22.11.10

Tutorial: Naalbound socks for men


My dear friends, here's a free pattern and tutorial for making naalbound men's socks.

The size of this pair is for European shoesize 45 (UK size 10,5). Since Einarr can't stand socks made of real wool, I made these with acrylic. I bought yarn for knitting needle nr. 4 (UK needle 8) and took a double thread for naalbinding.

The socks are made in Oslo-stitch, see these YouTube instructions for that stitch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8PXk5lTIZo

The socks are made from the toe up, this means you start at the toe. You start the "toe cap" with a loop of 10 stitches. Increase gradually until you have 46 stitches.

After 15 cm increase to 54 stitches to make room for the instep. After 20 cm in total you need to make the 'cross-over' to the ankle part of the sock. Take 27 stitches and work them seperately from the rest of the sock. Attach them again at stitch nr. 28 of the toe-part of your sock. Continue to work the stitches and decrease 4 stitches in the next two rounds.

After 5 cm decrease 6 stitches over the next 4 rounds. Finish the ankle part of the sock.

For the heel, pick up the stitches at the bottom of the foot part and the bottom of the ankle part. You'll have about 54 stitches in total. In the next round, increase 2 stitches in the corners to give the heel room. The second round naalbind the stitches as they come, for the next rounds decrease 4 or 5 stitches each row until you have about 10 stitches left. Close them up with a simple stitch and your sock is done!

An excellent book for socks is "Lots of Socks" by Larry Schmitt, available at Spanish Peacock. The pattern I've given you here is derived from his 'Simple Sock'.

20.11.10

Book review

Bookcover

The book "Viking Clothing" by Nille Glaesel came to me by accident really, a friend pointed it out to me. Nille was on her way to a Viking conference near Paris and had a stop-over at my friend's house. I went there, bought the book and I had the opportunity to meet writer Nille as well.

I can be short (and sweet): the book is FANTASTIC!!

Make sure you add this to your Viking library!

The price is 60 euros but that is really not expensive for this 186 pages book, filled with wonderful photos, explanations on tablet weaving and other type of trim/decoration and it also includes a pattern workbook with 6 pattern sheets filled with patterns. The patterns are for both adults and children.

Buy it here: http://www.vikingdrakt.webhjelp.net/

19.11.10

Website

Dear all,

Einarr and I have decided to translate the entire website into English. It is obvious our Dutch followers can understand English but the rest of you can't understand a word of our Dutch....

So, our request to you: please send us all your hints and tips for our site!
The tabs we have now are: who are we, blog, crafts, recipes, (academic) courses, excavations & exhibitions, agenda, calender, booklist, for sale and contact.

Your suggestions are welcome at: info [at] girbeson [dot] nl

We hope to hear from you!!

18.11.10

More Viking doll

Dear all,

Runa's Viking doll, which you can see in the photo hereunder, wasn't finished in my opinion. Of course, Runa wasn't complaining, but I thought the little naalbound lady needed a hangarok.

I found some dark brown Herringbone wool and I made a mini-hangarok.


Our local market has a bead stand and two ladybug beads are the equivalent of turtle brooches.


I think I'm done with this doll.... unless I decide she needs a mini-kaftan....