Schacht Cherry Ladybug Spinning Wheel

The Cherry Ladybug is Schacht's special edition Ladybug, built in solid cherry plywood and solid cherry hardwood with a black drive wheel. The cherry runs warmer and richer than the standard maple Ladybug, and the contrast against the black drive wheel makes the Cherry Ladybug as much a piece of furniture as a working tool. The hand-rubbed Danish oil finish brings out the cherry's grain, and every wheel comes out a little different from the next.

Underneath the cherry, the wheel is the Ladybug you know. The 16 In drive wheel and 13.5 lb frame make it friendly to brand-new spinners and capable enough to grow with you for a lifetime. The full three-mode drive system (Scotch tension, double drive, bobbin lead) takes you from your first treadle to whatever spinning technique you grow into. Carrying handles are integrated into the legs, the orifice sits at a comfortable 27 In, and the same self-aligning bearings used in the rest of the Schacht lineup keep the flyer system spinning true.

Cherry production is a seasonal run, not always-available stock. When the Cherry Ladybugs are gone for the year, they're gone until the next run. And somewhere on every Ladybug, there's a hidden ladybug worked into the wheel. Every one is different. Look for yours.

Made in Boulder, Colorado from solid cherry with a hand-rubbed Danish oil finish. Schacht has been building spinning and weaving tools in Boulder since 1969.

What's Included

• Cherry Ladybug spinning wheel
• 3 travel bobbins (plastic)
• Medium and Fast Speed cherry whorls (WS6706C and WS6707C, each with two ratio grooves)
• Orifice hook
• Poly drive band
• Cotton double drive band
• Owner's manual
• Some assembly required

Specifications

• Drive system: Scotch tension, double drive, bobbin lead
• Treadles: double
• Weight: 13.5 lb (6.1 kg)
• Orifice height: 27 In (68.6 cm)
• Orifice diameter: 3/8 In (10 mm)
• Drive wheel diameter: 16 In (40.6 cm)
• Carrying handles: integrated into the frame
• Materials: cherry plywood and solid cherry hardwood
• Drive wheel finish: black
• Wood finish: hand-rubbed Danish oil
• Made in Boulder, Colorado, USA

Whorl Ratios

Each whorl has two grooves giving two ratio options. Move the drive band between grooves to switch.

The Medium and Fast Speed cherry whorls included with the Cherry Ladybug cover most everyday handspinning, from worsted-weight singles to standard 2-ply yarns. Most spinners never need additional whorls. The optional whorls extend the wheel's range to specific projects: the Slow and Extra Slow whorls give more control for chunky and bulky art yarn singles, and the High and Super High Speed whorls add the twist range for laceweight singles, fine 3-ply yarns, and tightly-plied sock yarns. All cherry whorls match the cherry finish of the wheel.

If you spin in double drive mode at High Speed or Super High Speed whorl ratios, the High Speed Bobbin in cherry (WS6703C) is required. The bobbin spins actively in double drive at high ratios and the High Speed Bobbin's geometry is designed for it. In Scotch tension mode the bobbin is held by the brake band and any standard bobbin works with every whorl.

Compatible Accessories

Expand your Cherry Ladybug with Schacht's range of compatible cherry accessories.

• LB6606 Ladybug Bulky Plyer Flyer Package, Cherry with 7/8 In orifice and 8 oz bobbin capacity, for bulky yarns, art yarns, and plying. Cherry production is seasonal; check current availability.
• Additional cherry whorls: Extra Slow (WS6708C), Slow (WS6704C), High Speed (WS6705C), and Super High Speed (WS6709C)
• LB6305 Ladybug Lazy Kate attaches to the wheel for plying without a separate stand
• WS6601 Tensioned Lazy Kate, free-standing alternative for plying off three bobbins, packs flat for storage and travel
• WS6703C High Speed Bobbin, Cherry, required for double-drive at High and Super High whorl ratios
• WS6701C Standard Cherry Bobbins, 4 oz capacity, an upgrade from the included travel bobbins
• Additional WS6712 Travel Bobbins for plying or extra storage
• WS6711C Bulky Bobbins, Cherry for use with the Bulky Plyer Flyer
• WS6908 Niddy Noddy for skein winding

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Cherry Ladybug different from the standard Ladybug?

The wheel mechanics are identical: same 16 In drive wheel, same 13.5 lb frame, same three drive modes, same whorl ratios, same orifice height. The Cherry Ladybug is built in solid cherry rather than maple, with a black drive wheel rather than the standard finish, and the included Medium and Fast whorls are cherry versions (WS6706C and WS6707C). The cherry edition is a seasonal production run.

When are Cherry Ladybugs available?

Cherry production at Schacht is seasonal and tends to be a spring offering, though it isn't run every year. When the current run is sold out, the next availability isn't always known. If you're considering the Cherry Ladybug, ordering when stock is current is the safest path.

What MOA does my Cherry Ladybug take?

Current-production Ladybugs use the new grooved Mother of All (R-16-900138). Older Ladybugs from before the design update use the legacy flat MOA (R-16-900014, shared with pre-update Matchless wheels). Identification depends on wheel age, and Paradise Fibers or Schacht support can confirm from photos.