This is a very special course and a chance to learn an ancient and almost lost, Scandinavian crochet stitch. You will be helping to keep this very old technique alive and most likely engaging in a craft that your ancestors were adept at, hundreds of years ago! It’s a beautiful connection to our Nordic roots. And even if you have no Viking DNA, it’s still a fascinating and worthwhile technique to learn.
I was fortunate enough to have attended a weekend course back in 2016 where I was taught “Crochet Nålebinding” by an expert in Scandinavian textiles, Lucinda Guy. She was very pleased when I asked if I could teach it to my students. Her and the lady that rediscovered the stitch, Ulrika Andersson are very keen to make sure this ancient stitch isn’t lost again!
It’s a really lovely stitch that’s easy to do once you get the hang of it and it creates fabric quite quickly. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do! If time allows, we will also get the chance to do a little bit of “Slip Stitch Colour-work” which was often used to decorate traditional Scandinavian accessories.
NOTE: The socks are quite thick, so they are more of a slipper sock or welly sock than one you’d wear with shoes.
You’ll learn:
- Crochet Nålebinding stitch
- Starting off and finishing with Crochet Nålebinding stitch
- Increasing and decreasing
- Toe-up sock construction with afterthought heel
- Top-down mitten with thumb gusset
- Slip stitch colour-work (if there’s time – this requries a pjoning hook)
- Braided bind off (a very traditional Scandinavian technique)
N.B. All of the sock construction techniques can be applied to normal crocheted socks.
Tools
Students will need to bring:
- 3mm & 3.5mm crochet hooks.
- Locking stitch markers.
- Scissors.
- Darning needle.
- Pjoning hook (optional if you want to do the slip stitch colour work – I will have some locally made ones for sale for £5 each)
Materials
The traditional technique would have used a relatively unprocessed fibre made from 100% Swedish wool.
This is important for this particular technique because the finished item is fulled (partially felted) for additional warmth. Cotton, superwash wool or overly processed yarns will not work with this particular technique.
I recommend using Ullcentrum 2ply Sportweight. You’ll need between 110-120g. Either in one colour or 90-100g in a main colour and 20g in a contrasting colour.
I have ordered some of this yarn from Sweden and with shipping it works out at about £14 per skein. I have a selection of colours available.
If you would like to source your own yarn from the UK, I would recommend the following alternatives:
- Black Isle Yarns Auchen Light DK
- Jamieson’s of Shetland DK (this is a bit thicker but will still work) note these are only 25g balls so you will need 6.
Daytime Course Dates 2025 (4 x2 hours)
Week 1 : Monday 13th January 12:30pm-2:30pm
Week 2 : Monday 20th January 12:30pm-2:30pm
Week 3 : Monday 27th January 12:30pm-2:30pm
Week 4 : Monday 3rd February 12:30pm-2:30pm
Venue
Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre
Manor Road
Walton-on-Thames
Surrey KT12 2PF
Evening Course Dates 2025 (4 x2 hours)
Week 1 : Monday 20th January 7:30pm-9:30pm
Week 2 : Monday 27th January 7:30pm-9:30pm
Week 3 : Monday 3rd February 7:30pm-9:30pm
Week 4 : Monday 10th February 7:30pm-9:30pm
Venue
St. Erconwalds Church Hall,
22 Esher Avenue,
Walton-On-Thames,
Surrey, KT12 2TA
Course Sign Up & Payment
Bookings are only secured with the receipt of a full payment. If you have any problems paying, please message me through the “Contact Me” page.
Go to the full page to view and submit the form.
Important – Cancellation Policy
Should you need to cancel, refunds for the course can only be given up to 14 days before the start of the course and are subject to an administration fee of £15. After this time, i.e. 30/12/24, I am unable to issue refunds as I have already committed to the hire of the venue and the purchase of all course materials and it doesn’t leave me enough time to find a replacement student to make the course financially viable for me. Of course, full refunds will be given in the event that the course is cancelled due to the venue or me cancelling the course. Thank you for your understanding.