Spinning a Yarn

Nalbinding is a modern term for a craft that can be dated back 10,000 years.

Believed to originate in Scandinavia and the Middle East, the name Nålbinding (noll-bin-ding) is a Norwegian word which means needle binding, using a flat needle (Nal) made of bone, wood or antler to loop short sections of wool around the thumb and creating a long chain of loops that form stitches.

The exact origin of nalbinding is unknown; however nalbinding predates knitting and crochet. Many of the stitch names have been lost to time, with the stitches used today named after the places they were found (York and Mammen).

The oldest nalbound artefact was found in a cave in Israel and was dated back 7th Century. Other archaeological finds include artefacts found across Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.  

Nalbinding is used to make small items, such as socks, mittens, hats and bags as the resulting material is hard wearing, thicker, warmer and slightly elastic.

Nalbinding became more prominent as Viking settlers travelled to new areas, taking their skills with them. The most notable of these is the York sock, found in a Viking settlement in York, UK from the 10th Century.

During the 20th Century, nalbinding practitioners started to decline as knitting and crochet became more popular. This was because knitting was faster and results could be seen immediately.

Nalbinding is still seen around the world today, usually in Scandinavia and South America.

This wonderful art is making a comeback as living historians and Youtube content creators are demonstrating how to nalbind and how versatile this craft can be.

From hats to bags, the possibilities are endless!