Are you looking for a new obsession but not sure which to choose? Knitting and crocheting are great options for you! Both crafts are incredibly relaxing and fun and can be used to create everything from blankets to hats. But what’s the difference between crochet and knitting, and which one do you have to try first? This full post will compare Crochet and knitting and help you choose which is perfect for you.
Knitting vs. Crochet
Let’s begin with the basics: crochet and knitting are popular needle crafts that use yarn to create fabric. While you can do various projects with either craft, each has unique characteristics.
What is knitting?
Knitting is a craft of needle that uses two knitting yarn and needles to create fabric. The stitches are moved from needle to needle, creating an interlocking loop fabric. Knitting stitches are commonly uniform in shape and size, and the completed fabric has a bit of a stretch to it. The knitting texture can be highly texture or smooth, depending on the stitch pattern you select. Knitting is often used for accessories and garments such as scarves, sweaters, and hats. It can also be used to make home decor items like pillows and blankets.
Read More: How to knit: A Guide for Beginners
Key Characteristics
- Uses two knitting needles held in both hands.
- Usually, the Knitted fabric is stretchy and smoother as compared to crochet fabric.
- Often used for socks, sweaters, and gloves.
Tools
To knit, you will need a pair of needles and yarn. Knitting needles come in different types and sizes, from very thin needles used for elegant projects to thick needles used for knit projects.
- Straight knitting needles
- Circular knitting needles
- Double pointed needles
- Cable needles
- Tapestry needle and other notions
- Note: Each type of knitting needle has its own specific uses, and you might need more than one needle type for any individual project.
Basic Techniques
Here are some basic techniques you will need to know to get started knitting:
- Cast on: This is the first step in the knitting process, and it makes foundation stitches for your project.
- Knit and purl stitches: The knit and purl stitches are the basic building blocks of knitting
- Binding off: This is the final step in knitting that secures your stitches so they don’t resolve.
- Stockinette stitch: This is the ultimate knitting stitch pattern, which is created by alternating rows of purl and knit stitches.
- Garter stitch: This is another basic stitch pattern that is created by knitting rows.
Knitting Pros and Cons
Now that you know about knitting, then let’s take a close look at some of its pros and cons about it:
Pros:
- Knitting is compatible, and you can knit just about anywhere. We love being able to take a project to work on while passing the time on long car trips or waiting for appointments.
- Once you know all the basics of knitting, learn new stitches and knitting techniques. It is relatively easy for you. Most stitch patterns build upon the basic purl stitch and knit.
- Knitting can create a different variety of fabric types, from light to thick and cozy. Also, you can knit with thin lace-weight yarns to create shawls or bulky yarn to make chunky hats and scarves.
- Knitting can be very methodical, and some people like the repetitive structure of knitting every stitch across the needle.
- Knitting with many colors is a very beautiful way to create patterns. You can check the intarsia and Fair Isle knitting.
- Cables and other textured stitches add interest and dimension to your knitting projects.
Cons:
- Knitting can be complicated for beginners because you have to grip two needles and manage various live stitches together. It takes a while to evaluate how to grab or hold the yarn and needles and manage everything at the same time.
- If you drop a stitch or while knitting, you make any mistake, then it can be challenging to solve.
- Knitting needs a more extensive set of tools than crochet.
What is Crochet?
Crochet is a needlecraft that uses crochet yarn and hooks to make fabric. The crochet yarn is wrapped around the crochet hook and pulled through to create stitches one loop at a time.
Crochet stitches can be of unique shapes and sizes, and the finished fabric is less stretchy than knitting. The plain crochet texture is not relatively as flat as knitting, but that’s not always a bad point! In fact, crochet has a few unique textures that you cannot get while knitting.
Crochet is versatile because you can make accessories, garments, different home decor items, and many more things. Most people say that crochet is too stiff and bulky for garments, but that’s not always right. If you use the right stitch and yarn pattern, you can make beautiful, drapey garments.
Read More: 25 + Best Gifts for Crocheters In 2022
Key Characteristics
- Use only one crochet hook held in the controlling hand
- Sometimes Crochet fabric is a bit denser as compared to the knitted fabric
- Often used for Amigurumi, blankets, and home decor projects.
Tools
- Crochet hooks
- Tapestry needles and other notions
- There are different styles and sizes of crochet hooks, to be sure. Wood, plastic, aluminum, and resin hooks are all famous. But in variation to knitting, you don’t need to have DPNs or circulars for crochet.
Basic techniques
- Chain Stitch: This is the foundation of a crochet project.
- Single Crochet: The most basic crochet stitch.
- Double Crochet: This taller stitch works up much faster than a single crochet.
- Treble Crochet is very helpful when you want your work to overgrow.
- Half Double Crochet: This is a little bit longer than a single crochet but shorter than double crochet.
- Slip Stitch: This stitch is used to move along the row without joining rounds and adding height.
Crochet Pros and Cons
Now that you know about crocheting, then let’s take a close look at some of its pros and cons about it:
Pros:
- This is just as portable as knitting. Some common crochet motifs, such as granny squares, are even easier to work on the go.
- Once you understand the basics of crochet, learning new stitches and techniques is easy for you. Even the most complex crochet textures are made up of consolidations of basic stitches.
- You need one crochet hook for most projects rather than various needles. And, unlike knitting, crochet is simple to pick up and put down in the center of a row.
- If you wish to use a hook for your other project, then you can take the hook out. Then, place a stitch marker to protect the last stitch and come back to the project whenever you are ready.
- Crochet stitches are very stable and less to unravel if they slip off your hook accidentally.
- Crochet excels when it comes to Amigurumi and 3D shapes. (in order to make Amigurumi with knitting, you have to learn more advanced skills)
- Crochet can feel less “Strict,” and it is more forgiving than knitting. In fact, freeform crochet is a well-known technique for creative makers who really want to experiment beyond traditional patterns.
Cons:
- Some people find crochet hard to get the hang of because you have to grip in one hand and manage the yarn in the other. Also, it can take quite a little practice before you feel convenient tensioning the crochet yarn in your non-dominant hand.
- In that exact way, it takes practice to learn where to insert your hook to make your next stitch. And in the beginning, you will need to count stitches in each row to ensure that you have crocheted the correct number of stitches.
- Crochet uses more yarn. Commonly, you can expect crochet projects to use 25-30% more yarn than a knitting project, depending on the pattern of stitching. This means that crochet garments might feel a bit heavier.
- Crochet fabric is less stretchy than knitting. But with the correct yarn and pattern, you can create beautiful wearable garments.
Which is easier to learn?
Beginners usually want to know which is easier to learn, crocheting or knitting. And the truth is that both crafts will be tricky and a bit frustrating at the beginning. So here are a few aspects that make one craft simpler to learn than the other craft.
- Dexterity
Some people find crochet simpler and more accessible than knitting because there is only one hook to accord with, rather than two knitting needles.
But on the other side, crochet requires you to tension the yarn with the non-dominant hand. And knitting gives you the option of tensioning the yarn with the dominant or non-dominant hand.
- Number of basic stitches
Knitting can be simpler to learn because, in the starting, there are only knit stitches and purl stitches to learn. If we compare crochet, then crochet has a few more basic stitches to learn, such as single crochet, chain stitch, half double crochet, slip stitch, double crochet, and treble crochet.
- Making stitches across the row
Some people find that knitting is much easier to learn because all the live stitches are cleanly lined up on the needles. In order to make a stitch row, you just need to go down the line, working every stitch on the needle.
Compare knit to crochet, where you have to develop your skill of “reading your stitches” to see where to insert your hook for the next stitch.
- Fixing mistakes
To fix mistakes, crochet is easier to rip out your work and start over again. Also, you can add or remove stitches as needed.
On the other hand, knitting can be more complicated to fix mistakes because the stitches are interlocked. Also, you can still frog your knitting, but it’s a bit more time-absorbing.
So which is more straightforward: it totally depends on your learning style. Knitting may be the better choice if you like structure and learning a few stitches at a time. Crochet may be the perfect way to go if you want the freedom to fix mistakes quickly.
Which is faster?
Crochet is much faster than knitting. Part of this is that the crochet stitches are commonly taller than knitting stitches, so you can wrap more around with every stitch. But, like anything else, it totally depends on your practice. The more you crochet or knit, the faster you will get the result. And if speed is not your goal, then take your time and enjoy the procedure.
Which is cheaper?
Some people want to know which craft is cheaper. Knitting needles are a bit more costly when they come to tools than crochet hooks. For example, you can buy a complete set of crochet hooks for $50. But, a collection of interchangeable knitting needles will run $100. And if you get an interchangeable needle set, you will still need some sets of cable needles, DPNs, and other small notions.
But remember that crochet projects tend to require extra yarn than similar-sized knitting projects. Once your needles or hooks are squared away, the primary charge will be the yarn.
Which one should you try first?
Here are a few things to deal with as you choose which craft is perfect for learning:
- What type of projects do you like? If you want to begin with Amigurumi, then crochet is the excellent way to go. But if you are interested in making socks, then knitting is the best option for you.
- How much time do you have? If you want to complete your project quickly, crochet might be a perfect choice because crochet works a bit faster than knitting.
- What’s your budget? A whole set of knitting needles can be more expensive than crochet hooks. So if you have a low budget, then crochet might be the best choice.
How to get started with knitting?
Suppose you are interested in knitting crafts, then you will need the following things to get started in the knitting process.
- Firstly, you will need a little yarn. We recommend starting with soft, worsted-weight yarn.
- After that, you will need a pair of knitting needles. Wood or bamboo needles are the best choices you can find at any craft store or order them online.
- Lastly, you need to check some free knitting tutorials and free patterns.
How to get started with crochet?
If you are interested in crochet crafts, then here are some supplies you will need to get started:
- Firstly, you need yarn. Just look for soft, smooth, worsted-weight yarn in a light color.
- Second. You will need a crochet hook. Aluminum is good to start, but ergonomic hooks are more admirable because they are cheaper.
- After that, once you have grabbed all of your crochet supplies, you will need to check some free crochet tutorials and free patterns.
Final Verdict
Some of us enjoy crocheting, while others go for knitting. As a beginner, you can select either one. The tools and techniques are unique from one another, but both require practice to excel in skill. In this detailed read above, you will find the complete differences between crochet and knitting, along with the advantages and disadvantages of both crafts. Also, we will explain to you which option is fastest, cheapest, and most accessible.
