Craft book review - The Knook

Today I've got something new and a bit unusual for you.  The lovely folk at GMC sent me another book to review - Leisure Arts-The Knook. 


Before we go any further, the disclaimers.  I was sent the book for free to review but I was not told what to say and all opinions are 100% my own.  I didn't receive any monetary compensation.  Links in this post, as with all my book posts, are affiliated.  If you click over and buy something, I get a few pence towards an Amazon voucher.  

This is less of a book and more of a booklet/kit.  As you can see above, you get 3 different sized Knookers (I've just invented that word) and some pieces of cord used to secure the stitches.  You have to add your own yarn.

The booklet takes you through casting on/starting, knit, purl and casting off.  Each one is shown for left- and right- handers.  Being a lefty who learnt to crochet right handed, there's no way I'm going through the pain of being a lefty-knooker, so right handed it is!  (If you're a lefty and learn to crochet, learn to do it right handed, it doesn't make that much difference to how you work as you use both hands anyway, but makes a world of difference in following tutorials etc.)

There are 4 patterns in the booklet; a scarf, a spa cloth and 2 blankets.  Above is one of the blankets which is lovely, but I could imagine taking forever!  You are limited by the width of the knooker, so I think this is made in strips.

I got started.  Getting that cord through the little hole in the knooker was a right $%£$%^&*.

Look, it split!  It still worked OK though.

And here is my sample.  I cast on, did a few rows of knit and one of purl, then gave up.  I was going to leave this review here, but I don't think that's fair, I mean, no-one can knit after 20 minutes of reading a book and trying it out, so I needed more time with this.

I moved on to the spa cloth.  Doesn't that look like the worst piece of knitting you ever saw??  Hey, I'm a beginner here!  So, the booklet tells you to forget what you know about crochet, you are knitting with a crochet hook and there are similarities to both skills, but it is different.  You start by making a chain, no problem, then you knit into the stitches.

Of course, as you only use one hook, this means pulling the stitches off the hook and onto the cord and knitting from there.  At first I thought this was stupid as the cord is not rigid and so it's hard to knit from.  There was MUCH cursing.  It was only after a few rows when I decided not to worry where the cord was and see what happened that it became much easier.  Instead of knitting against the cord, you just ignore it and it all works out.

Purling was also a nightmare.  It is very, very hard.  Even after 4 purl rows I find it tricky, though a You Tube tutorial showed me it wasn't as hard as I was making it.  

As I continue to knook this cloth (and I will finish it though I don't see me making a blanket!) I am getting quicker and it is more relaxing and even fun.  I'm not sure if I'll do more of this, I prefer to crochet and I do think knitting is quicker (and that says a lot for me!), but it was fun to learn.  If you are intrigued, I'd say to give it a go, it's possibly easier to learn than knitting for a complete beginner.  If you can already knit though, I'm not sure I see the benefit.

EDITED TO ADD:  OK, so I was going to give up the knooking after i finished this cloth.  Then I found this free pattern... I'm going to have to make one! 

• Product Dimensions: 19 x 15.9 x 15.9 cm
• Boxed-product Weight: 100 g
• Delivery Destinations: Visit the Delivery Destinations Help page to see where this item can be delivered.
• Item model number: LA46820
• ASIN: B005P1VHDI

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Something New for 2014

  

Disclaimer:

I was given a review copy of the book by GMC however this review and all opinions are 100% my own, I was not told what to say.  Amazon links are affiliate links.