Ashford Kiwi 3

The Ashford Kiwi 3 spinning wheel is a brilliant all-rounder for beginners and experienced spinners alike – a portable, affordable double treadle spinning wheel with folding treadles, Scotch tension and a smooth three-speed whorl. If you’re looking for your first spinning wheel, or a modern workhorse wheel that can live happily in the corner of the sitting room and come to guild days, the Kiwi 3 is very hard to beat.

The Kiwi has always been Ashford’s most accessible wheel, and the Kiwi 3 is the latest, upgraded version. You get a sturdy wooden frame with a timber-veneered MDF wheel for perfect balance, double treadles mounted on comfy polyurethane hinges, and a sliding hook flyer that gives you a lovely, even fill on your bobbins. It’s single drive with Scotch tension, which is simple to understand and easy to tweak as you learn – perfect if you’re just getting to grips with how twist and take-up work.

Out of the box, the Kiwi 3 comes with a three-speed whorl giving you ratios of 5.5:1, 7.5:1 and 9.5:1. That’s a sweet spot range for most handspun yarns: from relaxed, woolly DK and aran up through firmer yarns and lighter weights as your drafting gets finer. The drive band is stretchy, so you don’t have to re-tension every time you change ratios – you just move the band and carry on spinning.

The wheel has a built-in lazy kate and comes with three big 130g sliding-hook bobbins, so you can spin generous singles and still have room for plying. The treadles fold up neatly, making the whole wheel flatter for storage or popping into the car, and you can choose between a natural unfinished wheel (perfect if you love the idea of painting or staining it yourself) or a factory lacquered finish if you prefer to keep things simple.

Key Features

• Beginner-friendly spinning wheel that experienced spinners still love

• Double treadle with smooth heel-toe action for effortless treadling

• Single drive with Scotch tension – easy to adjust and learn on

• Three-speed whorl with ratios: 5.5:1, 7.5:1, 9.5:1

• Sliding hook flyer with frictionless yarn guides for even bobbin filling

• Stretchy drive cord – no constant re-tensioning when you change ratios

• Built-in lazy kate in the base of the wheel

• Three large 130g bobbins included

• Folding treadles for easier storage and transport

• Timber-veneered MDF wheel with ball bearings for smooth, quiet spinning

• Wheel diameter: 45cm (17½")

• Orifice height: 69cm with a standard 10mm (⅜") orifice

• Weight: 5.5kg (12lb) – sturdy but still easy to move

• Available in natural unfinished or smooth lacquered finish

What’s Included

When you order an Ashford Kiwi 3 spinning wheel from me, you’ll receive:

• Ashford Kiwi 3 spinning wheel in your chosen finish (Natural or Lacquered)

• 3 x large 130g sliding-hook flyer bobbins

• Sliding hook flyer with three-speed whorl (5.5, 7.5, 9.5:1)

• Built-in lazy kate

• Stretchy drive band

• Wooden threading hook

• “Learn to Spin” booklet from Ashford

• All hardware and tools required for assembly

Optional extras you might want to pair with your Kiwi 3 (usually sold separately):

• High-speed adapter kit (for finer, high-twist yarns)

• Kiwi Super Flyer kit (for chunky and art yarns, with huge bobbins)

• Ashford Kiwi 3 carry bag (perfect for taking your wheel to groups and workshops)

• Extra bobbins, niddy noddy, maintenance kit and other spinning accessories

What the Ashford Kiwi 3 is Good For

The Kiwi 3 is very much a modern workhorse wheel – designed to be friendly, versatile and easy to live with. It’s especially good for:

• First wheel / learning to spin – clear, simple set-up and forgiving ratios

• Everyday knitting yarns – DK, aran and worsted-weight yarns for sweaters, shawls, hats and mitts

• Plying – the generous bobbins and smooth treadling make it a lovely plying wheel

• Lighter yarns & finer spinning – the 9.5:1 ratio is great for finer singles once your drafting feels more confident

• Small spaces – the compact footprint and folding treadles are ideal if your wheel shares space with toys, sofas and general life

• Taking to spinning groups – folds flatter for travel and fits in most car boots

Add the high-speed kit or Super Flyer later and it happily expands into finer lace spinning or big, wild art yarns – so it’s genuinely a wheel you can grow into rather than grow out of.

Is the Ashford Kiwi 3 Right For Me?

You’ll probably get on really well with the Kiwi 3 if:

• You’re looking for a first spinning wheel that won’t blow the budget

• You want something simple, sturdy and low-fuss that just works

• You like double treadles and a comfortable, rhythmic treadling motion

• You don’t have acres of space and need a wheel that can fold away neatly

• You like the idea of a wheel with a clear upgrade path (high-speed kit, Super Flyer, carry bag, extra bobbins)

• You want a wheel that can sit happily in the sitting room without being too fussy or ornamental

If your main goal is to sit down, treadle smoothly and watch real, usable yarn appear in your hands without feeling like you’re fighting the wheel, the Kiwi 3 is absolutely aimed at you.

My Thoughts On the Ashford Kiwi 3 Spinning Wheel

The Kiwi is one of those wheels I feel very comfortable recommending to people who are just starting out, or who want something reliable and modern that doesn’t feel intimidating.

I really like how thoughtful the design is. The folding treadles are such a practical touch – they make the wheel easier to tuck away, but they also make getting it into the car so much less awkward. The sliding hook flyer and generous bobbins feel like a treat when you’re plying a big sweater’s worth of yarn and you just want it all to fit on one bobbin, please and thank you.

Because it’s Scotch tension with a stretchy drive band, it’s forgiving while you’re learning but still capable of very tidy yarn once you’ve found your rhythm. And the fact you can start with the “basic” set-up and then add the high-speed kit or Super Flyer later means you’re not locked into one style of spinning forever.

If you’re after a wheel that feels friendly, approachable and genuinely useful day-to-day – whether you’re spinning in between looking after small children, or sneaking in a few rows of twist in the evening – the Kiwi 3 is a really lovely choice. It just quietly gets on with the job so you can enjoy the wool.

We are a small family business and would love to help you with your purchase. Where items need to be ordered from suppliers we will keep you updated with shipping times and estimates. Please contact Louise through the website with any questions.