Naalbinding, also called Viking knitting among other names, is a fabric technique using a single needle to sew a thread into elaborate loops. Unlike many forms of weaving, fabric made by naalbinding is very stretchy, like knitted fabric. In fact, there is a naalbinding stitch that produces a fabric virtually indistinguishable from a needle knitted one. the blanket stitch is the simplest form of naalbinding. The stitches are not pulled tight but have some tension. the fabric formed appears net-like when stretched. the name "naalbinding" comes from Scandinavia where it was prevalent during the Middle Ages but this technique has been found to exist all over the world. The earliest examples of naalbinding that have been found, date to c 6500 BC. Naalbinding needles are often made of horn, bone or wood.
Needle Knitting by hand was done throughout the Middle Ages. In the late 1500's a knitting machine was invented but Queen Elizabeth refused a patent for it because she feared it would replace the hand knitters. Professional knitting in the later Middle Ages was done in knitting guilds.
Peg knitting is done on a round or rectangular loom-like device. the peg board or knitting rake has not been dated to it's time to invention but probably predates the knitting machine. An account of a German textile guild in 1618 mentions that only a certain number of peg frames would be allowed in a master knitter's workshop. Obviously, peg knitting did exist during the Middle Ages if there are guild regulations concerning their use even if the archaeologists haven't yet gotten around to dating the device. the knitting produced on a peg frame is indistinguishable from needle knitting and it is theorized that several large rugs from the 1700's may have been made on peg frames, really, really big peg frames.
Tatting is a process where a shuttle or a needle is used to make lengths of lace-like rings and chains from a single thread. Tatting has not changed much through the years and is still done by these same methods today. During the Middle Ages there is evidence of tatted rings but not chains, nor is there evidence of picots used during the Medieval period. However, most of our evidence for tatting comes from paintings which may or may not be accurate. Not many if any tatted articles survive from this period. Tatting was used for decoration on garments or for collars. Shuttle tatting was used during the Middle Ages. It is unknown when needle tatting began. the two methods are indistinguishable from one another.
Crochet is a technique of making fabric from loops with a hook instead of some sort of needle. the earliest crochet probably dates to the very late Middle Ages. There is some controversy as to whether or not crochet was actually done during the Middle Ages. If so, it originated with Catholic nuns in France.
Chain mail, the use of chain mail predates the Middle Ages. Mail making reached it's height during the early Middle Ages. Mail is a series of interlinking metal rings used to create a metal fabric for protection. The use of chain mail armor was very expensive and could not be afforded by the common man who generally wore leather armor. Plate and chain mail armor was reserved for the noble classes.
For More Information:
Building and Using a Knitting Frame
Email the Page Owner