Beginning Nalbinding: An Ancient Looping Mystery Revealed 2026

Class Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026 2:00 - 5:00 PM

Location: St. Louis Community College - Meramec Campus, 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122. Check in at Registration 15 minutes prior to class starting at PE Building for location.

Room: Communications Building, Room 224

CONTACT NOTE: Failure to provide your email address and/or opt out of marketing updates will result in no communication from the Festival about updates or from your  instructor. Our system does not permit us to reach you through other means. If you choose to decline and do not provide an email address, please ensure that all necessary details have been noted down.

The class fee includes admission to the Vendor Marketplace every day of the festival; April 24 - 26, 2026.

Instructor: Melanie Shelton 

Long before the clever inventions of knitting needles and crochet hooks came into fashion, there existed a far older method, nalbinding, a looping technique so ancient that even Holmes himself might have consulted a museum curator to trace its origins. With a single needle and short lengths of yarn joined together as you work, nalbinding produces fabric that is thick, warm, resolute, and most remarkable of all immune to unraveling, even when worn thin by adventure or time.

In this introductory class, you shall learn:
- The foundational nalbinding stitch,
- The art of increasing and decreasing,
- The practical method of joining yarn lengths,
- And through steady progress, you will depart with a completed nalbound item of your own making.

No prior experience is necessary; all materials are provided. Bring only your curiosity and a willingness to explore a craft as enduring as any mystery chronicled by Dr. Watson.

Skill Prerequisite: None.

Ages: Middle School, High School, Adult

Supplies: Included in Class Cost: All supplies provided.

Additional Supplies Needed: Pen/Pencil & notebook.

Homework: None.

Class Policies

• The class minimum is 3 students. If we are unable to fill these spots, we will cancel the class and provide a full refund.
• By signing up for this class, you have admission to Friday Night Vendor Marketplace Preview.
• If a class is sold out, click here to be placed on the Wait List.
• No refunds will be issued after April 1, 2026.
  
• For any cancellations prior to April 1, 2026, a $25 administrative fee will be assessed.

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