About the Majacraft Aura Double Drive Spinning Wheel
The Majacraft Aura is the only dedicated double drive wheel in the Majacraft lineup, and it was designed from the ground up to do what other double drive wheels cannot. Developed in collaboration with respected art yarn spinner Suzy Brown (also known as WoolWench), the Aura is engineered around three distinctive features: a pigtail orifice that keeps yarn steady while still being bypassable, jumbo bobbins as standard, and a double drive take-up system that maintains the same flyer-to-bobbin ratio from the first wrap of yarn to a completely full bobbin. The result is a wheel that spins extreme art yarns, textured batts, bulky plies, and fine traditional yarns equally well.
How the Majacraft Aura Double Drive System Works
On the Aura, one continuous drive band passes over the drive wheel and loops around both the flyer whorl and the bobbin whorl. Because the bobbin whorl is slightly smaller than the flyer whorl, the bobbin rotates just a little faster than the flyer, and that speed difference is what draws yarn onto the bobbin. What makes the Aura special is that this ratio stays constant as the bobbin fills. On scotch tension wheels, you typically need to add tension as the bobbin gets heavier. On the Aura, you set the drive band tension once and keep spinning. Combined with the pigtail orifice, which holds yarn steady without forcing you to thread through a closed orifice, it makes for an unusually forgiving and flexible spinning experience.
Benefits of a Majacraft Double Drive Spinning Wheel
The Aura is built for spinners who want one wheel that can do everything. The double drive system gives you gentle, self-regulating take-up that is beautiful for fine yarns and long draw. The jumbo bobbins let you spin thick, textured, or plump art yarns without constant bobbin changes. The pigtail orifice accepts beads, locks, additions, and chunky novelty yarns that would never fit through a traditional closed orifice, yet you can also bypass it entirely when spinning fine yarns. And because Majacraft designs the Aura flyer to be compatible with the rest of the Majacraft lineup, the Aura flyer and jumbo bobbins can also be fitted to the Rose, Suzie, Suzie Professional, and Luna if you want to convert a scotch tension wheel to double drive for a session.
Majacraft Double Drive vs Scotch Tension
The rest of Majacraft's spinning wheel lineup uses scotch tension. The Rose, Suzie, Suzie Professional, Little Gem, and Luna are all single drive wheels with scotch tension brakes. They are beautifully engineered, highly versatile, and work with a wide range of Majacraft accessories, but they do not offer true double drive out of the box. If you want the double drive feel with set-and-forget tension and an orifice designed for art yarn, the Aura is the Majacraft wheel to choose. If you prefer knob-controlled scotch tension and want a more traditional wheel aesthetic, look at the Majacraft scotch tension collection instead. Many Majacraft spinners eventually own both an Aura and a scotch tension wheel because each system shines for different types of spinning.
The Aura Hybrid Flyer Kit
One of the nicest things about the Aura is that its flyer system can also be fitted to other Majacraft wheels as an accessory. The Aura Hybrid Flyer Kit gives Rose, Suzie, Suzie Professional, Luna, and (to a lesser extent) Little Gem owners a way to add double drive art yarn spinning to a wheel they already own. This is worth knowing even if you're set on buying the Aura, because the Aura ecosystem extends into the rest of the Majacraft lineup. Buy an Aura today and you still have flexibility to expand into scotch tension wheels later, with your Aura flyer and jumbo bobbins coming along with you.
Majacraft Aura Features and Specifications
Construction. Handcrafted in Tauranga, New Zealand from sustainable Rimu wood with a laminated bamboo drive wheel. Hand-built and individually tested before leaving the Majacraft workshop.
Drive System. True double drive with an adjustable drive band tension. The flyer-to-bobbin ratio stays constant as the bobbin fills, which means minimal mid-session adjustments.
Orifice. Unique pigtail orifice that holds yarn steady for fine and medium spinning but can be completely bypassed for bulky art yarns, textured singles, and yarns with additions like locks, sequins, or beads.
Bobbins. Jumbo bobbins standard, giving you far more capacity than a traditional wheel for bulky yarn and plying.
Compatibility. Works with the broader Majacraft accessory ecosystem including the Wild Flyer, Lace Flyer, Jumbo bobbins, and Delta Flyer. The Aura flyer can also be fitted to other Majacraft wheels via the Aura Hybrid Flyer Kit.
Treadling. Double treadle with Majacraft's signature light, smooth treadle action and sealed bearings.
Who the Majacraft Aura Is For
The Aura is a great match for a few specific kinds of spinners. If you love art yarn, textured spinning, or experimental fiber work, the Aura was literally designed for you. If you want one wheel that can truly handle everything from laceweight singles to massive chunky plies, the Aura's combination of double drive take-up, jumbo bobbins, and the pigtail orifice makes it one of the most versatile wheels on the market. If you prefer set-and-forget tension over constant scotch tension adjustments, the Aura's self-regulating double drive system will feel like a revelation. And if you've already invested in other Majacraft wheels and want to add a dedicated double drive to your collection, the Aura's cross-compatibility with the rest of the lineup is hard to beat.
Shop the Majacraft Aura above, or reach out if you want help deciding between the Aura and a scotch tension wheel from the Majacraft lineup.
