Kromski Minstrel: Owner Reviews and Who It Suits
The short answer: is the Minstrel right for you?
The Minstrel suits a spinner who wants to move from medium yarn to finer on one wheel, with a choice of single or double drive. Kromski gives it a 45 cm wheel, two treadles, Scotch tension, a 10 mm orifice and ratios of 6.5, 8.5, 12 and 16:1.
If you already know you want a wider range of ratios, the Sonata adds ratios up to 22:1. The Ashford Traveller 3 has the same orifice with single drive.
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What it means for your spinning
The yarn you can make. Start on the 6.5 or 8.5 with medium wool. A fine yarn needs more twist than a thick one, as Ashford’s booklet says, so the 12 and 16:1 give you room to spin finer.
Single or double drive. Kromski lists both. Ask your dealer whether you choose when you order or change the band yourself, and what comes with the wheel.
A smaller home. Jared Flood, on Brooklyn Tweed in 2008, calls his “compact enough to fit into small apartments without being cumbersome”. The 45 cm wheel is a little smaller than the Sonata’s 50 cm or the Traveller 3’s 46 cm.
Before you buy. Your Kromski dealer can tell you the weight and what ships with it.
Who it suits
- A new spinner starting on medium wool. The 6.5 and 8.5 are the place to begin, with 12 and 16:1 for later.
- A spinner going from medium yarn to finer on one wheel. The 16:1 reaches past the Traveller 3’s 14 and the Sonata’s main-set 15.
- A spinner who wants the choice of single or double drive. The Traveller 3 is single drive.
Look elsewhere if
You want the widest spread of ratios. The Sonata adds 4.5 and 6.5:1 and 20 and 22:1 to its main set.
The Minstrel beside two others
| Wheel | Suits | Wheel size | Orifice | Ratios | Drive | Treadles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kromski Minstrel | Medium to finer wool on one wheel | 45 cm | 10 mm | 6.5, 8.5, 12, 16:1 | Single or double | 2 |
| Kromski Sonata Encore | Widest ratio range | 50 cm | 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 Traveller 3 | Single drive, building a kit | 46 cm | 10 mm | 5, 7, 9, 14 | Single | 2 |
The Sonata Encore weighs 5 kg. The Traveller 3 weighs 5.8 kg, has 130 g bobbins and comes as a kit. Kromski’s Minstrel and Sonata pages; Ashford’s Traveller 3 page.
Owner reviews
These posts date from 2008 to 2018, so today’s finishes and parts may differ.
- Elizabeth, on Crafty Corgi Cottage, 2016, “could not be happier with my choice”. She assembled it herself with a YouTube video, and needed a while to get acquainted with it.
- callmesusan, on Knitting Help, 2008, had never spun on a wheel and made a knittable yarn on her first go. Hers travels easily in her car.
- The Doowicky blogger, 2009, chose it over the Symphony as a first wheel for a small space. The one thing she didn’t like on Kromski’s wheels was the factory finish.
- The Bitten by Knittin blogger, 2018, tried one in a shop and chose the Joy 2 for simpler assembly and bobbins that fit her Kiwi 2.
Minstrel details
| Minstrel | |
|---|---|
| Wheel diameter | 45 cm |
| Orifice | 10 mm |
| Ratios | 6.5, 8.5, 12 and 16:1 |
| Drive | Single or double |
| Tension | Scotch tension |
| Treadles | 2 |
FAQ
Is the Kromski Minstrel worth it?
If you want to move from medium yarn to finer on one wheel, with a choice of drive, it’s a good fit: Scotch tension, two treadles, a 10 mm orifice, and ratios from 6.5 to 16:1. Your dealer can tell you what ships with it.
What ratios does the Kromski Minstrel have?
6.5, 8.5, 12 and 16:1. The 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. The Traveller 3 has 5, 7, 9 and 14.
How many treadles does the Minstrel have?
Two.
Is the Minstrel single or double drive?
Kromski lists both. Ask your dealer whether you choose when you order or change the band yourself.
What is the orifice size on the Minstrel?
10 mm, the same as the Sonata and the Traveller 3.
How much does the Kromski Minstrel cost?
See today’s price at Woolery or ask your local dealer.
Related
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.
Step 2
Spinning at home
Everyday yarn on a wheel that stays set up, with a standard orifice and bobbins.
This one. 10 mm orifice.
Step 3
Big batches and thick yarn
Thick and art yarns, and large amounts at a time.
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