Knooking

I dont know if any of you are familiar with the technique of "Knooking". It's knitting with a crochet hook. Different from Tunisian in that it creates true knit and purl stitches. I have experimented with it using a cabled crohook.

Recently, Leisure Arts created a Knooking kit....

I should have taken a photo of it before I used it....the kit includes 3 wooden hooks, 3 satin cables and an instruction book for both right and left handers. I found out about it on Ravelry and purchased it. It is exclusively available at Wal-Mart until Sept. when it will be more widely available. 

It's a interesting way to knit without needles and its relatively easy for a crocheter. It does take a little practice because you have to YO differently than you normally do, but its pretty much just inserting the hook in the stitch, YO and pull through. The cable substitutes for what would normally be a needle and holds the stitches while you work. And, as you can see, it does create a true knitted fabric....

The kit is rather inexpensive....$6.97 plus tax, of course. The only drawback I found is the wooden hooks....I never have liked wood that wasn't prepared in some way....polished, waxed. The stitches don't move smoothly along the shaft. I used some waxed paper and rubbed it over the hook....that did help some. Use of the hook will help more, I am sure. But a perfect kit would have metal hooks. Still, for a beginner, I can't really complain. If you have an interest in Knooking, there are also videos like THIS one that explain the technique. Although this is a video for right handers, there are also some for those of you who are left handed.

If you are like me and appreciate the look of knitting but dont really like or want to knit with needles, this may be an option. I am hoping that, in the future, there will be more patterns....and a way to work in the round. But this is a fun start....if you can get a kit, give it a try. :)

More crochet coming soon!

Crochet, Away!