Kromski Minstrel Spinning Wheel

The Kromski Minstrel is a traditional castle-style spinning wheel with double treadles, a compact footprint and all the ornate, turned-wood charm that Kromski are famous for. With its 45cm (18") wheel, flexible drive options and on-board lazy kate, it’s a brilliant all-round spinning wheel for handspun yarn – from cosy sweater yarns to finer lace and even art yarn with the optional jumbo flyers.

The Minstrel is a true “castle” wheel – the flyer, orifice and mother-of-all sit directly above the drive wheel in a tall, upright frame. That means a smaller footprint than a long Saxony wheel, while still feeling like a full-size, substantial spinning wheel under your feet. Many spinners find this upright arrangement kinder on their body for longer spinning sessions, because your hands, feet and orifice are all nicely in line.

You can run the Minstrel in single drive with Scotch tension or as double drive, so you can experiment and find the feel you prefer. The standard whorls give you four very usable ratios – 6.5:1, 8.5:1, 12:1 and 16:1 – which comfortably cover relaxed woolly yarns through to finer, more highly twisted yarns. Optional jumbo and Great Jumbo flyer kits (sold separately) open things up even further if you love bulky, textured art yarns or long, uninterrupted plying runs.

Made from European alder and birch, the Minstrel has beautiful, detailed turnings on the posts and wheel. It looks like a piece of furniture rather than a “bit of equipment”, which makes it a lovely choice if your wheel lives in the sitting room or a shared family space. It comes with three roomy bobbins, a built-in lazy kate, threading hook and oil – so once you’ve assembled it, you’re ready to spin.

Key Features

• Traditional castle-style spinning wheel – upright, compact design

• Double treadle for smooth, balanced treadling

• 45cm / 18" wheel diameter – full-size feel in a smaller footprint

• Can be used as single drive with Scotch tension or double drive

• Standard ratios: 6.5:1, 8.5:1, 12:1, 16:1

• Optional jumbo whorl (around 4.5:1) and Great Jumbo flyer (around 4:1 & 8:1) available separately

• Approx. weight: 5.5kg (12lbs) – sturdy but still moveable

• Orifice: approx. 10mm (3/8") – a good all-round orifice size

• Built-in lazy kate on the wheel base

• Turned wood details and classic Kromski styling

• Available in multiple finishes (stock may vary):

  • Unfinished / natural

  • Clear finish

  • Walnut

  • Mahogany

What’s Included

When you order a Kromski Minstrel spinning wheel from me, you’ll receive:

• Kromski Minstrel spinning wheel in your chosen wood finish

• 3 x standard Kromski bobbins (approx. 120g / 4.2oz capacity each)

• Built-in lazy kate (holds bobbins ready for plying)

• Wooden threading hook

• Spinning wheel oil

• Assembly instructions

Optional extras (usually available separately) you might like to pair with your wheel:

• Distaff for flax and long-staple fibres

• Jumbo flyer and jumbo bobbins

• Great Jumbo flyer set and jumbo bobbins

• Carry bag and additional accessories

What the Kromski Minstrel is Good For

The Minstrel is a very versatile “do-almost-everything” wheel, which makes it a great main wheel for many spinners. It’s particularly good for:

• Everyday knitting yarns – bouncy DK, aran and worsted-weight sweater yarns

• Finer yarns & lace – higher ratios give you control and twist for finer singles and plied lace

• Sock yarns – perfect for firm, round 2- or 3-ply sock yarns

• Plying wheel – generous bobbins and higher ratios make it a lovely plying companion

• Art yarn & bulky – with jumbo or Great Jumbo flyers, you can spin thick-and-thin, coils, beehives and textured yarns without constantly changing bobbins

• Plant fibres & long staples – pair it with a distaff and it behaves beautifully with flax, hemp and other long fibres

If you like to dabble in lots of different fibres and yarn styles, the Minstrel has enough flexibility to keep up with you.

Is the Kromski Minstrel Right For Me?

You’ll probably get on well with the Minstrel if:

• You’d like a traditional wooden spinning wheel that also looks beautiful in your home

• You prefer a compact castle wheel over a long, horizontal Saxony style

• You like the stability and rhythm of a double treadle

• You want the option to try both Scotch tension and double drive on a single wheel

• You spin a mixture of everyday yarns, fine yarns and the occasional art yarn adventure

• You want a wheel you can grow with – starting on standard ratios and later adding jumbo options as your spinning develops

If you’re choosing between a few different wheels and aren’t sure which one fits you best, you’re always welcome to message me with what you enjoy spinning and how much space you have – I genuinely love matching spinners to their wheels.

My Thoughts On the Kromski Minstrel Spinning Wheel

For me, the Kromski Minstrel hits that sweet spot between fairytale looks and proper workhorse practicality. It has that “storybook” castle silhouette and pretty turnings, but once you sit down, it just feels like a really solid, trustworthy spinning wheel.

The upright shape makes it easy to live with day-to-day – it tucks into a corner without dominating the room, and because it looks so lovely, you don’t feel the need to hide it away. I also find the castle layout and double treadles really comfortable if you’re spinning in the evenings or for longer stretches; everything feels nicely centred and balanced.

I also love that it’s a wheel you can build on: you can start with the standard Minstrel, learn what you like to spin, and then add a jumbo or Great Jumbo flyer later if you fall for big, squishy art yarns or want to ply huge skeins. It feels like a wheel that grows with your skills, rather than something you’ll quickly outgrow.

If you’re dreaming of a “proper” wooden spinning wheel that looks like it’s wandered out of a cottage in a folk tale, but you also want something that will quietly spin all the yarn for your real-world projects, the Minstrel is a very strong contender.

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.