Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

By Knook Or Crook, Is It A Hook?

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Since the release of the much advertised Knook, there has been discussion in the crochet community as to whether Knook is a form of crochet.  This is not really a new issue.  It is just new to some of us.  A tool, by several names, like the Knook has been around for a long time.  You might enjoy an article I wrote about the Amazing Needle class I took at the Crochet Renaissance in 2001.

Amazing Needle with leather thong attached
Here’s a look at the ‘new’ Leisure Arts version of the Knook.

Leisure Arts Knook Kit

While I’m no expert in all forms of crochet – and certainly not in knit – I can attest to the fact that, while the Amazing Needle can be used to crochet and feels like a crochet hook in one’s hand, I believe it’s a form of knitting.  How can one knit using a crochet hook?  That is the question – and the marketing language being used by Leisure Arts and the Amazing Needle folks.

I believe that you can judge for yourself by looking at this youtube video.  Note that it’s a Leisure Arts video production.  My previous article contains a pretty thorough explanation of my opinion gained using the Amazing Needle.  The advantage I can see for a crocheter is that one can use this tool to create fabric following a knit pattern.  The video calls the technique a combination of crochet and knit.  What do you think?

Comments

  1. I’ve used a locker hook to “knook” and it is definitely knitting – I hold it the way I hold a knitting needle, and the fabric is knit fabric. I LOVE it – I have simply become a dedicated crocheter and cannot seem to figure out the dexterity required for managing two “sticks” and making them behave. However, I can manipulate fabric on a cord & a hook as needle. I just bought the Leisure Arts set – I can hardly wait to Knook some socks – something not as delicate as when crocheted.

  2. Hi everyone,

    I amlooking for simple patterns for the Knook. I just purchased one a few weeks ago and I am looking for simple baby patterns or afghan patterns.

    Thanks,

    Kathy

  3. I love the Knook! I have been a crocheter for over 28 years and I am now 24. I would love to be able to knit, but I can never seem to make my knitting projects turn out as well as my crochet projects. I just can’t seem to make knitting needles behave and I’ve used everything from straight needles, to DPNs to circular. I am adept at tunisian crochet, so learning to knook was very easy for me. I can now do both knitting and crochet with the hooks I am comfortable with.

    I think it is knitting with a crochet hook which is something I have been trying to figure out how to do for years. It’s wonderful.

  4. Mary,
    If you are 24 and have been crocheting for 28 years, you have pulled off one of the greatest feats of all time!! I bet you are a bit older than 24. I, too, think the Knook is knitting with a crochet hook. Glad you figured out how to do this!
    jd

  5. Hi…I just picked this up today….it looked interesting. I’ve crocheted off and on for 40 yrs & have needle tatted for around 20yr. With this hook it looks like it would be easy to make your own patterns once you got the basic knitting stitches down combining stitches. Nancy

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.