Nalbinding: An Ancient Craft for Modern Times

Long before humans invented knitting, they created wonderful textiles with a technique called nalbinding. Sometimes called needlebinding or looping, nalbinding is a method of creating a stretchable fabric by pulling individual lengths of thread through loops using a single, eyed needle. The earliest known finds of this type of textile date back to around 6500 BCE in Israel.

There is archaeological evidence of nalbinding being used all over the world, however there are few places where this tradition has been continuous to the present day. Scandinavia is one such place, where this craft, once practiced by the Vikings, has been maintained and revived. The stitches we use today are mostly taken from the Nordic tradition and often have their basis in Viking Age archaeological finds.

Nalbinding creates a warm and durable fabric that won't run or ladder. It is a slow, but portable and versatile craft that despite its ancient origins, can be used to create modern, contemporary textiles.

When we nalbind, we continue a long tradition of textile making that reaches right back into human pre-history.