| tart --> | | | | the point so getting the fiber onto the spindle |
| So, you are going out to buy a spinning wheel! | | | | depends upon how you hold the fiber when |
| You walk into a store and you are asked, "What | | | | spinning. Great Wheels, Walking Wheels or Wool |
| type of spinning wheel are you looking to | | | | Wheels were primarily used to spin wool. |
| purchase?" You immediately think, "You mean | | | | The Indian Charkha is also a spindle wheel. This |
| there is more than one type of spinning wheel?" | | | | type of wheel is the one that you saw Mahatma |
| Actually there are two types of spinning wheels, | | | | Ghandi using in the pictures shown in your World |
| one is called the spindle wheel and the other is | | | | History class. Mahatma Ghandi liked this type of |
| considered a flyer (yes, this is the correct spelling) | | | | spindle wheel as it was small and portable and |
| and bobbin type of wheel. Both of these have | | | | could be transported and used while spinning in |
| definite distinctions. This article is going to talk | | | | public. The Charka is usually used while sitting |
| about Spindle wheels, what they are and what | | | | down. There are many different styles of |
| type of fiber is best suited for them. | | | | Charkhas, but on all of them the wheel at the |
| Spindle wheels are the same thing as a Great | | | | back of the Charka is proportionately larger than |
| Wheel also known as the Walking Wheel or Wool | | | | the front wheel. It too has a spindle on which the |
| Wheel. The spindle wheel is one of the first | | | | fiber is spun. The Indian Charkha is used to spin |
| known spinning wheels, and is usually the ones we | | | | very fine, short fibers like silk, cotton, angora and |
| think about when we are considering old world | | | | soy silk. |
| spinning. It was thought that this type of wheel | | | | As you might expect, the spinning ratio or the |
| was fashioned after the spindle or drop spindle. | | | | number of times the spindle moves to the |
| This type of spinning wheel is characterized by | | | | number of times the larger wheel moves can be |
| the very large wheel at the back. This large wheel | | | | more than 80:1. Whether you use the Great |
| is turned by hand or by a crank while standing up. | | | | Wheel or the Indian Charka you will need to spend |
| It has a drive belt, actually a string that goes | | | | much time practicing to get a consistent thread. |
| around the wheel at the back to a grove that | | | | You must keep the larger wheel moving while at |
| drives the spindle in the front. The spindle does | | | | the same time drawing or pulling the fiber into the |
| not have any hook on it or any guides to guide | | | | desired thickness of yarn. |
| the fiber onto the spindle. The spindle tapers at | | | | |