Lynn writes: <<I spin right hand forward, and have read that a mirror wheel (flyer on the right) is best for this style.>>
I find it puzzling someone would suggest that :) When the orifice hand is the right one, and the left hand is the fiber hand, presumably moving further back from the flyer as you spin if you use long draw, then you need more space on the left to do that comfortably. I personally sit with my chair tiltled relative to the wheel, creating maybe a 45 degree angle between us (single-treadle wheel or my electric spinner). This allows me to sweep my left arm back for a nice long draw with minimal stress to my arm since it's a fairly natural move, and my back stays pretty still, while keeping the forming yarn almost centered on the orifice. I couldn't do that if the flyer were centered or on the right. I can spin for hours in this very comfortable position, without having to stop for more than changing hooks and bobbins or splicing fibers. I have a friend who spins opposite to me (left hand forward, right with fiber) on a left-hand flyer wheel, and she has to bend her forming yarn with her left hand in front of her body so she can draft to the right for long draw, horizontal to the wheel. An ingenious solution, but certainly not the easiest position. She does make nice yarn very quickly like that, though, and her position may be the only one that can do long draw on a double-treadle wheel without major contortions. You should assess your spinning style and goals, as well as what challenges your body gives you in various positions. What's your preferred drafting style? If you're working with inchworm/worsted spinning styles only, then you might be able to make do with the flyer anywhere you want it. If you do long draw spinning with the fiber in the left hand, stick with the flyer on the left of your wheel, which will also give you the flexibility of being easily able to switch to charkas or great wheels someday, if you want. Do you have shoulder, elbow, or back problems? Then try different positions at the wheel until you find one that allows you to spin the way you like without much moving or bending those parts. Of course, anyone who wants to can train her other hand to hold the fiber. I found it fun, and it was much easier and faster to switch than I expect (and I'm strongly right handed, FWIW). But since my wheels all have the flyer on the left, I keep spinning 99% of the time with the fiber in the left hand, for the greatest comfort and least stress on the whole body--issues I'm increasingly aware of as I inch toward 50 :) Holly very glad to have an espinner to save what's left of her knees :) To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
