Introduction to Nålbinding

Hello, I wanted to introduce you to the ancient craft of Nålbinding:

^{Objects made by different nålbinding stitches}

Nålbinding is a yarn looping technique usually performed with a needle and thread. Textiles or basketry of various kinds can be made, ranging from extremely fine to very coarse.
This method is still common in almost all parts of the world. It creates flexible fabrics, so it is often used t produce caps, footwear, or gloves, as well as carrying bags, nets, strainers, and other everyday objects (see picture above).

At first glance, nalbound textiles are often mistaken for being knitted or crocheted. However, nålbinding is an older invention and it is not made with knitting needles or a crochet hook, but with a single needle that has an eye.
Nålbinding differs from knitting or crochet in that it uses a significantly different kind of fabric formation. In knitting and crochet the work is formed of loops working continuously with a theoretically endless thread.
In nålbinding, with every stitch, the full length of the thread has to pass through the newly formed loop. Therefore only limited length of yarn is used and new pieces of thread need to be added regularly.
At first this sounds like a disadvantage, but it allows flexible working and offers almost infinite possibilities of variation in the types of stitches and the shaping of the work. From lacy silk gloves to rough work mittens, anything is possible. Moreover, no runs will develop, because if you pull the loose end of a thread, the last loop will close into a knot.

^{Schematic diagram showing loops made with nalbinding.
https://siglindesarts.wordpress.com/introduction-to-naalbinding/}

The needle used for nålbinding is typically a quite large one. It is commonly flat, dull and has a large eye. The length of nålbinding needles usually vary between 8 and 12 cm, but can be longer or shorter. The width of the needle is usually less than 1 cm at the widest part. Needles are made of wood, metal, or bone, nowadays sometimes also plastic.

^{Different kinds on nålbinding needles. https://www.neulakintaat.fi}

In many parts of Europe Nålbinding was gradually displaced by knitting. From Scandinavia, it has now re-expanded to Central Europe and North America.
If you have previous experience with knitting or crocheting, you will pick up nålbinding very quickly, but no previous experience is necessary. I started it without ever knitting before and am enjoying it very much.

Sources

• Nalbinding - What in the World Is That? History and Technique of an Almost Forgotten Handicraft. By: Ulrike Claßen-Büttner. BoD, Norderstedt, 2015
• https://www.neulakintaat.fi
• https://siglindesarts.wordpress.com/introduction-to-naalbinding/