Skip to main content

Spinning Gearbox: Louet S95 Victoria

My newest spinning wheel acquisition is from Louet; last year, I borrowed the S95 Victoria to use during Spinzilla (I was the captain for #TeamLouet). This year, I decided to make it a permanent fixture to my craft room!

What I love about this wheel is how easy it is to use. It doesn't require a huge effort to treadle, and it's designed to be virtually maintenance-free, as noted on the Louet website:
The fly wheels of all our models are 50 cm (20") in diameter (except for the S45). They rotate on a maintenance free, lubricated for life ball bearing pack to ensure excellent spinning ability by allowing them to turn freely and quietly. The same maintenance free ball bearing is used at the footman connection. Absolutely no lubrication is necessary for the bearings to work correctly.
It has Scotch tension, featuring a single belt, flyer drive with an adjustable bobbin brake to regulate the tension on the yarn as you spin. I find it fairly easy to spin finer yarns on the Victoria, as it comes standard with three ratios: 1:6, 1:8.5 and 1:13. It includes a lazy kate and three bobbins, which have a really interesting feature I've not seen on other bobbins:
Can you see that slot in the middle? That's where you can thread your leader so that it stays secure no matter what. How clever!

My other favorite feature is its portability. This wheel is quite petite, with an orifice height just over 23" from the ground. It's made with very sturdy lacquered beech, and it weighs only eight pounds. There is a leather loop at the top for carrying it from spot to spot, and the entire wheel folds down with just a few small steps. First, you disconnect the treadles from the wheel:

Then, you simply push a button near the base to fold it down into a nice, compact size (5.5" x 14.25" x 21.75" according to the website):
I've been able to pack it in my largest suitcase when traveling with absolutely no problems, and recently I just used one of my larger tote bags to take it with me on a road trip:
They do sell proper carrying bags which are made specifically for the wheel, and there are lots of other optional add-ons such as extra bobbins, a high-speed set, skeinwinder, and tensioned lazy kate.

All in all, this is an easy-care wheel that's perfect for taking your spinning with you wherever you go!
You might like to know: I wrote this review at the request of one of my readers who wanted to know more about my spinning wheels; as you already know, I have a working relationship with Louet! 
Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 21, 2014 at 2:10 PM

    Oooh! So cool! I've seen this wheel in action and always been interested to see how it spins. My wheel is fairly portable, but someday I hope to add a true travel wheel to my toolkit - this one will be on my short list!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends,  so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with  this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks).  The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a
1 comment
Read more

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels?  I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n
3 comments
Read more

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my  taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b
Post a Comment
Read more