Tagged: Card Weaving

Nalbinding and card weaving

These are two techniques I’d like to learn properly. I’ve nalbinded every now and then for years, but I seem to land in the same stitch every time. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s a thumb stitch. I used a handspun yarn (Värmland sheep) to bind a purse for the “stone age” spindle I bought at Shetland Museum in Lerwick. I use this spindle supported, but it can be used as a drop spindle also. It’s a favourite.

IMG_3719 Ålandsfår, Lerwick slända, nålbindning, brickband

The band is one of my first card woven bands. The pattern is from a Finnish book, “Lautanauhat” by Maikki Karisto. The teal yarn is handspun (British Longwool blends, commercial top), the white is handspun silk (brick), and the lilac is a commercial wool blend yarn. The little sheep button is a gift from someone. I’ve forgotten from whom I got it, so if you see this, please shout! I think I’ll add a tassel to the bottom of the purse also.

I spun the yarn on the Lerwick spindle. It’s Åland sheep, from one of the sheep I showed in an earlier post. The wool is very soft with almost no guard hair, and as I spun it lofty and quite thick, the yarn is super soft. I’ll use it in nalbinding that I will felt. Maybe mittens? A hat?

In celebration of two beautiful books…

… I finished my Shetland lace yarn:

Shetland lace yarn

Shetland lace yarn

Shetland lace yarn, close up

Shetland lace yarn, close up

200 grams, 2-ply, wpi 30, 1340 meters. This can be used in a Shetland lace shawl, even if it’s not as fine as the skilled spinners in Shetland would spin for the finest shawls. Top from Jamieson & Smith in Lerwick.

“Shetland Textiles 800 BC to the present” is a beautiful book. The title says what it is about. Awesome photos, great information written by experts on all aspects of Shetland textiles. You can buy it here. Yes it’s expensive, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed! It would be a great present for someone who loves the textile tradition of Shetland.

IMG_2774 Shetland Textiles

“The Magic of Shetland Lace Knitting” by Shetland lace expert Elizabeth Lovick is a book for lace knitters. It explains all techniques you need for designing you own shawls and scarves, and it does it in the way Liz always does, exactly, easy-to-read, enjoyably. The photos have great contrast, which makes it easy to see details. It’s a colourful book as the samples are knitted in dyed yarns. This also is a very beautiful book printed on high quality paper. I highly recommend it for all lace knitters! You find it in several bookshops on internet, and if you hurry you can buy a signed copy from Liz. Details on her Ravelry group “Northern Lace”.

IMG_2775 The magic of Shetland lace