thejikzMar 8
Working on the tension for this new stitch, may make another hook out of a larger knitting needle later. Inspired by another lovely #crochet human on fediverse, I finally tracked down a Tunisian Bamboo stitch video. (I hate videos personally, but its what I could find.)
Tater Tot was also curious.
Now I need to try parachord or find something neat to make of this yarn. I am typically terrible about finishing "things", I just like processes a LOT.
Show threadthejikzMar 8
Ok I made a new hook needle... this time I am working with paracord and a chonky size so it is easier to work in stitches without manually stretching loops. This is still a grind, and I need to make a steel version. The end is going to end up bent and broke, but I want to make a couple rows. Maybe I will make a tool steel one with a cable tail... dunno yet.
#crochet #paracord
Show threadthejikzMar 8
No Way!! Figured it out for now. My previous chonky hook works great for this, is tool steel and makes the pullover very easy! Don't mind havin two tools at this scale and stiffness, it actually works ok so far. I can work with that.
I had tried this hook on the initial chain but wasn't liking it, pulled it back into the mix after the first row, and I now like it.
#crochet #customtools
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)
@thejikz Ah, so what you're doing here is keeping the stitches on the long (weak) hook, and using the short, strong hook to do the actual crochet with, and then transfer those loops from the strong hook to the weak hook?
Mar 9 at 1:10amWeb
Show threadthejikzMar 9
@kerravonsen Yep! luckily the paracord is pretty stiff so transferring is quite painless. I am now toying with the idea of getting a long steel rod for this application, but might try a thick steel cable also (like a bike lock...)
I wont do a carved end on a thick knitting needle like this again, they are hollow inside so it degraded the strength way worse than expected.
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)Mar 9

@thejikz Indeed, that would be a problem; can't really carve a hollow tube. Though it makes sense why they would be hollow, that's both lighter and stronger than a solid rod.

Thick steel cable might work... depending on how you deal with the actual ends of it. Don't want sharp wire ends damaging your paracord. Don't know if you could weld the steel cable to a pointy rod?

Show threadthejikzMar 9

@kerravonsen Depends on multiple things there, my welder doesnt have gas right now, so I may need to go with stainless cable and hit up a TIG machine somewhere. Though, since it isn't too much pressure or pull, I can likely do a proof of concept with JB weld plus thicker electrical tape. If I buy some coated cable, I may be able to use the sleeve itself to bind to the rod with some epoxy or something... many experiments to be had!
On the knitting needles, I WISH they were solid aluminum!! But that is likely cost prohibitive...

Anyone make solid Titanium rods?! That would be very rad.

Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)Mar 9

@thejikz Solid titanium rods! That would be very expensive, considering (she said, as a chainmailler) how much more expensive titanium rings are than steel rings. But agreed, very rad.

It would probably be easier to get solid aluminium rods than solid titanium ones. And possibly cheaper than the knitting needles, seeing as they would be unpolished and un-pointed.

Show threadthejikzMar 9
@kerravonsen I found solid fiberglass rods-- SUPER cheap. I may try that, I can sand very smooth and still make the ends I think.
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)Mar 9

@thejikz Really, can fiberglass be sanded really smooth at the pointy end? I would have thought all the parallel bits of glass would be like sanding end-grain on wood.

But it would be super-cool if you could get it to work. But I suspect that if you tried to make a hook (rather than a point) it might be too fragile and break. But you won't know until you try!

Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)Mar 9
@thejikz And, yes, people do make solid titanium rods, I just did a quick online search for them... didn't really check how expensive they were, though.
And would your tools be up to carving titanium, anyway?
Show threadthejikzMar 9
@kerravonsen If I get titanium (recycled, cheap or free), yea, I used to grind it with regular aluminum oxide so I'd be ok. regardless, EXPENSIVE, so a no go for now. LOL