel. We have several videos on our YouTube channel that cover the simple repairs. And many spinners enjoy learning how the wheels are engineered!
But if there is a repair that you do not feel comfortable doing yourself, you can always pay to ship the item to us for repair - no matter how simple the repair is. We don't mind repairing items for you. We just need you to pay for the round-trip so we can get you up and running again as quickly as possible.
It's important when you are purchasing a spinning wheel to understand the company's policies on warranty & returns. That way if you change your mind about your wheel purchase, you know how to proceed. Here are our policies.
AT SPINOLUTION WE STAND BY OUR PRODUCTS 100%.
Our warranty on all spinning wheels and parts is 1 year from date of original purchase.
30 DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
We want you to be happy with our products and with our service.
Please contact us prior to sending your return so that we can issue a return authorization to you. Shipping back to SpinOlution is your responsibility. Any return which originally received Free Shipping is subject to the original shipping cost being deducted from the return funds. International Refunds will not include the cost of International Shipping. Upon receipt of your return it takes 5-10 business days to process your return and credit our account. The credit will be processed against the original form of payment. We will notify you via e-mail once your return has been processed.
All returns must include all original parts, packing material and be in new "resale" unopened condition. We will be unable to issue any type of refund after our 30-day guarantee has expired.
WEAR parts (not covered by our warranty) are:
Flyer Pegs that break due to being dropped or bent
Drive Bands that break due to being exposed to sunlight or over-stretched
Tension Block / Felt that squeal out due to the laws of thermodynamics.
If you need a purchase a replacement for any of the above parts - please contact your dealer. And we understand that things happen. If a flyer peg is broken in shipment, we will replace it. We want you to enjoy your wheel and we do our best to make and design our wheels to be affordable to maintain.
After the 1-Year Warranty has passed, you can purchase any replacement parts from your dealer.
Amy asks "What are the Limitations of SpinOlution Spinning Wheels?"
“What does each of the Spinolution wheels lack (each one will probably be different)? Knowing a wheel’s limitations is a good thing.”
I've been working and dealing with SpinOlution for 2 years and, although they are my favorite wheel brand, they are not the right wheel for everyone. So here are my two blunt cents on the cons of each wheel. Please keep in mind that all of these notes are based on wheel designs manufactured before August 2017. Future designs may resolve some of these issues.
MACH III LIMITS
It's heavy. This is not the wheel I'd choose to travel with. I don't care if it comes with straps and wheels. I also don't like lugging a giant piece of luggage thru an airport with two kids. Ever. I traveled with an Ashford Country Spinner for 10 years (multiple times cross-country, disassembling it and re-assembling it for events) and I'm just officially done bringing heavy wheels places. Some people travel with their MACH, and that's fine! It's just not for me.
With the 64 oz upgrade it is hard work to treadle to start. But once you get a couple treadles in, it speeds up and builds momentum and it's okay. But that 64 oz works 100% better on the Firefly.
On designs when the 8 oz setup smallest whorl is metal (other whorls plastic or wood) - this ratio (1:21) is hard work to treadle on some designs due to the size of the bearings. However, this is only on wheels that have the two-material whorls (plastic + metal / wood + metal).
If it has the wooden pegs - those pegs can become sawed off if you're spinning fine yarn. You can replace the flyer arms with the black nylon pegs so you don't have this issue.
The black drive band may rub residue on the fly wheel. At this time there aren't any clear drive band options that function for SpinOlution wheels. You can wipe the residue off with a damp cloth.
If you don't have the tension set right, your yarn may twist around the hook and create drag.
It's made out of Baltic Birch Plywood, which is warp resistant and durable. But you might not like that look.
ECHO LIMITS
The base is lighter than the MACH so if you fill up a 16 oz bobbin with dense fiber it may be top-heavy. I recommend using the 16 oz for bulkier yarns anyway. Also - if you have kids it's easier for them to move it / push it over than it is to budge the MACH.
Some spinners find the treadles to be a little small, but I am not bothered by them (I'm a shoe size 7.5)
The black drive band may rub residue on the fly wheel. At this time there aren't any clear drive band options that function for SpinOlution wheels.
If you don't have the tension set right, your yarn may twist around the hook and create drag.
It's made out of Baltic Birch Plywood, which is warp resistant and durable. But you might not like that look.
BEE LIMITS
You can't change the bobbin sizes. So you're locked into that one size that you buy. This is limiting in my opinion compared to the interchangeable wheels (Mach, Echo, Firefly, Hopper, Pollywog) - but I prefer multiple multiple sizes. Not all spinners do.
The black drive band may rub residue on the fly wheel. At this time there aren't any clear drive band options that function for SpinOlution wheels.
On the older (wooden whorl) King Bee, the ratios might be limiting for fine spinners.
The oldest Bee models don't have magnetic flyer arms.
If you don't have the tension set right, your yarn may twist around the hook and create drag.
It's made out of Baltic Birch Plywood, which is warp resistant and durable. But you might not like that look.
HOPPER LIMITS
People either love or hate the Hopper. It's the most over-designed wheel on the market you'll ever meet. It's our biggest seller in Japan. I call it the kawaii wheel.
The height of the chair makes your Hopper spinning experience a dream or a nightmare. By nightmare I mean "why do I feel like I'm climbing Mt. Everest" nightmare. I guess you could tighten your booty while you spin yarn, but I'm personally past that point in my life now.
If you have an older Hopper (without the foot shaped pads) treadling with your heels can feel like an exam. It's way too personal an experience for me when I'm spinning. But some people don't mind that kind-of thing. To each their own.
If it has the wooden pegs - those pegs can become sawed off if you're spinning fine yarn. You can replace the flyer arms with the black nylon pegs so you don't have this issue.
The black drive band may rub residue on the fly wheel. At this time there aren't any clear drive band options that function for SpinOlution wheels.
It wiggles a little bit at the neck/handle area when you're spinning on the 32 oz setup.
If you don't have the tension set right, your yarn may twist around the hook and create drag.
It's made out of Baltic Birch Plywood, which is warp resistant and durable. But you might not like that look.
FIREFLY LIMITS
It can run out of batteries. Make sure you bring your power cords when you travel.
It can blow a fuse. This is very simple to replace, but annoying. SpinOlution can ship you a replacement fuse. The newer model Fireflies have a button you press on that back to re-set the power (no fuse replacing required) but the older models do have fuses.
Like any electric wheel, it can have electric issues. SpinOlution will repair any electrical / technical issues FOR FREE within a year. But this can be a bummer while you wait to have it shipped back to you. If you have electrical issues after a year, you will need to pay for the repair. But a new motor is only about $30, so it's not money pit.
The motor can become mis-aligned in shipment. This is also an easy fix, simply open the box up and snuggle the motor back into it's place. Put the band on the groove and you're good to go.
You might miss treadling.
If you've never spun on an electric wheel before, there will be a learning curve for you to climb.
If you don't have the tension set right, your yarn may twist around the hook and create drag.
It's made out of Baltic Birch Plywood, which is warp resistant and durable. But you might not like that look.
POLLYWOG LIMITS
The tiny hook on the 4 oz flyer is limiting for bulky / art yarns.
Some spinners may find the ratios on the base model limiting.
Some spinners may find the orifice height on the base model a little low.
To get the highest speeds you need to buy the accelerator.
You cannot order it with just the 12 oz flyer (instead of the 4 oz) because of how the wheels are manufactured.
By the time you order the Pollywog and all the Accessories it might be a better value for you to have invested in an Echo.
The black drive band may rub residue on the fly wheel. At this time there aren't any clear drive band options that work for SpinOlution wheels.
If you don't have the tension set right, your yarn may twist around the hook and create drag.
It's made out of Baltic Birch Plywood, which is warp resistant and durable. But you might not like that look.
And that's my $0.02! Thanks for reading and Happy Spinning!
Ashley Martineau
Amy asks, "What kind of testing do SpinOlution wheels do through?"
Did you know?
SpinOlution wheels come 90-100% Fully Assembled and finished.
When you purchase a SpinOlution wheel, our professional team of wheel makers will assemble it for you.
No complicated or difficult assembly required.
Many of our wheels models are ready to spin right out of the box.
“What kind of testing do these tools go through before they’re released to the public?”
QUALITY CONTROL. Every SpinOlution spinning wheel is tested by an experienced spinner before it is shipped out. SpinOlution never ships broken wheels or parts to their customers. If you order a wheel and it arrives broken, even if the box has no visible damage, it was always damaged in transit. This is why we fully insure every package we ship.
Need to file a claim on shipping damage? Take photos of the broken pieces upon arrival, the box, and the packing materials and email them to your dealer so we can file a claim.
MONEYBACK GUARANTEE. SpinOlution offers a 30-day moneyback guarantee for any reason within 30 days of receipt of the wheel. If you decide you just don't like the wheel, or if you have an emergency and need to send it back, or if you changed your mind and want to buy another brand - we want you to be happy with the wheel you choose. You are responsible for shipping the wheel back to us.
Why I sold my old wheel and bought a SpinOlution. - M. Manigross
I’m Martha Manigross, and I live in Orange, VA. I’ve been spinning for about 3 years.
I started out trying a spindle, but didn’t really get the hang of it. Then I ordered a Lendrum, which was great to start on, but I soon realized, I was going to need a different wheel to handle the type of spinning I wanted to do.
I needed a wheel that was capable of holding more yarn at once, or larger, bulky yarn, without constantly having to switch out the entire flyer system.
A wheel I could spin thin or thick and funky yarn on.
A wheel that I could easily take with me to spin groups, or move around my house.
A wheel that was quiet, and easy to use. I have some back issues, so treadling became more difficult.
A friend ordered the Firefly, and after seeing it in person and trying it myself, I really fell in love with this little wheel with the BIG capabilities. I can spin fast – or I can slow it down for art yarn. I can spin thin and thick. I can pop it into my rolling suitcase, and go to spin groups.
I got the Firefly with all the attachments – the 8 & 32 ounce flyers, the Lazy Kate, and the skein winder. It’s a great set of tools!
"Why I purchased a wheel made in the USA." - C. Troia
I love the fact that the wheels are designed by an engineer that is also an American Veteran and made in the USA. All the SpinOlution Innovative features; quick flyer and bobbin exchange, no oil needed EVER! And best of all, the ratios that enable hand spinners to create the chunkiest of art yarns to the thinnest lace all on the same wheel.
I own a Mach III simply because it is the best functioning wheel around. I can spin ANYTHING on it. The Queen Bee, which accompanies me to my Farmers’ Market each week and is an adorable workhorse. The FireFly, fun to bring along anywhere, including the car, a plane, etc. It has a super long lasting battery and is particularly nice to ply on.
I have spun and created award winning yarns using my SpinOlution wheels; super lace weight English Angora from my bunnies, to squishy soft worsted weight yarns from my flock of Cormo sheep, to big, funky, chunky, art yarns.
Carissa Troia
Complete the 16 oz SpinOlution bobbin challenge
The challenge: How much fiber can you fit on your 16 oz SpinOlution Bobbin? Can you fit a full 16 oz? Or More?
16 oz Bobbin Challenge Hall of Fame
Taya Schram, of 16 ounces of fiber on the 16 oz bobbin. You can see there's still room to spare! Thank you Taya for completing the SpinOlution Bobbin Challenge!
"Why SpinOlution makes the best wheels for production spinning." - K. Knispel
I am the owner of Dakota Carding and Wool Co. and a shepherd raising BFL sheep and Angora goats for their awesome fibers!
I appreciate the willingness of this company to keep improving their products and expanding the design of their wheels to meet the demands of hand spinners around the world.
I have been spinning yarn for 25 years and I own several spinning wheels but my Mach is my go to wheel. The Mach is a workhorse production wheel that is trustworthy and dependable, spinning lace weight to chunky bulk weight yarns. The internal bearings and heavy wood construction are my two favorite design elements of the SpinOlution wheels.
Kelly Knispel
Melissa Yoder Ricks of Wild Hare Fiber reviews SpinOlution wheels
I do lots of the creative textured yarns, and love the Mach III for those, because of the low ratio and the super-jumbo bobbin. When I'm traveling/teaching, I use the King Bee, which can do pretty much the same things as the Mach III, just in a smaller skein (small is relative though -- the 8 oz. bobbin on the King Bee is still twice as big as most other wheels bobbins).
The Firefly I primarily use for churning out singles that end up being plied on one of the other wheels...its ultimately portable (for when I'm traveling with the family and have NO ROOM) and also great to spin on when I just feel lazy.
I recommend Spinolution to everyone -- which wheel depends a bit on what type of spinning they play to do and their budget. I'm a dealer -- have sold these wheels to brand new beginners, people with health/mobility issues, hard core 'art yarn' spinners, as well as your typical spinner wanting to make knitting yarns.
I was a loyal Schacht Matchless spinner for over 15 years, making miles and miles of smooth yarns for knitting. Then I got bored, discovered the world of creative textured 'art' yarns. At the time, Schacht did not have a jumbo flyer of any kind for their wheels, so I started searching for another wheel. I tried several different wheels, but they all fell short.
Then I heard about Spinolution wheels. Having never seen one in person, I was nevertheless intrigued, ordered one and quickly fell in love! I really really love the responsive treadling, ease of changing bobbins, and innovation that these wheels have to offer.
Melissa Yoder Ricks
Karen Champion of Blazing Star Ranch talks about which spinning wheel is best for air travel
I am Karen Champion. owner of Blazing Star Ranch. I raise alpacas and have a fiber, yarn and spinning wheel store in Englewood, CO. I have been spinning for 5 years or so. I have used many different wheels and like different ones for different reasons.
I love the Spinolution King and Queen Bee's for their portability and small footprint. I think they are the ideal travel wheels, especially if flying! They are a breeze to set up. I like the ease of changing bobbins and the nylon pins instead of hooks!
One of my customers uses her Queen Bee to spin at the Denver Art Museum. She demonstrates spinning there on a weekly basis.
Karen Champion
Alice Scholze talks about how SpinOlution is the best wheel for spinners with ankle pain
“I got my King Bee last year in January and I love love love it! I have some ankle issues and the King Bee works perfectly, I had another wheel before but couldn’t use it because it made my ankle hurt. I heard that Spinolution works just fine with joint issues so I gave it a go. And what can I say, it does work beautifully.
I can spin everything from Lace to Bulky
and I can use it for a long time before my ankle starts to hurt. I love the design of the King Bee, the workmanship, the size of the bobbins and that it folds down. I have very little space so this was another plus for getting the King Bee. It was worth every penny! Thank You.”
Christiane Knight talked about why SpinOlution is the best wheel for spinners with knee pain
I am totally in love with what I do, which is blend amazing fibers, colors, and textures into a tactile rainbow of awesome. I feel lucky that I get to do what I love as a way to make a living, and I celebrate it every day.
I started spinning on a drop spindle, self taught thanks to a little pamphlet and You Tube. It was one of those things where you start doing something and you know immediately that you were meant do it? That's how spinning is for me. I spindle spun for about two years then got my first wheel. I was already making highly textured, structured yarns on the drop spindle, and that's remained my favorite types to create, both on a spindle and now on my wheels.
I currently own a Mach II and hope to add a King Bee to the collection soon! SpinOlution wheels are amazing because the unique treadling action allows me to spin even when my bad knees are acting up, without causing additional pain...and because they are so easy to spin on, and allow me to create any type or style of yarn that I desire.
Christiane Knight