I've been wanting to try nalbinding for quite some time, and I've acquired some nice needles (I know I could try with about any needle, but a) I like nice ones, and b) I wanted to start with something thick and smooth). Tachi is super interested in them. XD
(They're made of horn and bone; I gather they smell veeery interesting.)
It took me several instructive texts and three different videos to manage, but I have made a very sloppy item! Success?
I used my favourite cotton yarn largely because wool is expensive and if I'm going to fuck around trying to learn something I anticipate taking some time and mistakes (and be difficult to unpick even if I wanted to) I'd rather use something cheaper and easier to replace.
(I used knots to connect new pieces of yarn, which was obnoxious, but it was workable.)
Starting was easier than I was led to believe from other folks talking about struggling with it . . . but my second stitch I fucked up three times in a row before I finally got one to come through properly.
(Also, unstitching is so much more of a pain than frogging crochet; I had to unpick like 17 knots and put the needle back through.)
Of course it produced a twisting series of loops that I was very well I guess trust the process and see what happens about.
Working the chain was also pretty easy, when I saw a decent bit of 'feel free/try to crochet a chain or knit a band and finish it off and then nalbind off that instead of nalbinding your start' as well.
It even looks not bad, considering, I think!
Took a lot of guesswork on what loops to put the needle through when I looped it, though, even watching instruction videos, and even after two rounds around . . . I was still guessing and I'm pretty sure some of them are done absolutely wrong - some of the sections are closer to triangular than flat and I don't think that's how it's supposed to work. . .
But I think I did it a bit better, in other/later sections.
Of course, it's not anything useful, but perhaps eventually, with practise, I might be able to make something useful. Might try a flat panel next. . .
Eventually I'll probably try wool, but only if I keep up with it and get a good bit better - and I hear you can even nalbind with roving; the LYS has some gorgeous rovings from local farms and dyers. . .
