Nålbindning is a fascinating technique used for creating woollen textiles using only short lengths of yarn and a single, large eyed needle. Unique and often complex this important textile technique predates knitting and is still widely practiced today in Sweden, Finland and other Scandinavian countries.

There are many distinctive stitch structures and regional variations of this ancient needle knotting technique and consequently many variations of spelling.

I was lucky enough to be taught this technique during a research trip to Sweden so I use the Swedish spelling - a literal translation would be needle stitching (nål - pronounced ‘nawl’ and bindning pronounced ‘bin-dning’). Other spellings include nalbinding, nalebinding and nailbinding.

Feindishly tricky to get to grips with at first, nålbindning once learnt and practised is a beautiful constructed technique to use. Predominantly worked using woollen yarns, the fabric lends itself to fulling, embroidery and fringing and was often combined with knitting and crochet.