I am testing out a Majacraft Aura, an Art Yarn Flyer for my Louet S70, and a new flyer for my original Ashford Country Spinner. I am trying to decide which way I want to go for my Art Yarn Spinning.
First I was spinning art yarn on the Majacraft Aura with a regular head and the bamboo bobbins that are standard on the Aura. I tried to spin two styles of yarn. First I spun a lockspun bulky art yarn. And second, I spun laceweight yarn in a backwards long draw.
I have to say I was not pleased with either style of spinning. I felt that there is just not enough take up and draw in on an Aura when I spin at high speed ratios for a bulky textured yarn. If I were to spin slowly at a low ratio, it would might be just fine. I can already do that on my Ashford Country Spinner so no gain there.
It is a double drive hybrid set up. But the take up still feels like scotch tension and seems to still suffer from drag and inertia as the bobbin fills. The constant fiddeling with adjusting the brake as the bobbin filled up was beyond annoying and another fail for my tastes. And trying to spin laceweight in a backwards longdraw on the Aura, THAT was not happening. Epic fail on that one. End of story.
Second I used my Louet S70 ST using Louet Art Yarn flyer. I was spinning locks and tails in a bulky to super bulky art yarn and also trying for laceweight in a backward long draw. Same two styles that I tried on the Aura.
Art yarn flyer plus lockspinning on a Louet brings out my happy smiles. It was fabulous and worked like a charm. Don’t get me wrong though, I still think the flyer is ugly compared to my beautiful. Oak S70.
Next I tried using fast speed of 10.5 ratio on 3 speed bobbin to spin laceweight in a backwards long draw. It was so smooth and easy. No fuss and no musd. Just sit down and spin. Just how I like my wheels to be. Rather versatlie wheel with simple to work tension and braking.
Third I plyed bulky lockspun textured singles with my Ashford Country Spinner. I used a new flyer that was sliding rings vs hooks for the first time. So much better for plying large anounts of lockspun textured yarn than fighting those tails on the hooks. This is getting a yes from me as well.
I did not even attempt a laceweight in a backwards long draw on the Ashford Country Spinner. I have spun fine singles on the Country Spinner before but it required a lot of holding the yarn back to build up twist with its low ratios. That is impossible to do with a backward long draw as the take up is too strong on this wheel naturally. I had too many tests to do this weekend with my borrowed equipment to waste time on a test I knew was an epic fail to start with. The Country Spinner’s super power is art yarn and bulky yarns. It does poorly at high twist fine yarns.
Altogether after spinning on all three wheels, I am very happy with the Louet S70 the most. Happy is probably an understatement, I have found my wheel for most everything.
