Nalbinding (also written nålbinding) is one of the oldest surviving textile techniques in the world, with examples dating back thousands of years. Long before knitting spread across Europe, people were creating warm, durable textiles using a single needle and short lengths of yarn.

Unlike knitting or crochet, nalbinding is a knotless looping technique. Each stitch is formed individually, creating a dense, hard-wearing fabric that won’t unravel if a thread breaks. Variations of nalbinding have been found across cultures—from Ancient Egypt and Scandinavia to Finland, Peru and Papua New Guinea—making it one of humanity’s oldest shared traditions of textile making.