Intro to Knooking Part 2

Wait!

Before you run off to buy a set of hooks or mangle the ones you already own, you may have a local option that will let you give Knooking a try.

There is a neat little tool available at Hobby Lobby, and perhaps your local craft store, called a Locker Hook. It is a metal hook, often around crochet hook size G, with the eye of a needle at the end. It is used for a craft called Locker Hooking, which is very similar to latch hooking. In fact, that is where I found my hook, by the latch hook supplies.

Locker Hook

It is has more of a Boye shape than a Bates, and technically the eye of the hook should be smaller than the diameter of the hook itself, but it’s still a good way to get some practice without laying out a lot of cash upfront.

If you can’t find it locally, there are a few online stores that carry it: Hobby Lobby, Create for Less, and Mielke’s Fiber Arts. I am not affiliated with these stores in any way, and always remember to carefully checkout any online sites before you make a purchase. 🙂

There have been rumors of people modifying their own hooks. I will admit that I am one who has tried, and failed.  It’s probably not that hard, but I just don’t have the necessary talents, skills and tools not to royally screw it up.  I have a whole collection of Lion Brand plastic hooks that belong in a House of Horrors. *lol!*

So now you have your hook and yarn, what do you do? I’ll cover that in another post very soon, along with some project ideas.

Before you go, I do need to mention the wonderful Yahoo group that helped me out when I first found started. It’s called Knitting with CrochetHook, and has a wonderful group of helpful members. It’s a low volume group most of the time, so you don’t have to worry about being overwhelmed with messages. Be sure to read through the archives too, it’s a treasure trove of helpful information.

Introduction to Knooking

First of all, I have to give a big “thanks” to Grieney at Ravelry who came up with the term “Knooking.” Not only that, she even wrote a theme song!

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So what IS knooking? In a nutshell, it’s making actual knit stitches using a specialized crochet hook. Nope, it’s not Tunisian, slip stitch, crochetnit, double crochet, or any other knit-look-alike stitch. It’s actual knit and purl stitches. Knitting with a hook = Knooking. 🙂

The technique and hook itself appears to have originated in Japan under the name Japanese Super Miracle Needle. See Sohon Se on this blog, and also referenced by Crochet with Dee. Right now the only source seems to be Tezukuritown, but I haven’t had any success contacting them.

Super Miracle Needle

The American version is called the Amazing Needle, and can be purchased from Amazing Yarns. They have hook sizes E through P available for purchase. For fastest service, I recommend calling the store.

Amazing Needle

It also appears that cabled crochet hooks may also work, such as the Denise Interchangeable Crochet Hooks, and possibly the KnitPro Symfonie Interchangeables.

Denise Interchangeable Crochet Hooks

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Knit Pro Symfonie Tunisian/Afghan Crochet Hooks

So what is so special about these hooks? They have removable cables or cords that can be attached to the end of the hook, and acts as the second knitting “needle.” If you can slip stitch, you can do this simple technique and create actual knitted fabrics and projects. As you work your stitches, they will be kept “live” on the cord until your next round. You work each stitch one at a time, just as you do in crochet.

It has been my experience that Knooking is slower than traditional crochet, but faster than two-needle knitting. Although there are a few patterns available specifically for the Amazing Needle, theoretically just about any knitting project should be able to be adapted for Knooking.

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And now for our Theme Song:

(Sung to “Makin’ Whoopee”, natch)

Another skein, another wool.
How I wish, it was center-pull
Another season, another reason,
For makin’ Knookee

A lot of socks, made late at night,
When I get nervous, each stitch gets tight
My hands are killin’, but it’s so thrillin’
To make Knookee.

Now picture a little stash room,
Just a few skeins here and there
Picture that same sweet stash room
Not an inch of floor is bare.

They think I’m knitting, with pointy sticks,
No, I’m still hookin, but that’s the trick
They’ll say I’m lyin’, my hook is flyin’
Just makin’ Knookee