Kromski Sonata Spinning Wheel Walnut Finish W/Bag

I took it to a demonstration yesterday. It spins fiber like a dream. Just the travel wheel I was looking for

very smooth motion. The only problem is that the front maiden keeps loosening while I spin and I need to stop and tighten it about as often as I change hooks...Otherwise it spins like a dream...Prepare to buy a kate w/this as the onboard kate is a little akward.

Works well so far and was packaged perfectly for shipment.

I purchased a Kromski Sonata in January, and I have had so much pleasure with taking my wheel to all the Spring festivals in the area for demos. The wheel literally assembles in 5 minutes and goes into the bag, ready to go in the same little time. It is light, but well made and sturdy, easy to care for and has an excellent range of potential ratios. It is very comfortable to spin on and has a great feeling of balance because you use both feet. Scotch tension is easy to figure out, and the drive band is a tough composite. Because I wanted the wheel for the full range of ratios, I purchased the fast and jumbo flyers with it, and by so doing got the large orifice jumbo maiden, which offers the option of doing very heavy yarns, and also art and beaded and boucle yarns as with ease. The regular and fast flyers are great for most yarns, but I wanted to be able to do it all on my wheel. I'll never need to upgrade unless I want a great wheel or a Canadian Production Wheel for turning out a great deal of yarn quickly.The bag is super and will protect your wheel for life. Don't get the wheel without the bag if you plan to go to class or spin with others.As others have said, you will want more bobbins -- start with six, and you should also purchase a spare orifice hook, drive band and oil bottle. I'd go ahead and get a lazy Kate and a spare spring/hemp/wood peg assembly for the Scotch tension. I purchased the stool, but as it is not adjustable, it is not perfect for my height. I don't recommend purchasing it unless you can first sit on it and decide about it for yourself.This is really the nicest thing I've ever done for myself. I can't think of anything ( except a puppy ) that has found its way to my heart faster.

I started spinning on a drop spindle a few months ago and now have purchased my first wheel, this Kromski Sonata. I love it and am very comfortable with it. It is easy and quick to set up and take down. It is a substantial size and the orifice is high enough for me to spin comfortably. The padded bag is of ample size to store bobbins and also top and roving. The bag is quite large and takes up some real estate in my bedroom. I wanted a folding wheel to take to meetings and looked at several different ones. The Ashford Joy is not tall enough for me to be comfortable. The Schacht folding wheel is very cute and folds small enough to tuck under your arm, but it is more expensive than the Sonata and not as tall as I wanted. All in all I am very satisfied with my choice of the Kromski Sonata as a portable and substantial wheel. I look forward to getting the jumbo flyer and progressing on my path as a spinner. Also, I am really enjoying becoming part of the wonderful group of spinners in my community and going to some festivals this summer. Those of you who are thinking about trying spinning, go for it, it's wonderful and if I can do it, you can do it. Recommend starting with a drop spindle and becoming comfortable with drafting before moving on to a wheel.