Fall 2019 • Spin Off 19
50:1, there are gasps of surprise. It is a great beginning
to a conversation about handspinning and possibly a first
step on their journey with a charkha. ●Resources
“Mahatma Gandhi’s Announcement of a Design
Competition, 24th July 1929.” http://www.gyti.techpedia
.in/announcement.
Mielkes Fiber Arts. “Tahkli Spinning How To.”
http://www.mielkesfiberarts.com/tahkli-spinning-how-to
Needham, Joseph. Science and Civilisation in China,
Vol. 4, Part 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1965.
Oxford Dictionaries. http://www.en.oxforddictionaries.com
/definition/charkha
Rohini, S. “Whither Khadi?” Economic and Political
Weekly 44, 13 (2009), 12–15. http://www.jstor.org
/stable/40278654
Smith, C. Wayne, and J. Thomas Cothren, eds. Cotton:
Origin, History, Technology, and Production. New York:
John Wiley & Sons, 1999.
Wilson, Kax. A History of Textiles. Boulder, Colorado:
Westview, 1979.Joanne Nakonechny’s passion and curiosity for spinning
is rooted in both her fascination with seeing fluff turn into
yarn, and her family history. Joanne’s grandmother and
father were also spinners.Building Your Charkha Skills
Check out these resources to begin your
charkha journey or fi ne-tune your skills.Setup
Ruane, Joan. How to Set Up Your Indian
Book Charkha, 2014. http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=SBOYU6gHDu0Spinning
Ruane, Joan. Spinning on [an] Indian Book
Charkha, 2014. http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=B4uZu9yNboITips
Shepard, Mark. Charkha Tips: How to Spin
Cotton on Mahatma Gandhi's Spinning
Wheel. http://www.markshep.com/peace
/Charkha.htmlPunis
Benfatto, Elaine. Cotton Puni Primer, 2002.
http://urbanspinner.typepad.com/urban
spinner/cotton-puni-primer.htmlJoanne’s charkha-spun yarns have
improved with practice.PhotobyMattGraves