Twenty-first century women have discovered the art of medieval naalbinding, turning to a form of ancient knitting that involved knitting with one needle.
Naalbinders use a spiral knitting technique that connects one row to the next and to the loops on either side. Naalbinding is a challenging craft, one that is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but modern naalbinders feel the results are worth the effort.
Each naalbinder produces unique designs and develops his or her own particular style. What makes naalbinding distinctive is that a person doesn't usually use patterns to produce knitted goods. The naalbinds are one-of-a-kind creations.
Naalbinding or needle-binding is similar to sewing, darning and crocheting. Naalbinders use a single-eyed needle and yarn to create a series of loops and knots, which makes every stitch secure and produces a stretchy material. Increases are made by working two stitches into one stitch in the previous row; decreases involve combining two stitches.
Short lengths of yarn are used in naalbinding because the yarn is pulled all the way through each stitch. Yarn is added as a piece progresses. Colored yarns are also woven in to the work.
Knitting With One Needle
- Classes in naalbinding offer instruction in different single-needle stitches
- Knitters learn from experienced naalbinders who share their techniques
- Naalbinding pamphlets and booklets teach basic stitches
- Online sites discuss naalbinding techniques and offer naalbinding instructions
Naalbinding and the Vikings
Talented knitters in Norse settlements employed naalbinding to fashion clothing items to ward off winter's chill.
This ancient knitting style required many hours of labor, using a bone needle and yarn to construct almost indestructible warm garments, such as knitted socks, leggings, mittens, gloves, hats and scarves. In a sense, naalbinded garments were survival gear.
Norse naalbinding ranged from simple stitches to very complicated techniques. It is believed that over one thousand variations of naalbinding are possible.
Discoveries of Ancient Knitting
Samples of naalbinding have been found in different parts of the world, some fragments dating back to the neolithic period. Some items have been discovered in Iceland, Finland and Poland, to name a few.
Naalbinding continued in Scandinavia and the mountain areas of Central Asia, probably due, in part, to climate. While, In other locations, knitting largely replaced naalbinding, the craft still survived over the centuries.
Naalbinding in Modern Times
In modern times, The art of naalbinding has enjoyed a rivival. Interest has grown in this knitting style that uses just one needle. Naalbinding has been turned to as a valuable resource to crafters who desire to master different knitting techniques. Modern Naalbinders produce durable and usable knitted items for pleasure and for cottage industries.
Crafting Articles:- Cowichan Sweaters of the Coast Salish People--Salish knitting style incorporating traditional designs & undyed wool
- The Ancient Art of Tatting--fine thread and a shuttle are used to produce beautiful handmade lace designs.
- Using Pine Needles in Basket Making--Pine trees shed their needles each year providing crafters with a source of raw material for basket-making.
Melody Rhodes - M. Rhodes is author of the Bedbug Books. She's been published in Canada, U.S. U.K. & NZ and has won awards for her poetry/prose.
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