As easily portable spinning tools go, nothing beats a spindle. But charkhas come close. Exactly how portable a charkha is depends on it's size and shape. Larger charkhas, which do not fold for easy portability are still light weight and easy to tote along to guild meetings or other spinning venues but the smaller book and attache sized charkhas which fold up for easy moving and storage are highly portable. The small book charkhas can easily be used as lap spinning wheels where space is at a premium.

As with other wheel driven spindles, such as Great Wheels aka Walking wheels, the method of drafting is one handed. Almost all charkhas are set up for drafting with the left hand while the drive wheel is turned with the right hand. These little wheels have a high twist ratio making them excellent for spinning shorter stapled fibers and fine yarns. A small book charkha can easily have a ratio of 90:1 with the larger attache models going up to 120:1 or more. These high ratios are due to the use of an accelerating device which is a supplemental wheel located between the drive wheel and the spindle. The drive wheel connects to the accelerating wheel via a drive band, then a second drive band connects the accelerating wheel to the spindle whorl. Lower ratio charhas dispense with the accelerating wheel which lowers the ratio. Higher ratio charkhas are quite suitable for cottons while the lower ratio ones are better for spinning wools.


This photo shows a Bosworth book charkha in a closed position. The dimensions are only 9 3/4" long by 6 3/4" wide and 2 1/2" deep.


In this photo, the charkha is open and set up for spinning.

For spinning Z twist yarn, the drive band between the accelerating wheel and the spindle whorl must be set so that it comes off the top of the spindle whorl and goes around the right hand side of the accelerating wheel. For plying with S twist, , the drive band comes off the top of the spindle whorl and goes around the left side of the accelerating wheel.


The drive band is positioned for spinning Z twist singles.


The drive band is positioned for spinning S twist. Note the figure 8 configuration.

To spin Z singles, you can start by putting a leader onto the spindle or by simply spit sticking the fibers to the point of the spindle. It is important to bring the draft off of the spindle tip at a 45 degree angle to allow twist to enter the fibers. Hold the fiber supply loosely in the left hand and slowly draft back while slowly turning the drive wheel clockwise. The idea is to insert just enough twist into the fibers to hold them together while drafting. Slubs may be drawn out by clamping down with the drafting hand and drafting back further. Once the draft, called a “make” is complete, hold the length of yarn out and turn the drive wheel several times to build up the amount of twist in the make.

Once the Make is complete, turn the drive wheel counterclockwise ¼ turn to bring the yarn off the tip of the spindle, then move your arm towards the charkha, bringing the yarn up just a bit to position it towards the rear of the spindle so it's ready to be would on. Wind on by turning the crive wheel clockwise, spiraling the yarn out towards the tip of the spindle and positioning it back at the 45 degree angle from the tip. It's ready for the next make.


Coming off the tip of the spindle.

Next week: Plying and skeining on a book charkha.