CROCHET NUPPS
Nupps are the little bobbles that are a traditional feature of Estonian lace. Usually nupps are created by working (K1, yo) into the same stitch, creating multiple stitches, and then purling all of those stitches together when you come to them on the next row. However, it can be quite tricky trying to manoeuvre your working needle into as many as seven stitches at once - but using a crochet hook to create nupps means that all the action happens in one row, so you’ll avoid all that fiddly purling.
For a seven-stitch nupp, work as follows:
1+2 Using a crochet hook that is at least the same size as your knitting needles, K1 into the next stitch but don’t slip this off the left-hand needle.
3 Make a yarnover on the hook.
4 K1 into the stitch again, keeping all the stitches on the hook.
5 Continue in this manner until you have seven stitches on the hook, the last stitch being a knit stitch.
6 Gently slip the initial stitch off the left-hand needle, and carefully pinch the bottom of the group of seven stitches to keep them from becoming pulled too tightly around the hook.
7+8 Wrap the yarn around the hook and draw a loop through all seven stitches.
9 Place this single stitch onto the righthand knitting needle. One nupp complete! For a five-stitch nupp, work [(K1, yo) 2 times, K1).
For a seven-stitch nupp, work [(K1, yo) 3 times, K1].
To make it easier to bring the crochet hook through at the end, keep your knit stitches and yarnovers a bit loose, and try to keep all of the stitches the same size.