Ladybug wheel
made by Schacht Spindle company

Cost $525

Features it comes with:
Ratios on the medium whorls 7:1 & 9:1- Ratios on the fast whorl 10-1/2:1 & 12-1/2:1
Scotch tension or double drive

Has three handles for picking it up and carrying. It really is light and easy to move

I found it was easiest to pick up with the front handle.
Uses all the same parts as the Schacht Matchless.
Double treadle
More specifics can be found HERE

Available Options:

A lazy Kate - You can get one that integrates right with the ladybug or a tensioned Matchless one.

Slow whorl and High speed whorl

It’s double drive or scotch tension. Though it took some fiddling to get it to be happy as a double drive. It runs as smooth as the Matchless. Which is good. It uses the parts from the Matchless.

I’m not sure you’d NEED both the lady bug AND the Matchless. I can see why you’d WANT both though. I can always justify wanting a new wheel.

There is a tensioner thingy on it. They say it can be used in scotch or double drive mode. If you use a double drive you already know why you need it. In scotch tension they say it’s good to use when you are using the fast whorls or as your band stretches.

I show it there in use in the double drive mode. You can also put both strings into that wheely thing. I just found that it worked better with one in and one out. If you go to my flickr account (click onto the photo) you will see a more detailed close up of this tensioner as well.

I’ve only tried it out with the medium whorl. I’m so used to the big production wheels that I felt this one moved slowly. Well, it was on the medium whorl and the drive wheel isn’t some huge 30 inch thing. These days I use the castle wheels for plying only. I spun some singles on the Hyacinth yesterday so I can ply today.

Like the matchless, if you like to spin bulkies and novelties, this is not the wheel I’d recommend. For occasional bulkies and novelties it’s fine. If the majority of your spinning is bulkies and novelties then another wheel would be better. I’m not talking about how we all start out with funky yarn. I know people that they only like to spin the unusual and interesting novelty style yarns. If Schacht ever comes out with a bulky set then I’ll change my opinon on this.

I have to say overall I like the Ladybug, but not much more than I like the Fricke or the Louet. I think it’s way cuter than either of those and it is lighter/easier to move. The price point is good and it is usable as a double drive. All a plus in my book. I need to spend a little more time with it to see if it’s the right fit for me but I do have recommendations as to who I think it would be good for (and it’s just my opinion so take it for what it’s worth).

1.You want to upgrade - I think it’s a decent upgrade because it’s got the double drive. Though it’s not a huge step up. I think if you have the available funds or the patience then the Matchless is a better option. I like how the Matchless operates a little better in double drive mode.

2. It’s your first wheel - This is an excellent choice. It’s got a good price point and it’s got all the options for you to get a good start in spinning. I believe beginners is what Schacht had in mind when they designed this wheel. They hit ahome run in that category. It may just be the best beginner’s spinning wheel in it’s price range.

3. You want something more portable but not a tiny wheel. For this I might recommend the Fricke folding. I’m going to place this wheel right along side my usual recommendation of the Fricke. The Fricke folds so it’s smaller but the Ladybug has cuteness and it’s double drive.

4. You have an excellent wheel you like to spin singles on but you want something with a larger bobbin to ply. This is a good option for that.

When I find the time I’m going to test it out a little bit more and I’ll let you know anymore opinons I have.

Someone asked me at the show about the wheels that I own and the wheels that I buy. First, the shop wheels are not MY wheels. They belong to the shop. My wheels are mine, they belong to me. There is a reason for each one of the wheels I have. Of course I carry wheels that I like to spin on, but there is a reason why I buy certain wheels for myself (whether I buy them from myself or someone else). The reason I prefer lately to buy the old wheels, is the details. Today, I’m going to explain why I chose the little Norwegian this past weekend.

This is the picture I showed on Monday:

You can’t really tell much about it or about it’s color from that photo. So many people that came by my booth were in love with a little black Norwegian wheel that the same people were selling. I stopped by thier booth on Sunday morning before we opened to try out Blacky. Blacky was nice, and so very pretty. She was in really good shape and spun really well, but we didn’t quite get along. I felt there was a hitch in her giddy up (read: the treadling had a little plunk). I liked her well enough but I was ready to walk off without her.

My Mom was still milling around and looking at them all (read: passive enabling) so I sat down and at the next Norwegian. The color was a nice reddish tone. In case you didn’t figure out, I’m a sucker for reds and blacks. The spinning was smooth. No hitch or plunk and she was just gorgeous. For a single treadle, there really was no dead area at all. The fiber sample that was with her was just not suited for her at all. It was a slubby novelty fiber and this little Norwegian wanted to spin thin yarns. Even with the fiber that was with her, I could spin a fairly fine yarn. I think she might have still been there, because of that slubby fiber (I’m not complaining). If I had any doubt about her, I would have grabbed a finer fiber. Even without doing that, I knew with the right fiber she would sing.

She looked like a brand spanking new wheel. So so pretty. Then Esther showed me this:

A two bobbin lazy kate that was all attached. You can see I’m pulling out the beautifully turned wooden peg that holds in one of the bobbins.

Mine.
That little bit hit me. I had to have it. I don’t know exactly why but I just had to have it. By the way - The sellers of the wheels are Nordic Weaves in Wiscasset Maine. They pick up old wheels and make them usable again. Really quite the artform. If anyone is interested I can get you a phone number and you can visit them. They sell these beauties out of their home and at shows.

I brought her to the booth for the day. Cheryl and Teresa got to spin a bit of one of my batts on her. They both spun a nice section of fine yarn so they can attest to her beauty. Really, how it operates is first on the list of why to get a wheel. At least in my mind it is. If it’s not a joy to spin, no matter how cute it is, I probably won’t buy it. Notice I said probably, I didn’t want to make any definite announcements. It’s not happened yet, but you never know when I might be overcome with the cute.

Once I got my little wheel home, I found so many other reasons she is perfect.

The top of the footman is so pretty and the top of the wheel upright. Oh my, the construction:

Ok, this little bit where the footman connects to the treadle:

Cotton.
I’ll be getting a nice piece of leather to change that out. It works great with the cotton, I just really need it to be leather. It’s all in the little details.

There was a little orifice hook that came with it. I didn’t really care for it. It was unusual and interesting and fit in the little hole quite well. I was willing to use it until I learned that my skully orifice hook fit there too:

This wheel really was made for me. Some where, many many years ago, this wheel was made for me. I’d like to know more about her history. I think I have some digging to do.

I’m not the only one that appreciates how pretty it is. Baby Boogie spent some time yesterday petting it. Which is odd, for some reason I have been wanting to name it “Pony” and here BB is petting it like it’s a little pony:

She ran her hands all over the wheel. It really was as if she was appreciating the wheel. We all know Baby Boogie likes her fiber and yarn, it’s possible she’s starting to fall for the wheels too. Or it’s possible she was checking it out for potential animal homes. Yesterday (since I don’t get to spin on the usual work day) it could be seen with a whole host of barn yard friends.

I stayed up late Monday night spinning on this one (I’ve been working late so late spinning is all I get lately). I just enjoyed the spinning so much. I finished the 3 ounces and yesterday I plied it. Then I made the executive decision to spin the remainder of Cosmo and the rest of the fleeces on her. I started making Cosmo as a worsted/Aran yarn. I wanted a thick sweater. I think I’ll end up making the rest a sport weight yarn. It will still be crazy warm and then the fair isle can be a little more intricate. Ideas are swirling….

It arrives in the typical Louet Box although quite a bit smaller and lighter. Upon opening the box all I saw was a bag that looked half empty. I set it on the floor and opened it up…

I unbuckled one belt that held her in. There is a button lever at the base that allows you to lift up the upright.

Unbuckle one more belt and the Victoria is free! Did you notice all the room in the bag. I had one full bobbin and another ounces of fiber tucked in there. If I packed it all in I believe I could pack in 2 pounds of fiber. Of course, I’m good at stuffing fiber in hiding places.

The flyer is tucked away at the bottom:

All you need to do is slip on a bobbin and snap into it’s home.

Voila! Victoria is ready to go.

I like the Victoria. Overall I have to give her a thumbs up. I do have problems with her so don’t think it’s all sunshine and roses.

A wheel needs to be seen for what it’s meant for. This is a great traveling wheel. A perfect second wheel, or it could be an only wheel for someone who has little space or is on the go a lot. I have the space for a larger wheel so I can tell you right off the batt that I prefer that. I prefer the versaitility of the full size Louets. However, I like the idea that I can travel to show and have Victoria to spin on. I could go on a vacation and take Vic as a carryon. I don’t like to bring my full size wheel with me but Victoria is small enough that it would work well.

Victoria spins well. I spun 2 ounces of a thin single and Navajo plied it to a worsted weight yarn. She is geared high. This is not a wheel that I would find easy to make a bulky weight or a novelty yarn. With a small 3 ounce bobbin (which is always a peeve of mine) you wouldn’t get much bulky on there anyway.

The drive is flyer driven with a brake on the bobbin. This is a set up that I’m not used to. It took a bit to get used to and I can say that I prefer the flyer driven. Ok, over all I prefer double drive but if I can’t have that I prefer bobbin driven wheels. I think this is just a personal preference issue. Once I was used to the little differences and had the brake band adjusted properly, I was ok with it and made some nice even yarn.

I was able to sit in my usual spining spot on the couch. This is a plus, I like my spot. I figured with the difference in size I wouldn’t be able to do this. Husbeast’s comment upon seeing Victoria was “this one hasn’t grown up yet”. Next to my S51DT, it does look like the toddler version. Don’t get me wrong, that’s only it’s look. It’s not rinky dinky. The base is balanced well and I think it really is a stable well thought out wheel.

The treadle is just slightly larger than my foot:

This is not a problem for me. I don’t mind if my foot doesn’t quite fit a treadle but I figured it was worth mentioning because I know it can be a peeve of others.

The flyer is different

I thought at first it was something unique to the Victoria. I set up another wheel yesterday and the flyers have all changed. I’ll be getting in some new flyers because I adore this new type of hook. They are fantastic. They slide up and down. There is a stop at the end but if you turn it just right, it does come off. I’ll carry more of these too. I can see myself losing them.

In the picture you can also see the little leather handle. I carried this baby all over the place. The handle is comfy to carry it by and the wheel is just plain light.

Back to the bag. The bag has handles, a carry strap or a back pack. there is a front zipper pocket and the back zips to hide the backpack straps. The bag was made as well as the wheel. They really did take into mind what you might need.

I welcome anyone that has comments about the wheel to add them. Or if you have questions that you want answered about it. I’d be happy to answer them. I’m hoping to take a chance to review a bunch of wheels like this. Almost all wheels have strengths and flaws. Knowing what they are will help everyone make a good decision about what to get. I know there are many people that can’t try a wheel before buying.