Ashford Kiwi 3: Owner Reviews and Who It Suits
The short answer: is the Kiwi 3 right for you?
The Kiwi 3 suits a new spinner who wants to start on medium and thicker yarns, treadle with both feet, and fold the wheel away afterward. Three bobbins, a built-in lazy kate and Ashford’s Learn to Spin booklet come with it, so you have what you need to spin and ply your first yarn.
It comes as a kit. If you’d rather spin the day it arrives, look at the Joy 2 double treadle. If fine, lace-weight yarn is your main goal, the Joy 2 or the Kromski Sonata gives you more room.
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What it means for your spinning
The yarn you can make. Ashford gives three ratios: 5.5, 7.5 and 9.5 to 1, meaning the flyer turns that many times for each turn of the wheel. A fine yarn needs more twist than a thick one, as Ashford’s booklet says, so this range leans toward medium and thicker yarn. It’s the shortest reach of the three wheels below.
Two feet, not one. Both treadles fold. For Vivian, reviewing on Ribbonrose, “the double treadle is fantastic”.
Threading up. The orifice is 10 mm, the same as the other two wheels here, and you thread it with the wooden hook provided. Kathie, on Ribbonrose, counts the small orifice and hook threading as the downside, so check the size against the yarn you have in mind.
Plying. Three sliding-hook bobbins hold 130 g (4.6 oz) each, and the lazy kate is built in. Rahera, on Ribbonrose, found the right-hand thread could catch in the crank when plying, and bought a separate kate.
Moving it and putting it away. At 5.5 kg (12.1 lb), it’s a little heavier than the Joy 2 or the Sonata. Ashford’s instructions show the feet unlocking and the treadles folding, and you can carry it by the main upright, the wheel or the maiden bar. Susan, on Ribbonrose, found it slid on the floor while she spun, and added rubber to the bottom slats.
Putting it together. Ashford’s assembly instructions are online if you’d like to read them first. Michelle Mcneil, on The Good Yarn, praises the “good clear instructions”. Rahera needed help with burrs on a hub pin.
Who it suits
- A new spinner starting on medium wool. The 5.5 and 7.5 ratios are the place to begin, and the three bobbins mean you can ply without buying more.
- A spinner who wants two treadles. So do the Joy 2 double treadle and the Sonata, so let the yarn you want decide.
- A small home. The 45 cm wheel and folding treadles help it tuck away.
Look elsewhere if
- You want to spin the day it arrives. The Joy 2 double treadle comes assembled.
- Fine yarn is your main goal. The Joy 2 reaches a ratio of 14, and the Sonata’s main set reaches 15, with additional ratios of 20 and 22:1.
- You want to try double drive. The Sonata offers single or double. The Kiwi 3 is single drive.
The Kiwi 3 beside two others
| Wheel | Suits | Weight | Orifice | Ratios | Drive | Treadles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford Kiwi 3 | Medium wool, first wheel | 5.5 kg | 10 mm | 5.5, 7.5, 9.5 | Single | 2, folding |
| Ashford Joy 2 double treadle | Ready to spin, wider ratio range | 5.1 kg | 10 mm | 6, 8, 11, 14 | Single | 2, folding |
| Kromski Sonata Encore | Widest ratio range, choice of drive | 5 kg | 10 mm | 5.5 & 9.5:1, 10.5 & 15:1; additional 4.5 & 6.5:1, 20 & 22:1 | Single or double | 2 |
Ashford’s Kiwi 3 and Joy 2 pages; Kromski’s Sonata page, which now shows the Encore.
Owner reviews
Ribbonrose, a New Zealand shop, has six reviews averaging 4.75 out of 5, and The Good Yarn in Australia has two more. They’re worth reading in the owners’ own words, especially if you’re coming from a single-treadle wheel.
Kiwi 3 details
| Kiwi 3 | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.5 kg (12.1 lb) |
| Wheel diameter | 45 cm (17.7 in) |
| Orifice | 10 mm (0.39 in) |
| Orifice height | 69 cm (27.2 in) |
| Ratios | 5.5, 7.5, 9.5 |
| Drive and tension | Single drive, Scotch tension |
| Treadles | 2, folding |
| Bobbins | 3 sliding-hook flyer bobbins |
| Bobbin capacity | 130 g (4.6 oz) |
| Also in the box | Built-in lazy kate, Learn to Spin booklet, wooden threading hook |
| Assembly | Kit |
| Materials | Beech hardwood, veneered MDF |
| Finish | Factory lacquered, or natural unfinished |
| Product code | KSW3 / KSW3L |
FAQ
Is the Ashford Kiwi 3 worth it?
If you’re starting on medium and thicker yarns, it comes with what you need: two folding treadles, three bobbins, a lazy kate and Ashford’s booklet. It’s a kit, and finer yarn is better served by the Joy 2 or the Sonata.
What ratios does the Ashford Kiwi 3 have?
Three: 5.5, 7.5 and 9.5. The Joy 2 has 6, 8, 11 and 14. The Kromski Sonata Encore has 5.5 and 9.5:1 and 10.5 and 15:1, plus additional ratios of 4.5 and 6.5:1 and 20 and 22:1.
Does the Kiwi 3 come assembled?
No, it comes as a kit, with the Learn to Spin booklet and a wooden threading hook. You can read the assembly instructions online first.
How many treadles does the Kiwi 3 have?
Two, and both fold.
What is the orifice size on the Kiwi 3?
10 mm (0.39 in). Kathie, on Ribbonrose, counts the small orifice and hook threading as the downside, so check the size against the yarn you plan to spin.
How much does the Ashford Kiwi 3 cost?
See today’s price at Woolery or ask your local dealer.
Related
Where it sits
This one Other spinning wheels
Each dot is a spinning wheel whose maker lists both weight and top ratio. Ashford Kiwi 3 sits at 5.5 kg and 9.5:1. Where a dot sits shows size and build, not how good a spinning wheel is.
See the numbers behind the chart
| Spinning wheel | Weight, kg | Top ratio: flyer turns per wheel turn |
|---|---|---|
| S95 Victoria | 3.6 | 13 |
| Prelude Spinning Wheel | 4 | 13 |
| Joy 2 Single Treadle | 5 | 14 |
| Joy 2 Double Treadle | 5.1 | 14 |
| Kiwi 3 (this one) | 5.5 | 9.5 |
| Fantasia Spinning Wheel | 5.7 | 8 |
| Traveller 3 | 5.8 | 14 |
| Country Spinner 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Traditional Single Drive | 8 | 17 |
Your path
These are stages of what you might want to make, not a ranking. Each step is a different kind of project, and every one is a good place to be.
Step 1
Spinning away from home
Yarn at a class, a guild meeting or a friend’s house, with a wheel that folds.
This one. Listed as folding.
Step 2
Spinning at home
Everyday yarn on a wheel that stays set up, with a standard orifice and bobbins.
Step 3
Big batches and thick yarn
Thick and art yarns, and large amounts at a time.
Close alternatives
Ashford
Joy 2 Double Treadle
Ashford
Joy 2 Single Treadle
Ashford
Country Spinner 2
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