Mixing It Up with Natural-Color Cottons
Read all about the author’s explorations into natural color cottons and the creation of a handwoven gamp from green, brown, and white slivers.
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Read all about the author’s explorations into natural color cottons and the creation of a handwoven gamp from green, brown, and white slivers.
Cotton and other short-stapled fibers are traditionally spun on spindles that make long-draw spinning easy. Devin has three favorites to share, each from a different part of the globe.
Can you use book-style charkhas for big projects? Yes, you can. Learn how I store my cotton singles for plying with this short video.
Put your handspun to work, even if it’s imperfect! Kate designed this simple shawl to highlight handspun color and texture for beginning charkha spinners, but you can use this recipe for other fibers, too.
Season 5, Episode 6: An icon of Indian textile tradition and independence, charkha spinning has mostly disappeared from contemporary life. Avani Varia works to preserve the skill, create a living for spinners, and spread the charkha joy.
We gathered some fibers we had on hand for this introduction to natural fibers. The list is nowhere near exhaustive, but it provides examples of common plant and animal spinning fibers.
My love affair with charkha spinning was starting to leave me frustrated and grumbling. Here’s how I regained my loving-kindness.
So you’ve gotten the hang of spinning cotton on a charkha. Now what? Take some inspiration from a few of our favorite projects and explore easy dyeing ideas to create beautiful color!
Who knew that Lego fun can be had by adults, too?
In these long, hot days of summer, I’ve carved out a morning ritual: spinning a bit of cotton while I drink my morning tea.
Sometimes our tools need a tune up and extra care to run well.
Are you challenged by cotton spinning? Improving your fiber preparation can make all the difference.