You know about knitting but what is nålbinding?

During the summer, I finally decided to take time to learn how to nålbind socks and mittens. Nålbinding is an old craft - older than knitting or crocheting and it has been used for thousands of years in Europe and even as far away as Egypt. After knitting came popular it almost vanished but survived in remote areas. One of those areas has been Eastern Finland where my grandmother used to make nålbound mittens for my father when he was a child. He still remembers those mittens as very warm, durable, and windproof. None of my living relatives know this skill, though, and so it was in danger to be forgotten in my family. However, I still remember my grandmother trying to teach me the skill when I was a child. I found the method confusing and only remember how my grandmother dealt with the long stretches of yarn by crocheting the yarn into a big chain. Now it was up to me to teach myself the rest with the help of books and the internet.
If you want to support this channel, buy me a coffee! ko-fi.com/withmyhandsdream
My blog: withmyhandsdream.com
Some good links to learn nålbinding:
Sanna-Mari Pihlajapiha: Nalbinding - Nålbindning - Nålebinding: www.en.neulakintaat.fi/1
Kinnasneulakirja by Martta Valkeejärvi with instructional videos here: • Kinnasneulakirja: Haah...
With One Needle - How To Needlebind by Mervi Pasanen: amzn.to/3qmBoFp
Music: KZbin Audio Library
Equipment:
Nikon D5600 DX-Format Digital SLR: amzn.to/2QIGegX
Mic: Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone: amzn.to/2RcZ9Ab

[@MoniqueAO888]

Your idea of "crocheting/looping" the yarn to have more length is genious !!! 😀

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thanks! That’s the one thing I learned from my grandmother!

[@sabrinazarogoza8686]

It makes my heart so glad and proud to see you reclaiming your heritage in that way. I believe that these older crafts and ways of life should not be forgotten. Thank you for keeping nalbinding alive.

[@944gemma]

Thank you for posting this wonderful video. I always feel badly about what I call “forgotten knowledge”.

[@GrannyReplica]

What a fascinating and beautiful craft! I'm so glad it is kept alive, so people like me who first learnt of it 40 minutes ago have a chance to explore it. It feels like every time I turn around a new and brilliant way to enjoy yarn pops up from somewhere. Thank you for creating and sharing this lovely tutorial.

[@kbyom]

Great video! A little bit of a tip: Once you put the needle through the loops on your thumb (and before you pull the yarn through), take your left forefinger and place it over the needle and on top of your thumb... then pull the yarn through. This will prevent your new loops from wanting to form in front of your thumb rather than around your thumb. Keep up the good work!

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you for the tip!

[@tm13tube]

I’ve read when you teach another is when you learn best.

[@kbyom]

@@tm13tube That's actually true :)

[@karnachandru8702]

I really feel this video was a labor of love and was very important to you. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[@juditkerpics6363]

Hei! Your grandmother was a genious! I'm a beginner myself, started nalbinding about a year ago, watched and read many different tutorials, but I have never met this crochet-chain method before, which enables you to work with a very long yarn. I'm excited to try it, kiitos! I just completed 2 pairs of socks with York stitch, and now working on a pair of mittens with Finnish 2+2. You mentioned, you don't really count the stitches, just increase/decrease by feel. You must have a superpower, because the only way I can make a pair of socks to be the same size and shape, is to make them simultaneously, and also count the stitches and make notes. :D

[@emmawelch]

This is so beautiful and I love learning more about such an important craft! I'm glad you're keeping it alive, and thank you for sharing!

[@withmyhandsdream]

You’re welcome!

[@juliecampbell2093]

So clearly explained! Thank you for taking the time to show how to do this 🙂 I am a visual learner and this was perfect for me. And thank you for the book and video links!

[@VOGTLANDOUTDOORS]

You EARNED another subscriber with this video - WELL DONE YOU ! -Mark Vogt | VOGTLAND OUTDOORS

[@asymmattrical]

That was fabulous! Your English is great and I loved listening to your explanation! You were quite thorough in your explanations and examples. Thank you!!!

[@imkes60]

Thank you for this video. It turns out I hadn't expected there to be a fiber art I hadn't even kind of heard about. It was really fun to learn about this one. I might try to make some leg warmers for when I'm quietly working at home this winter (blankets just don't seem to fit snugly enough).

[@withmyhandsdream]

Legwarmers are perhaps the easiest beginner project. I myself made a tube that I gave for my hamster to play with before I started the mittens.

[@imkes60]

@@withmyhandsdream we are traveling through Finland at the moment on the E8 on our way to northern Norway. I finished one legwarmer and have taken the start of the other with me on this trip. Thanks for your video, it really helped me get started.

[@kbyom]

Legwarmes are a gret sock cheat too! If the leg warmers fit inside your show, they'll never know you have a regular sock on ;)

[@jcortese3300]

That chain-the-working-thread technique may have just made an Italian needlelace called puncetto infinitely less frustrating for me, and I've got to try it. That's absolutely brilliant -- thanks for sharing it!

[@withmyhandsdream]

Good luck! I hope it works!

[@g.heathjohnson7454]

Thank you for your video! I think a tutorial made by a beginner is legitimate for the reasons you state. I have been part of nalbinding group on facebook and bought a book, but your video motivated me and helped me to make my first stitches! working on a small, very imperfect hat now as a first project and your video is very helpful. Thank you for helping to preserve this skill!

[@withmyhandsdream]

Great to hear! I should take your advice and watch my own video! I tried demonstrating nalbinding to a friend after a few months pause and I didn’t remember how my favourite stitch was made. That’s another reason I make the videos - I can teach myself!

[@needleworknut7792]

I'm going to try and make the 2 + 1 finish stitch. Where I live, It's not cold enough for a denser stitch. Winters are very mild. 10 degrees celsius or 50 fahrenheit, for a week or less in January. Looks fun to do. Patricia-South Padre Island, Texas

[@natashaquijano6672]

I love this! Always wanted to do this! You have reintroduced an old desire! Thank you!

[@harveyhaines5383]

It was lovely to hear that someone else shares my philosophy regarding students making excellent teachers. Passion plays into it, curiosity too. I'm sure your grandmother would be proud that you're carrying this craft forward and helping others to do the same.

[@withmyhandsdream]

Yes! My passion is to learn all the old crafts (whether it is possible or not!) and keep them alive by sharing them.

[@MaxxSmiledog.jpg1998]

@@withmyhandsdream if you want to make a plated edge,you can either go under thumb loop and over needle yarn or over thumb loop and under needle yarn. For example the Räisälä stitch is similar to Fåberg except it has plated edge.

[@anicatt100]

Thank you! I confess - I had given up trying to do the thumb method. Watching and listening to you has done the trick and I finally have something I can recognise 😆

[@withmyhandsdream]

Great! I’m so happy that my video helped!

[@DanceswithDustBunnies]

Literally the clearest video on nalbinding I have come across. Thank you.

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you so much and you’re welcome!

[@susanstawniak1826]

This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing this very old skill!

[@quashiesuzanne]

Love your techniques. Thanks so much!

[@4slair]

Thank you for explaining how the loops lay. This makes more sense to me.

[@fiona36b]

Thank you for sharing your heritage ❤

[@rachelbirrell402]

What a lovely and clear set of videos. Thank you!

[@leesmith4055]

Excellent tutorial. You did very well. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@dottyrichards9627]

Thank you so much for sharing your family's wonderful craft. I spin yarn so I'm excited to spin some yarn to make into some nalbinding socks.

[@theverbind]

Wow!! This is so cool!

[@linamoses3513]

Loved your video. Thanks for sharing your personal and cultural history too.

[@libellula3313]

Thanks, interesting the chain method for holding longer amounts of yarn.

[@JelMain]

The looping technique comes from spinning, where it's used as a primitive way to ply a single-strand spun thread into 3-ply thread. When twisted up with a spinning wheel, it's called chain-plying. The twist of the ply is always the opposite twist to the twist of the strand (ie Z and S or S and Z).

[@withmyhandsdream]

How interesting! I thought it came from crochet but then, when you think about it, crocheting is a fairly new craft.

[@JelMain]

@@withmyhandsdream It was used by the indigenous peoples of North America. Crochet became popular after Queen Elizabeth introduced her ladies in waiting to it.

[@kyststudio-epicartadventure]

Got! To try this…after I finish knitting this sweater.

[@KathlynB]

Thank you so much for this, especially the bit about looping up long threads to work with. I use this now with filet netting which requires very long threads. This method is a lifesaver.

[@chaz4471]

❤❤thank you for sharing

[@mozartpaiva1]

Very good!

[@GraciePattenSewing]

Very cool! I'd love to try nalbinding a pair of socks.

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thanks! Nålbound socks are super warm and comfy!

[@JelMain]

The sheet bend is an easy knot to join two threads.Turn the end you've been working with (the standing end) back on itself to form a U (a bight). Pass one end of the new thread through the eye of the bight, behind it (possibly a couple of times if the thread's slippery), then under itself where it emerges from the bight. Pull tight to close the knot.

[@withmyhandsdream]

I am not sure if I understood but I’ll google it and try the next time!

[@JelMain]

@@withmyhandsdream A sheet's a rigging line connected to a sail, so if it breaks, they need a quick but safe way to reconnect it.

[@snoozie299]

Thanks so much - you have inspired me ! I have ordered my needle today and will use some of my own handspun wool to start with !

[@withmyhandsdream]

You are welcome! Spinning is something I haven’t yet tried. You can bet that it is on my list of things to learn, though! Good luck with your needlebinding!

[@mizzmusicthief]

This looks so cool!! I have a weaving needle that might work for this, I'll have to give it a try. Thank you so much for the intro to this video, I had never heard of this technique here in the States, but you explained it perfectly.

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you! Try it! It takes some patience to learn but then it is fun.

[@MaxxSmiledog.jpg1998]

Nice. The 2+1 is actually the Fåberg stitch which is one of the so-called Finnish stitch,and the 2+2 is the most common one of this group. You can also try the Russian stitches and turning .

[@chrismiksworld]

I got so Lost but I am sure if I had Needle and thread in hand plus a few more tutorials to learn and understand a bit more I might be able to do it

[@withmyhandsdream]

It really helps to try for yourself. However, be careful with mixing tutorials as different tutorials teach different stitches and combining tutorials may lead in confusion.

[@annlidslot8212]

Hi, Here is a comment for your channel. This was a technique I didn't know about. I might get into learning it one day. Your hamster is really cute and I didn't know that they came in white without being albino. Yours, Ann

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you for commenting! Yes, Russian dwarf hamsters that are also called winter dwarf hamsters are white during the winter and some stay white throughout the summer months as well. They still have a darker stripe along their spine. He was a nice hamster but he didn’t live very long. Now we have a syrian hamster who is ginger and white.

[@annlidslot8212]

@@withmyhandsdream Hi again, I'm so sorry for your loss, I know that loosing a pet is hard. I live in the country next west of you, so lets call them Winter Dwarf Hamster for the time being, shall we. I know next to nothing about hamsters, just what you told me now, so thank you. Together with your video yesterday you've now let me learn two new things, and I appreciate that a lot. I hope that you will have more time with your ginger and white hamster. While talking to you: may I ask how thick yarn you would recommend for nålbindning, and is it sturdier than fairly tight knitting? I will take over sock knitting for my husband from my mother who has done it, she still does, but she is getting up there in years. I have a tendency to knit very tight, usually having to go up a size or two when I knit. The yarn might call for 4½ knitting needle, but I need number 5 or sometimes even 5½. I think I have a lead on yarn from the sheep breed "Finullsfår" that is apparently a heritage breed here, and am thinking of getting some of that to knit socks out of. Perhaps I'll see if it would benefit with some wool from "Gotlandsfår" another heritage breed and maybe see if it''s possible to incorporate some linen yarn, instead of the ever present acrylic and the more rarely nylon, for extending sock life. I would prefer to knit natural fibers only, even it I have to wrangle more than more than one ball of yarn at the time to do it. Yours, Ann

[@starleneleach9965]

You can sew cloth into the inside.. some gloves are made like that.. 😁

[@bella-bee]

I spy a treadle sewing machine in the background. Very nice. The position of the tension device tells me it’s a Singer 15?

[@withmyhandsdream]

Yes! It’s Singer 15 and there’re several videos where I first clean and restore it and then sew with it!

[@aprilgeorge5208]

In America I have only heard it said with a soft “i” sound in binding

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you! I wasn’t sure. I must check whether there’re several ways to pronounce it, or if I just guessed wrong.

[@roset.7446]

How long is your needle? I would love to try it out but not sure what size is good for the needle.

[@withmyhandsdream]

Hi! My needles is about 11 cm long or about 4,5 inches.

[@lizadams7662]

So difficult to hear your words with the music interfering. I would like to learn it but without the background.

[@TheBayoubreeze]

If you thread your needle before you start your slip knot wouldn't you be able to work from a ball of yarn instead of using cut pieces. ????

[@withmyhandsdream]

No, it doesn’t work like that. One end of the yarn is always at the work and the other threaded through the needle. You’ll have to pull the whole yarn through every time you make a stitch. In order to use a ball, you should pull the whole ball worth of yarn through!

[@katiederuyter6407]

This is what confused me the most about other videos! I finally figured it out with the help of a book. This video explains so many things we'll for beginners!

[@baddudecornpop7328]

I wish the girls in America would do things like this. 320 million ppl and I could probably count the number of girls that know things like this on one hand😕

[@withmyhandsdream]

It is not a common skill even in here. Mostly it is learned by people doing re-enacting and things like that. But you can learn it and teach it forward. It might become a new trend, who knows?

[@satsumamoon]

I can see why this craft was discontinued 😄

[@weedeater64]

7:11 what the hell?