Scrimshaw Elk Antler Nalbinding Knitting Needle

Scrimshaw Elk Antler Nalbinding Knitting Needle

Dave has handcrafted this nalbinding knitting needle from elk antler and scrimshawed a Nordic design on it. It is slightly curved and 2 3/8 inch long. Many of the ancient nalbinding needles discovered from archeological sites were made from antler. This needle is ideal for authentic tool use in SCA events or Ren-Faire.

What is Nalbinding! According to Wikipedia , Nålebinding (Danish: literally "binding with a needle" or "needle-binding", also naalbinding or naalebinding) is a fabric creation technique predating both knitting and crochet. Also known in English as "knotless netting," "knotless knitting," or "single needle knitting," the technique is distinct from crochet in that it involves passing the full length of the working thread through each loop, unlike crochet where the work is formed only of loops, never involving the free end. Archaeological specimens of fabric made by nålebinding can be difficult to distinguish from knitted fabric.

Dave uses shed antlers which naturally fall off the animal each year after the breeding season. They grow back during spring and summer and are fully developed again by the fall breeding season. After that, they are shed and the process repeated again for the next years growth.

This nalbinding needle is currently up for auction on Ebay. Please visit the auction to view more photos of this nalbinding needle.

Magnetic Acorn Sewing Needle Minder Pin Cushion

Magnetic Acorn Sewing Needle Minder Pin Cushion

Dave has handcrafted this large acorn out of cedar wood and burn etched the oak leaf design. It has a powerful rare earth magnet inside and is mounted on a walnut base which is approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

This one of a kind pin cushion has been initialed and dated on the bottom by Dave. This piece is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Handcrafted Oak Leaf with Acorn French Knitting Spool

Handcrafted Oak Leaf with Acorn French Knitting Spool

Dave has handcrafted this spool knitter using cedar and walnut.  He has burn etched a oak leaf/acorn design around it. The spool knitter is approx 4 ¼ inchs overall in length and brass was used for the knitting pins so they will not rust. Dave has hand turned the accompanying knitting needle from teak wood. Both the knitter and needle have a hand rubbed bees wax finish. The knitter has been initialed and dated by Dave.

More photos can be found at Ebay, where this set is currently up for auction.

Handcrafted Bone Embroidery Laying Tool Stiletto

Handcrafted Bone Embroidery Laying Tool Stiletto

Dave handcrafted this 5 ¼ inch laying tool out of buffalo bone and golden swirl celluloid. It has been initialed by Dave and is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Candy Apple Red Celluloid Lace Tatting Shuttle

Candy Apple Red Celluloid Lace Tatting Shuttle

I have been so behind on everything since my laptop died AGAIN! The Ebay auction for this beautiful shuttle is nearly over and I'm just now getting it blogged! For those of you shopping around for a laptop, buy a MacBook, not a Dell! In Dell's defense, they are replacing my lemon with a hopefully new one (I suspect they will send me a refurb from what I've heard from other owners). I have had it with trying to work with their tech support!

Now, for more pleasant things :)

Dave handcrafted this 2 ½ inch tatting shuttle out of colorful "Apple Red" celluloid. It has been initialed and dated by Dave.

12 New Nalbinding Needles!

Dave has been busy! He has just completed 12 new nalbinding needles that are now listed in the "Fiber Art Tools" section of our Etsy shop.

Some of our wonderful customers had mentioned that they use their needles during SCA events, so with that in mind, Dave has tried to create needles that look like ancient Medieval Norse relics. No two shards of fossil walrus ivory are alike, so each handcrafted needle is a one of a kind treasure.

Handcrafted Lace Bobbin with Turquoise and Bone Spangle

Dave hand crafted this 4 ¼ inch lace bobbin out of joined walnut and stabilized maple wood. JoAnna has made the beaded spangle using an old inlayed Yak bone bead from Tibet , turquoise and carnelian beads. It is initialed by Dave, the maker.  If you would like to view more photos of this item, please click here.

Black Widow Ebony Tatting Shuttle

Dave hand crafted this 2 1/2 inch shuttle out of black ebony wood. It has been inlayed with a brass widows web on the top and a red/black swirl celluloid hourglass on the bottom. It was a little difficult to catch the light just right to show the red hourglass inlay in the photo. It has been initialed and dated by Dave, the maker. Please click here to view more photos of this shuttle.

Fiddleback Maple Cameo Tatting Shuttle

This type of wood grain pattern is often called "Fiddleback" because it is used in making expensive violins. It is also refered to as Tiger Stripe Maple or Curly Maple.

Dave handcrafted this 2 5/8 inch tatting shuttle out of this beautifully grained maple and inset a resin cameo. It has been initialed and dated by Dave, the maker.

Please click here to view more photos of this tatting shuttle.