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 Bone Embroidery Laying Tool Stiletto

Handcrafted Bone Embroidery Laying Tool Stiletto

This 4 ¼ inch laying tool was handcrafted out of Buffalo Bone. It is initialed by Dave, the maker. If you would like to view an additional photo of this tool, please visit the Ebay auction.

Birch and Cherry Wood Crochet Hook Size H (5.00mm)

Birch and Cherry Wood Crochet Hook Size H (5.00mm)

Dave handcrafted this 6 1/4 inch size H (5.00 mm) crochet hook out of White Birch with a Cherry wood finial. The accent ring is made of colorful swirl celluloid. This hook 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 Cherry Wood Celtic Palm Size Lucet

Handcrafted Cherry Wood Celtic Palm Size Lucet

Dave hand crafted this lucet out of Cherry wood. It is 4 inches long by 2 inches wide. The copper embellishment is inset (not glued on surface) and he has burn etched the celtic design by hand.

This smaller lucet is just right for small hands and finer cord braiding. A Lucet fork is an ancient tool dating back to the Viking era. It is used for braiding cord. Lucet cord can be used for draw-string such as for bags or purses, decorative edging, and any other use where strong cord is needed. You can find more on the internet about lucets and how to use one, including photos.

This piece has been initialed and dated by Dave and is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Vegan Ivory Hedgehog Sewing Needle Pin Cushion

Vegan Ivory Hedgehog Sewing Needle Pin Cushion

QUIET PLEASE, “Little Tag” the hedgehog, is sleeping. Dave carved him out of a Tagua Nut (South American Palm) which is commonly called “vegetable ivory” or vegan ivory because it can be carved and scrimshawed like regular ivory. Dave has also inset small but powerful rare earth magnets inside him. "Little Tag" would just love to hold your pins and needles for you and be your favorite pet. He is about 1 3/4 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. "Little Tag" has been initialed and dated on the bottom by Dave, the artist.

Additional photos of "Little Tag" can be found at Ebay.com.

Introducing....The Swallowtail Tatting Shuttle

The Swallowtail Tatting Shuttle

Here in central Oregon winter is still in full force, but that doesn't prevent us from dreaming of spring. Dave's newest line of tatting shuttles, the Swallowtails, makes us think of spring!

Sometime back we fitted new wooden blinds in our house and we ended up with slats left over. Since we often like to “re-purpose” things we find, Dave made some lightweight tatting shuttles out of the extra blinds.

These shuttles are 3 1/4 inches long by 1 1/8 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick. Each has been adorned with a graceful swallotail using pyrography (burn etching) and has been initialed and dated by Dave, the maker. Beeswax was used to finish each shuttle.

You can find four of our new Swallowtail Tatting Shuttles in our Etsy shop.

Three Muses Tatting Shuttle and Needle Minder Set

Another commission finished! Dave just finished this beautiful cameo shuttle and needle minder set made out of rare Pink Ivory wood. It's on the way to a very special customer!

Two New Medieval Norse Nalbinding Needles

Made with love on Grizzly Mountain!

We have just added two new fossil walrus ivory nalbinding needles to our "Fiber Art Tool" section of our Etsy shop. If you'd like to view additional photos of these two needles, please click here.