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Table
of Contents:
The needle
The
start
The
spiral
The
start from the middle
How
to join two threads
Nalbinding
stitches
My
Nalbinding projekts
Nalbinding projekt from others
Linklist
Adress
of the Author, Impressum
Picture 1 from the start
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Some time ago I
became interested in the age-old technique of needle binding (derived
from Naalbinding or Nålbinding, Scandinavian). This technique,
popular with the Vikings among others, was described in a book about
sheep's wool. I learned the basics according to illustrated instructions,
first with needles made from steel, than with a needle made from
beech wood, which I carved myself. After numerous failures I produced
a cap as the first usable project.
The technique of Nalbinding is very similar to the modern and more
widely known technique's of knitting and crochet. The big difference
is: it is not worked with a seemingly endless work thread but with
smaller pieces, each about one to two meters long. The thread is
led through backward loops with a needle; this is done according
to a certain pattern. The possible patterns are known from ancient
textile findings.
The textile scientists among the historians have agreed on the following
way of presenting a pattern: The flow of the thread in the finished
piece is given. First the thread turns to the left. A U (under)
stands for the thread being led underneath the neighbouring thread
with the needle; an O (over) for the leading of the thread over
the neighbouring thread. At the point where the thread changes its
direction from left to right, the symbol " / " is put
into the formula. A complete formula could look like this: UO/UOO.
Naturally you can work Nalbinding exactly according to this pattern.
Firstly work a loose loop to start, then lead the needle to the
left first, through the weft according to the formula, pull the
thread through and then follow the rest of the formula and bring
the thread to the right and pull through the thread. I call this
technique the "forward-backward-technique". It is very
laborious and time-consuming. A faster and simpler style of Nalbinding
is worked with the "Thumb-catching method" and this technique
is described in detail on this website.
With the "Thumb-catching method" you first work a simple
start loop. (picture 1)
Click
here to continue …..
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