Handspun Yarn

Nalbinding

Nalbinding

Nalbinding is an ancient textile technique that pre-dates knitting. Nalbinding knots are sewn using a large wooden or bone needle by forming interconnecting loops around your thumb.

My interest in the textile techniques of nalbinding came from my Saami father. My grandmother was a Saami from the Sor-Varanger province of Norway. My father was born in Petsamo and was raised in a small Saami community. He and my mother moved to Canada after the war and settled in British Columbia. My father worked as a commercial fisherman along the west coast of Canada. Before his long fishing trips, my mother would knit him several pairs of woolen hand warmers to keep his hands warm as he worked. My father would quietly comment to me, that he wished that my mother knew how to make the mittens like his mother did. He didn’t really understand how she made them, but he tried to explain that she would wrap the yarn around her thumb and sew it with a large needle. ‘Peukalo kude’ as he described it in Finnish. He said they were much warmer, thicker and more durable. Of course, he never told my mother this as he wouldn’t want to offend her.

Nalbinding (just like knitting or crochet) can be used to make mittens, hats, slippers, socks, jumpers, bags and other textile items.

Some free nalbinding patterns can be found at my AllFiberarts.com website.

Nalbinding Hats

Woolen hats made of woolen singles spun hats will be available for sale at “>Paivatar on FOLKSY

Nalbinding Yarns

I will be hand spinning yarns that are suitable for Nalbinding. I spin many of these yarns as a Woollen spun, Singles ply yarn because historically, that is what was used. The yarn was spun using primitive hand made tools – a Drop Spindle, and Stitched with a hand-carved needle.

Paivatar Hand Spun yarns will be available on Folksy and on EBay.
“>Paivatar on FOLKSY
“>Paivatar on EBAY

Nalbinding Needles

Nalbinding Needles
I am now able to offer nalbinding needles made of wood or of bone.
The bone needles are approx 9 cm in length. The bone needles have a small eye so are best suited for fine yarns.
The wooden needles are approx 10 cm in length and have a larger eye. These nalbindning needles are better for use with thicker weight yarns such as Aran or Chunky wools.

Nalbinding Needles

Nalbinding Needles

Nalbinding Needles will be available in my EBAY Shop.
“>Paivatar on EBAY

Newsletter

I am updating this website on a regular basis with new hand dyed yarns, handwoven items and other products. If you would like to keep informed of the latest developments, please Subscribe to my new Newsletter.

WEBSHOP Custom Orders and Paivatar On-line Platforms

I will be selling my handmade products and crafting supplies via On-line Platforms – so that I do not collect any financial information on my website. I only store name, address and any other information required for shipping your items. Please Contact me if you would like to discuss a Custom Order.

Paivatar on FOLKSY

My Folksy Shop will feature most of my hand made products, hand-dyed yarns and supplies for other crafters.

Paivatar on EBAY

My Ebay Shop will have Nalbinding Needles, Natural plant dyes and some hand-dyed or hand spun yarns.

Paivatar on Etsy

Currently I only list a few products on Etsy.