The Spinning unit of the Pulugurtha Handloom Cooperative Society successfully proved the potential of decentralised modes of spinning to handle diverse varieties of small batch organic indigenous desi cotton in contrast to large-scale spinning mills that demand an unsustainable monoculture of a single American variety of long staple cotton. Led by the technical expertise of Durga Manikanteshwara the spinning unit has prevented its own obsolescence by rejigging the machinery in such a way that it can be repaired, modified and maintained by local operators who have no engineering background. In taking ownership of their knowledge, the Pulugurtha spinning unit is a crucial part of the Malkha knowledge commons that seeks to keep open future possibilities for Indian handloom weaving through knowledge exchange, mutual collaboration and constant experimentation.