What is nalbinding?
Nalbinding is a method of creating fabric using a single needle and cut lengths of yarn. Nalbinders pass the needle through various loops to create an interlocked, durable, stretchy fabric.
Each pass through the loops is a stitch, and multiple stitches are chained together in a row just like knitting and crochet. Create fabric from chains by linking new chains to previously completed chains. The thickness, density, and appearance of the finished fabric depends on several factors:
- The order in which you pass the needle through the loops
- Whether the needle goes over or under each loop
- The gauge (size) of finished stitches
- The connection method to the previous row
- The yarn you choose
- The stitch you choose
Pronunciation and etymology
It can be pronounced either as “nahl-byn-ding” or “nahl-bihn-ding” depending on where you are. Either pronunciation is acceptable. The emphasis is usually on the first syllable (“NALbinding”).
The term “nalbinding” comes from Danish and Norwegian, and literally translates to “binding with a needle” or “needle binding.” Archaeologists introduced this term in the 1970s, since there wasn’t a widely-used term for the craft like knitting or crochet.
Nalbinding is also known as:
- knotless knitting
- knotless netting
- looping
- naalbinding
- naalebinding
- nadelbinden
- nålbinding
- nålbindning
- nalbindning
- nålebinding
- needle binding
- neulakinnas
- single-needle knitting
Nalbinding vs. knitting and crochet
Nalbinding is similar to both knitting and crochet because it uses a continuous strand of yarn looped back on itself and previous rows to create fabric.
Unlike knitting and crochet, if the fabric gets damaged, it doesn’t unravel. Each nalbound stitch forms a knot that tightens when you pull the loose yarn ends. This action secures the fabric edge around the hole and prevents it from coming apart. If your sock gets a hole in it, it’ll stay a sock instead of becoming a wad of crinkled yarn.
Instead of a ball of yarn, nalbinding uses short cut lengths (a few yards/meters at a time). The entire length of working yarn passes through the previous loops every time a new stitch is made. New lengths are joined as needed, either by felting, tying, or another method such as a Russian join.
Archaeologists confused nalbinding and knitting for a while because in some cases, it’s impossible to tell the difference without deconstructing a priceless historical artifact. Some nalbinding stitches even produce a fabric that’s functionally identical to twisted knitting, or loom knitting with the e-wrap stitch.
Origin
While the term “nalbinding” comes from Danish and Norwegian, the craft itself has been practiced worldwide for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence of nalbinding exists on every inhabited continent.
Knitting and crochet mostly replaced nalbinding over the years, but Scandinavian and South American groups still use it today.
Stitch names
Many stitches get their names from the places where the first archaeological samples were found, or where they are displayed in museums. For example, the Oslo stitch first appeared in a mitten discovered during excavations in Oslo. Some stitches also have multiple names; for instance, the Oslo stitch is known as Lund, Simtuna, and others.
Some stitches are named after the person who developed them, or simply use their notation.
Materials
To get started with nalbinding, you only need three things:
Your thumb
A needle
Yarn
Other factors, such as the material of the needle, the fiber content of the yarn, and other tools and accessories, primarily come down to personal preference.
Uses
Nålbinding has many uses; here are some common projects:
Historically, artisans usually worked nålbinding in the round (in a spiraling tube like a slinky), but some modern nålbinders are now experimenting with techniques to create flat items like scarves.