Nalbinding

If you know me, you know how much I love naalbinding, nalebinding or nalbinding. It is a very ancient craft, dating from at least 5000BC. At events, you will be able to spot me in a corner teaching someone this beautiful craft.

If you like, keep an eye on the tutorial section, for regular updates and lessons. But today, this isn’t about a lesson for you. Today, I am not going to explain how this craft works and how it is done.

I have just discovered a new thing myself, something that I didn’t know until recently! A close friend sent me an email the other day about nalbinding in The Netherlands. Yes! Seriously!

In 1924, a textile fragment was excavated in the small town of Roswinkel in Drenthe; a beautiful region in the north-east of The Netherlands. The fragment is small and the bog has coloured the threads a dark orange. Archeologists have no idea what it was… A bag? A hairnet?

One thing is sure though, the stitch is the buttonhole stitch, or blanket stitch. In nalbinding, it is often called the Danish stitch. I am happy I now have a stitch that was found in The Netherlands! Look at the (tiny) map hereunder, the distance between Roswinkel and Ribe in Denmark is only 5 hours by car. Walking, this is about 2 weeks. I know this sounds far, but not undoable! Is it possible the Danish stitch travelled south?

Tell me what you think of this! I look forward to your thoughts!