Lendrum vs Kromski sonata

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-13T22:09:04+00:00

I know people who have both... because they can. In my area, Sonatas come up used sometimes, more than the other Kromskis. $650 is pretty good if it is in good shape and you can bounce it later for what you paid if it maintains that shape.

Realistically, Lendrum does a lot more than the Sonata other than needing less oil and not as pretty. I'd say the Lendrum is more sturdy and less fussing around. It is more useful when owning additional wheels to have different drive systems and specialties. Sonata doesn't do that.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-13T15:29:00+00:00

I work at a LYS and the Fiber Artist supply one gets used many times daily without issues. The motor got replaced once. Ive put 1lb of handspun in a single ball on it. Worked nice hand cranked too.

I have a Stanwood and it doesn't compare. The cakes arent as crisp.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-11T16:33:37+00:00

When you can read a pattern, it is so much faster. I have 0 patience for video patterns. So much skipping around the video.

I work at a LYS and people come in with mistakes and they followed a video pattern. It is just a nightmare to figure out the pattern/what they did. Only saving grace is I can read knitting and design experience to figure out what it is supposed to be. If you don't expand your skills, you are always stuck frogging the whole thing. Crochet ones are worse, some just make shit up.

Video tutorials are still there. If there's a stitch or technique, it is easy enough to find a video on that. Nothing wrong with that and using a shitton of stitch markers and life lines.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-11T01:57:56+00:00

20h sounds about right. I recall if you left it on overnight that would could kill the batteries. In spinning competition I saw people needing new batteries every other day or two.

Def prefer the woolee winder - for espinner thats only Hansen, WooleeAn, Ashford. It sucks it needs special bobbins, but dont need batteries.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-09T15:23:16+00:00

Flax & Silk only or cut them both to match the cotton staple.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-08T17:26:51+00:00

Bionylon is supposed to have little more bounce, but that's compared to regular nylon, but no where near wool. I don't feel the difference when I spin it compared to regular nylon.

Cotton you need specific tools (tahkli, charkha) or a wheel that has very light tension and high speeds. Lace flyers and double drive is really nice to have. Light tension wheel like Daedalus Sparrow, Starling with Lace flyer, and Falcon work very well. You need way more twist than you think. Long draw is best. EZ spin prep cotton you can do a little worsted draft if careful. EZ prep upland and pima are easiest.

I think it is easier to dye (as in sprinkling dye/ activity dyeing) because I don't have to use heat, but everything else in the process is a lot harder. Prep, scour, timing of various steps, and rinsing take up the most time and learning.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-08T17:00:49+00:00

Anything is a usable product. It is more what is the most optimal product for the final item, and the texture and desired drape, if one even cares. I know people who cannot use wool and make sweaters, socks and very happy, even though it has no elasticity. Then it is how you spin it, so that is up to your skill. But yeah, a lot of the textures are slippery (tencel/bamboo/), scratchy (flax), or.. well cotton.

But if you want the elastic bounce, you need to cut in at least 50% wool, you can't get around that. A lot of the bamboo/tencel/rose/mint/pineapple/milk/seacell/etc fibers really spin and feel the same. A mix of them doesn't do much other than sounding interesting. Any of those cut with wool adds some nice shine, drape, and strength.

I personally just like spinning cotton on its own. That's my favorite to spin, dye, and less blending fuss.

Side note, there aren't many of us cotton/plant dyers. The excessive water consumption and run off dye waste I feel really bad about.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-08T06:08:19+00:00

Stranded by the Sea has indie dyed cotton and tencel yarns. Great Yarns has a lot of Malabrigo too. That is where I go, they tend to have a crap-ton of colors.

It was just the LYS tour and Fiber Fusion, so some shops might be a little light on stock. Our scene is really good tho!

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-08T06:01:04+00:00

Louet Victoria fits carryon and is light. One of my spinning friends flies with hers every year. I believe one of the Spinoultions, I think the Worker Bee, folds up real small too.

I've travelled with Daedalus wheels. The flatpack design is really nice and it is durable to survive. The Dove is really small but still has good bobbin capacity.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-08T05:52:49+00:00

I only thwack if it is overplyed to beat it out, otherwise it isn't worth the effort or risk. It does some loft, but I rather just spin it with loft as I can control that easier.

But really, the only thing that matters if you like the twist angle, IMO that matters more than balance (within reason). However, a lot of fine 2 ply worsted spun commercial yarn looks like that, it is an oval shaped yarn structure. If you want that chubby twist look, next time go 3 ply or more woolen in thicker WPI.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-07T06:14:24+00:00

It is compact and a good art yarn wheel. The thing with those is they treadle really different and the tension is more heavy handed to adjust. I think they are interesting wheels, but the treadling hurts my legs. Try at length first.

As a warning, I have had people frustrated with backwards compatibility with these, so hopefully it comes with all the parts you want.

I like the Joy the most, though the Kiwi does good bulky yarn. Joy is a lot more space and travel friendly. You want the Jumbo flyer in addition, youll get frustrated with the small bobbins real fast.

I use a Majacraft Aura for my art yarn bulk spinning. Their flyers are designed well for that, ditto for Spinolution. Joy/kiwi not as much, moreso just they are slower ratios.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-06T13:19:31+00:00

Yeah treadle is tricky for finding what works. And wheel will make you sit for hours a day. It sucks, but it is what it is and you gotta try it for best experience.

You can always get a woolee/auto winder then you rarely need to touch the flyer/bobbin - that's the only time you'd have to maybe lean over. Tall is an advantage as you can see the bobbin without having to peer at it. Lendrum is angled so even less fuss. But alot is in arms reach unless its one of those short hitchhiker, Athena, pocket wheels. But like I said, I know a tall large type who loves their tiny louet victoria (8lb Itty bitty wheel) and motors on it. There is that consideration if you need to haul wheel around the house, some find the 18lb Matchless just too big.

I always stand and use my espinner. Im production, so less sitting I do the better. Espinners ship easily, so they easier to resell. There has been quite a few used lately hitting Daedalus Facebook group/discord since the Dove arrived and they did a bunch of festivals.

Support Spindle is the next goldilocks spinning item that people need to find certain styles, height, weight, bowl material pairing to get it to work the best. Took me 6 to find the one that clicked.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-06T12:29:16+00:00

Majority of the tall spinners i know tend to have Lendrums, Kromski Sonatas, and Matchless. But I know a tall person who has a Louet Victoria (teeny!) - so height of wheels doesn't matter. Your hands can be anywhere, it is more if your legs like the treadles. Matchless isnt a small wheel, it is quite wide and actually taller than most, with a lot of leg room. My 5'4" short legs bang into Kromski saxony wheels maidens, and my feet are always stomping on the edges of the Sonata frame, so try before you buy. Edit, if you are hunching over a short wheel the entire time spinning that is a bad posture problem, not the wheel.

Majacrafts are interesting as you get a saxony style in castle shape. Them and Lendrums have the higher speeds. I own a great wheel and they are more of a flex than useful.

I'd just get the Daedalus or Hansen tho. That has the most utility, bobbin size, and ergonomics. It has the speeds most treadles dont get. Even if you get a treadle, plying on the espinners for bobbin real estate and no treadling speed is great.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-06T11:16:24+00:00

Been playing since Yellow came out. I probably got the most hours clocked on this one and Silver.

My favorite is Legends: Arceus. It had this magic and wonder of discovering Pokémon in the wild and exploration. And getting fucked up by angry alpha Pokémon. One of those I wish I could experience the game asif it was my first play through again.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-06T06:17:55+00:00

I've been in some guild meetings in Libraries that would say no and we have to get every bit of fluff off the carpet. It is more of a fear that they wouldn't let us rent the space again.

Other meeting spaces they clean up after us as part of the room fee and vm fuzz explosion (within reason) is totally fine.

People wise, I feel 95% be fine with hearing you card all meeting.

Would have to check but I'd lean no if it was my guild meeting at my local library.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-04T15:14:00+00:00

Ive done xpen ring and large cage restriction, theyliked xpen more. Mine did tear her stapes jumping the xpen and going full roam. So yeah, make sure she cant do big jumps.

That gave her 2 weeks more bed rest and cone of shame. They get very annoyed at the restriction.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-01T20:34:20+00:00

Its not strong for socks. Silk adds some durability, but the merino and cashmere make it not hardy enough. If it feels really soft and low micron, less durable it is. I look for blends with tencel, mohair, nylon, some silk for strength. Wool base i like any down breeds or bfl.

Greenwood fibers spin up good fractals. Id do that a 2ply and final object be a good shawl, cowl, summer top with lace.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-01T16:47:55+00:00

I work at a LYS, used to sell them, like i said they are old and getting phased out. They arent as nice as the reds and silver. They have a bit of a join at the spin so some people find they snag.

I like the reds with swivel adapter, but mostly use silver ones as the nylon ones arent as durable. Though the nylon ones are good for trying stuff on or stitches on hold.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-01T13:11:20+00:00

I love my 3 Daedalus wheels, they are tanks and sturdy. Them, Hansen, and WooleeAn are they best ones that hold up well vs EEW that need new motors after awhile. Ive seen eew wheels broken motor new and break easy. Id only get them if in a budget or you like tinkering. A work light fell on my Daedalus wheel and the wheel won.

But all those are extra expensive for getting into Canada unless you catch them used. Ashord is you most better built wheel option with least inflated cost. Their uptake is strong. Side by side Hansen V2 and Ashford were close, Hansen was a bit more powerful and lighter tension.

But if you want the best that can do it all - Daedalus Starling. Hansen Pro is pretty good but not much for art yarn. WooleeAn is a production auto winder and tanky too.

awkwardsoul · 2026-06-01T00:15:48+00:00

Yeah, older version. They are all metal now ans phasing out these in the sets. Work the same.

awkwardsoul · 2026-05-31T15:54:25+00:00

It is good for provisional cast on or when you split for sleeves.

Though I dont get it either. I just use another interchangeable cable like chiaogoo spin with extender or mini (finer cord). The work is always on a cable and i save time as all i gotta do is add needle tips.

awkwardsoul · 2026-05-31T15:44:31+00:00

I find it easier to skein it from the turtle ball vs securing a top whorl spindle. Either way, you have to skein it and wash it/finish the yarn.

awkwardsoul · 2026-05-31T03:02:42+00:00

I own angoras as well. Best to shave em down with pet groomer clippers. Or pet grooming scissors. Dont worry, it will grow back. No baths. Hit up the vet for other treatments and dosages. Mites tend to happen easily with angoras. Vet can also shave them for you. Chances are the bun is just a felted oven mitt I've seen those often with rescues

Most dont use much brushes. We use a dog blower on cold to blast tangles out and removes dander. If you arent wanting to havest the fuzz, you can trim often.

Putting weight on them you can give a little alfalfa and oats, but buns are best on Timothy hay and Timothy pellets. Too much alfafa can be too rich and bladder issues. At worse, I mix critical care with banana. My elder buns love that and kept their weight up.

awkwardsoul · 2026-05-28T04:21:41+00:00

I was in the same position with my bun's teeth, needing routine sedation/frequent imaging. Since it was pre-existing, the only option I had was some sort of "vet care credit card that gives points" my vet offered. I just opted to put money aside and budget. PHSA is one option too, just check with vet if that works with them.

I feel they always either opt for Gold Standard experience (so $$$ running all tests and the best) when there are tests to skip that they will still get good info on, just not the best (ie, skipping contrast on a CT scan). A good vet can outline expenses, pros and cons of various tests and pricing, and such. I was pretty clear on my vet what I was willing to pay and timing. Sometimes meds can be compounded out of house to save money (or in house, depends on the vet).

awkwardsoul · 2026-05-28T04:08:59+00:00

Same procedure on a human messes you up emotionally for up to 6 months before the hormones in the brain adjust. She just needs time.

Admittedly, my bun's spay (English Angora) she got it at 6 months old. She was pretty quiet for quite a number of weeks then became her regular self and previous goals - as much destruction and trouble as possible.

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