16 Spin Off • http://www.interweave.com
Curiosity, a strong motivating factor in any
journey, inspired me to veer off my wool- and wheel-
spinning path to explore charkhas. When visiting the
Gandhi Ashram Museum at Sabarmati, located in
Ahmedabad, India, I saw one of Mahatma Gandhi’s
charkhas on display. As I looked at it, I was astonished
at how different it was compared to the spinning tools
I knew so well. However, it has taken me another seven
years and more sightings of similar spinning devices
in China and Japan before I succumbed to the unique
charms of these spinners.Step One: Research
For me, part of the allure of a new-to-me spinning
material or tool is learning about its history, political
background, and material culture. In India, the term
charkha refers to spinning wheels large and small, and the
term is now used more broadly to describe driven-spindle
wheels from other regions as well. There are many styles
ranging from the traditional form of a moderate-size
wheel to accelerated charkhas that fit into a box the size
of a briefcase or hardcover book. Typically, the wheel isFirst Steps
in Charkha Spinning
By Joanne NakonechnyPhotobyMattGravesPhotobyKate^LarsonA book-style charkha made in India.turned with one hand as the other hand drafts the fiber
that is spun off the tip of a sharp spindle shaft.
Due to the high speed of twist insertion associated
with charkhas, they are considered ideal for spinning
very short-staple fibers such as cotton, which has long
been grown in India. As I sought to understand the
charkha’s place in India, given it was the first place I saw
this type of spinning device, I looked for research into
the earliest uses of the spinning wheel or charkha.