Day 11 on the Tour of The Knook!

Many times, while crocheting, I have thought that it would be great to come up with a way to knit with a crochet hook.
Why did I not think of this?
Alas, I am easily distracted by new yarn and new designs..............

Someone had more time and discipline than I have.

What is Knooking?

Here are the details:

A Knook is a specialized crochet hook that has a cord threaded through a hole in the non-hook end. The cord holds the stitches while you work, allowing you to create a true knitted fabric.

The  Knook kit contains:
• 3 bamboo Knooks—These new and unique specialized crochet hooks replace traditional knitting needles and come in sizes G (4.0 mm), H (5.0 mm), I (5.5 mm). They look like regular crochet hooks on one end with a hole for holding a cord on the other end.
• 3 – 36" long cords to hold your stitches
• Step-by-Step Learn to Knook Instruction Book—It’s easy to learn to knit with The Knook. (We‘ve included both right- and left-handed instructions!) The book also includes four beginner projects—Infinity Scarf, Spa Cloth, Baby Blanket, and Diamond Lap Throw.

I think this is a great gateway into knitting and teaching a crocheter to knit. Then again, you may love Knooking so much that this is the way you tackle knitting. I am curious to see what everyone does with this craft.

As for me, I took one of my favorite quilt blocks, Log Cabin, and adapted it to Crocheting, Knitting and Knooking. This is the square that I knooked.
This square is a great stash buster and will give you lots of great practice.

Here are some of the things that I really love about this technique--

1. Casting on is so easy, you just chain the number of stitches that you need to cast on,
     then you pick your stitches up in the chain loops.
2. Binding off is easy to do loosely. Sometimes, I have to go up several needle sizes to
    bind off with my knitting, but not with my Knook!
3. You can teach and learn continental knitting. I have never been able to get comfortable with
    continental knitting, but with the Knook, I caught right on.
4. I love the ease that the hook provides in hooking the stitches.
5. It takes away the fear of ALL those stitches being on the  two needles. Now you have this
    lovely lifeline holding all yours stitches securely. There is no fear of them falling off one of
    your needles.
6. Garter stitch (knit every row) is so easy to do.
7. It takes away the intimidation of two needles that a lot of crocheters have.

Here are some of the things that you might need to watch when learning this technique--

1. You will need to chain the exact number of stitches that you want to cast on.
     Even though you will already have one stitch on your hook, you will start picking up
     in the second chain from hook.
2. The way that you hook the yarn is different than with crocheting. You go over the yarn
     and scoop the stitch up. Whereas in crochet, you go under and  hook it.
     Just warning you. The stitches on my first row were twisted because I did this.

I am glad you stopped by to visit my blog today. Leisure Arts is providing two kits to give away to two winners who leave a comment on this blog post! You could win your own  Knook kit! 

Here is how to enter:

• Post a comment on this blog post.  Include:

1.      First Name  and last initial

2.      Email address

3.      Your location (State for US, Province for Canada).

• Be sure to post your comment by Wednesday August 10th, 2011 at 11:59 PM Central Time.  On Thursday morning, August 11th, I will pick the 2 winners using a Random Number Generator.  I will contact the winners to get the shipping addresses to pass along to Leisure Arts. If you don't leave your email address, I will not be able to get in touch with you to let you know that you have won.
  
  Check out how it is done here. Happy knooking!