How to Knook!

Knooking isn't exactly the most popular/well-known craft around, and I've been asked about it a lot, so I thought I might as well make a post about it :)

First off, if you didn't understand from my previous posts, knooking is knitting (real knitting!) with a modified crochet hook.  The hook has a hole in the non-hook end, where you thread through a string or cord (usually something firm like a shoelace) to use as your 'second needle'.  It's similar to tunisian (afghan) crochet in that you hold stitches on your crochet hook as you go, but you do turn around at the end.  I find it a lot easier to deal with than two needles, and I'm much faster at things like ribbing this way.  Anyway as far as hooks go, I have the Leisure Arts kit (I actually won it in a contest, it was the best day), which comes with three knooks and instructions.  You can now buy it on Amazon and other craft stores.

Anyway, Leisure Arts has some great instructional videos about knooking.  I actually use a different method, but I'm thinking of trying to learn theirs too.  Here's a big video, or you can search youtube for the individual ones.

By the way, whichever method you use (I think there are only two, but no idea really), make sure you use the knit and purl from the same method!  I wanted to mix them too, but it really doesn't work out and your knitting will be a mess.

So, how would you go about knooking a normal knitting pattern, you might ask.  Well, there's a little trial and error involved.  You should probably get an idea of how your knooking gauge compares to your actual knitting - but if you're lazy like me, you'll skip over that.  I usually just approximate the needle size (sometimes you can get the exact diameter, but the needle doesn't always have a hook equivalent) and try doing the gauge swatch as suggested by the pattern (and believe me, I hate watching too, but I suppose it's a necessary evil...).  When it comes to patterning, especially increasing and decreasing, that's a whole different story.  I'll probably do a post about that later, so look out for it.

Lastly, here's a fun pattern for beginning to knook; I actually just finished making my own, so once it's blocked to my satisfaction there will be pictures!  Anyway, this scarf (the pattern came in the kit) alternates blocks of knit and crochet patterns, so it's pretty fun.  Give it a try!

That's all for now.  Definitely send me any questions you have about knooking, and I will try my hardest to answer them (from my whole 6-month experience! haha).