Kromski Sonata Encore: Who It Suits
The short answer: is the Sonata right for you?
The Sonata suits a spinner who wants a wide range of yarn from one 5 kg wheel, with the choice of single or double drive. Its ratios run from 4.5 to 22:1, on a 50 cm wheel with two treadles, a 10 mm (0.39 in) orifice and three bobbins.
Kromski’s Sonata is now the Sonata Encore, and the details here are for the Encore.
The closest wheels to compare are the Ashford Kiwi 3 and the Ashford Joy 2 double treadle. Both are single drive, and neither reaches the Sonata’s highest ratios.
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What it means for your spinning
The yarn you can make. Kromski gives a main set of 5.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 15:1, plus additional ratios of 4.5, 6.5, 20 and 22:1. A fine yarn needs more twist than a thick one, as Ashford’s booklet says, so the 4.5 to 6.5 lean toward thick yarn and the 20 and 22 toward fine. Ask your dealer which parts come with your wheel.
Single or double drive. Kromski lists both. Of the three wheels here, it’s the one that lets you try each.
Moving it. At 5 kg, it’s a little lighter than the 5.1 kg Joy 2 and the 5.5 kg Kiwi 3. Its 50 cm wheel is larger than their 45 cm.
Plying. Three bobbins hold 120 g (4 oz) each. The Ashford wheels also come with three, at 130 g.
Who it suits
- A new spinner starting on medium wool. The 5.5 and 9.5 are the place to begin, and the additional 4.5 and 6.5 reach thicker.
- A spinner who wants to try double drive. Neither Ashford wheel here offers it.
- A spinner planning fine yarn later. The additional 20 and 22:1 reach well past the Joy 2’s 14 and the Kiwi 3’s 9.5.
Look elsewhere if
You want to spin the day it arrives. The Joy 2 double treadle comes assembled. For the Sonata, ask your dealer how it ships.
The Sonata beside two others
| Wheel | Suits | Weight | Wheel size | Orifice | Ratios | Drive | Treadles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kromski Sonata Encore | Widest ratio range, choice of drive | 5 kg | 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 Kiwi 3 | Medium wool, first wheel | 5.5 kg | 45 cm | 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 | 45 cm | 10 mm | 6, 8, 11, 14 | Single | 2, folding |
Ashford’s Kiwi 3 and Joy 2 pages.
Owner reviews
The owner comments below date from 2008 to 2017 and are about the Sonata before the Encore, so they may not all apply to today’s wheel.
- The Midland Spinner blogger, 2009, says “the Sonata is pleasant to use, nice to look at”. She says it folds neatly and quickly, isn’t easy to move around the room unfolded, and has its lazy kate on the wrong side for a left-handed spinner.
- Penny Tschantz, of the TN Valley Handspinners, about 2008, found it easy to use as a beginner and folds it for guild meetings, but calls it “rather heavy for lugging very far”. Hers needs oiling fairly often.
- PSFAngoras, on Rabbit Talk, 2017, is “very happy with the new wheel for the price”, and found it can tip during assembly before the set screw is in.
Sonata Encore details
Kromski’s Sonata page, which now shows the Encore.
| Sonata Encore | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5 kg (11 lb) |
| Wheel diameter | 50 cm (19.7 in) |
| Orifice | 10 mm (0.39 in) |
| Ratios | 5.5 & 9.5:1 and 10.5 & 15:1 |
| Additional ratios | 4.5 & 6.5:1 and 20 & 22:1 |
| Drive and tension | Single or double drive, Scotch tension |
| Treadles | 2 |
| Bobbins | 3 standard bobbins |
| Bobbin capacity | 120 g (4 oz) |
| Also in the box | Bag, spinning wheel oil, threading hook |
FAQ
Is the Kromski Sonata worth it?
If you want a wide range of yarn from one wheel, it’s a good fit: 5 kg, ratios from 4.5 to 22:1, and single or double drive. Ask your dealer which parts for the additional ratios come with it.
What is the difference between the Sonata and the Sonata Encore?
Kromski’s Sonata page now shows the Encore, with single or double drive. Midland Spinner described the earlier Sonata in 2009 as Scotch tension only. If you’re looking at a used wheel, ask which version it is.
What ratios does the Kromski Sonata have?
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 Joy 2 has 6, 8, 11 and 14. The Kiwi 3 has 5.5, 7.5 and 9.5.
Is the Sonata single or double drive?
Kromski lists both, with Scotch tension. The Kiwi 3 and Joy 2 are single drive.
How many treadles does the Sonata have?
Two. The Kiwi 3 and Joy 2 double treadle also have two, both folding.
How much does the Kromski Sonata 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 wheel diameter. Kromski Sonata Spinning Wheel sits at 5 kg and 50 cm. 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 | Wheel diameter, cm |
|---|---|---|
| S95 Victoria | 3.6 | 36 |
| Prelude Spinning Wheel | 4 | 45 |
| Joy 2 Single Treadle | 5 | 40 |
| Sonata Spinning Wheel (this one) | 5 | 50 |
| S17 (single treadle SP0103) | 5 | 50 |
| Joy 2 Double Treadle | 5.1 | 45 |
| Kiwi 3 | 5.5 | 45 |
| Fantasia Spinning Wheel | 5.7 | 46 |
| Traveller 3 | 5.8 | 46 |
| Country Spinner 2 | 8 | 46 |
| Traditional Double Drive | 8 | 56 |
| Traditional Single Drive | 8 | 56 |
| Elizabeth 30 | 11.3 | 76 |
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, 120 g bobbins.
Step 3
Big batches and thick yarn
Thick and art yarns, and large amounts at a time.
Close alternatives
Kromski
Prelude Spinning Wheel
Ashford
Country Spinner 2
Ashford
Joy 2 Double Treadle
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