Cro-Knitting
“To knit from a crochet hook and crochet from a knitting pin” is the best description of Cro-Knitting. The rows of crocheting and knitting are worked alternately or as the various patterns demand. The work requires a pair of knitting pins (or needles, as they are sometimes called) and a crochet hook of the same length and size as the pins. The hook should be of an even thickness down its entire length, with a knob at the end, as the stitches are allowed to accumulate on it as in afghan stitch.
The work is always commenced on a knitting pin, the stitches being cast on in the usual manner (see Bear Brand Manual of Handiwork), followed by one or more rows of plain knitting.
KNITTED ROWS: the wool is to be held in the usual manner. The first stitch is to be slipped or knitted as directed, but where a row of knitting commences with a different wool, the first stitch is always knitted, to keep the stripe distinct.
CROCHETED ROWS: when working these from the knitting pin, the hook is inserted through the stitch on the pin, as though it were a second knitting pin (from left to right). When working into the back of a stitch, the hook is inserted in reverse manner (from right to left). When working the crocheted rows the wool is passed over the fingers of the left hand. When two knitting stitches are taken together the hook is passed through the stitch nearer the left hand (as in knitting) before entering the stitch next to the point of the pin. When the back threads of two stitches are taken together, this is reversed and the crochet hook enters first the stitch at the point of the pin. As the crocheted rows are worked from the stitches on the knitting pin, it is not possible to “skip one” as in ordinary crocheting, as the stitch would drop, but it is an easy matter to put one stitch into two knitting stitches taken together, thus producing an extremely pretty effect.
In the instructions, when the phrase occurs “1 double through two stitches, 1 double through the back of the same two stitches,” the repetition means that the stitches are to be held on the knitting pin until the second double has been made; then slip stitches from pin.
When knitting from the crochet hook the point of the hook must be kept pointing downward to avoid catching the wool.
STITCHES. The knitting stitches are merely the usual plain and purl. The basic crochet stitches are single, double and treble crochet and the various cluster stitches, some of which are illustrated.
Single Crochet Stitch
Cast on any number of stitches and knit 1 row. * With the crochet hook draw the wool through the stitch on the knitting pin; wool over hook and through the loop just drawn through, slip stitch from the pin and repeat from * all across. After row has been finished, there should be as many stitches on hook as there were on pin.
Double Crochet Stitch
Cast on any number of stitches and knit one row. Wool over hook, draw the wool through first stitch on pin: wool over and through the two loops on hook. Slip stitch from knitting pin. * Wool over hook, draw wool through next stitch on pin, wool over and through two loops, slip stitch from pin and repeat from * all across.
Treble Crochet Stitch
Cast on any number of stitches and knit one row. Insert hook in first stitch and draw wool through, ch. 2 and slip stitch from pin. * Wool over hook, draw wool through next stitch on pin, wool over and through two loops, wool over and through one loop, slip stitch from pin and repeat from * all across.
Automobile Stitch
Cast on an even number of stitches and knit 4 rows.
First pattern row: with crochet hook pull a loop through first stitch, wool over and pick up another loop in same stitch, slip stitch from pin, wool over and pick up a loop in next stitch, wool over and through all 5 loops on hook, ch. 1, thus forming one cluster, slip stitch from pin, * wool over and pick up a loop in next stitch, slip off pin, wool over and pick up a loop in next stitch, wool over and through all 5 loops on hook, ch. 1, slip stitch from pin and repeat from * all across.
Second pattern row: pick up a loop in the back thread of second and all remaining stitches, retaining loops on hook (as in afghan stitch). The loop on hook will count as first stitch.
Knit 2 rows. These four rows constitute one pattern.
Cluster Stitch
Cast on an even number of stitches and knit one row.
Second row: insert crochet hook in first stitch, draw wool through, ch. 1, slip stitch from pin. * Make 1 treble crochet through the next two stitches together, 1 double crochet through the back of the same two stitches, slip stitches from pin and repeat from * all across, ending by working final stitch as first was made.
Knit 3 rows. Repeat these last four rows for the length desired.
Lattice Work
This is a variation of ordinary crocheting, the stitches being those employed in that art.
The work is done with regular crochet hooks of various sizes, as designated in the instructions.
The novel feature is the fact, that in addition to the hook, one large wooden pin, made like an ordinary knitting pin, is required. On this pin the stitches are placed so that regularity in the height of the lattice work rows is attained.
These “Lattice Pins” are made in four sizes, the largest. No. 1, being almost four inches in circumference. For fine lattice work a knitting pin of the desired size can be substituted.
The work is very simple and effective.