Nalbinding

SecondStar

A couple of months ago I started the joining process for a living history Viking age reenactment group, and came across nalbinding as part of my research.

I studied textiles at university, and am a self-taught seamstress, but I never understood crochet, and can only knit different sizes of rectangle. However, I’ve taken to nalbinding like a duck to water! It’s so much simpler to me, and much more free, and much less like maths.

Does anyone else nalbind, either in a reenactment setting or otherwise?

Brie

Never heard of it and an initial google made me think it was like tunisian crochet (very very long crochet hook used to cast on and cast off an entire row similar to knitting).  But further sites lead me to think it's actually more like what we called "boondoggling" where we made bracelets or lanyards from coloured plastic strands - it was very intricate considering it was something we were taught at summer camp when about 6 or 7 years old.  

Amazing what old crafts surface from time to time!!

SecondStar

Brie said:

Never heard of it and an initial google made me think it was like tunisian crochet (very very long crochet hook used to cast on and cast off an entire row similar to knitting).  But further sites lead me to think it's actually more like what we called "boondoggling" where we made bracelets or lanyards from coloured plastic strands - it was very intricate considering it was something we were taught at summer camp when about 6 or 7 years old.  

Amazing what old crafts surface from time to time!!

Nalbinding is very, very old! It predates knitting by a very large margin, it’s a truly ancient textile craft, and absolutely fascinating.

Katiehound

I see it's also called needle binding (I assume a translation )  &Scandinavian knotless knitting

 Looks fiddly ... no I'll stick with knitting and crochet. It even makes bobbin lace look simple by comparison!!

SecondStar

Katiehound said:

I see it's also called needle binding (I assume a translation )  &Scandinavian knotless knitting

 Looks fiddly ... no I'll stick with knitting and crochet. It even makes bobbin lace look simple by comparison!!

Oh I would love to try bobbin lace also! That does look complicated!

Katiehound

SecondStar said:

Katiehound said:

I see it's also called needle binding (I assume a translation )  &Scandinavian knotless knitting

 Looks fiddly ... no I'll stick with knitting and crochet. It even makes bobbin lace look simple by comparison!!

Oh I would love to try bobbin lace also! That does look complicated!

Actually bobbin lace is not that complicated but you need a pillow, bobbins & proper lace making thread- crochet cotton doesn't have a tight enough twist I think.
You are only working with 4 bobbins at a time and the pattern is marked out on the card/paper underneath. I've only made bookmarks, anything bigger would be very time consuming- and it is very precise, there's no wriggle room!!!

Oh, and it much easier to have someone teaching you rather than self help- as with most crafts.

-taff

There is someone on the old style forum that does this, but i can't remember who right off...maybe ask on there?

RAS

Check Sally Pointer's videos?

DigForVictory

I have tried nalbinding but (lacking Any crochet skills) I couldn't get past two loops before it all went celtic knot & rugby language.... The videos I looked at were really not clear enough as to where each layer of a loop was going. If Sally Pointer makes sense I will come back & ask for a picture of a nalbinded sock so I have a rough idea of what I am trying to achieve.
A fibre historian pal said nalbinding makes more sense when you helped set up a loom & see the bits of thread left over when a length is finished..
[returned to add]
Sally Pointer didn't start with the looping over i digits that so stumped me & I have started my first attempt-at-a-sock!