Knitting vs. crocheting

[BTB]

What's the difference? Is one any easier to learn, less expensive as a hobby, or faster to project completion time?

[KristyK]

IMHO, I've never been able to learn to knit. I just can't coordinate 2 needles, but I learned how to crochet myself. Once you learn crochet, it's hard to forget, and I've been able to learn different patterns just by looking at the item crocheted, not sure you could do that with knitting, although since I don't knit, I don't know that for sure! :D

I think if you are proficient in one or the other, project completion time doesn't make a difference. I think that a knitted item is a much prettier stitch, as in the case of a baby sweater. Although I've seen some very pretty ones that are crocheted, the knitted ones just look more professional. I think the stitches are finer with knitting than with crochet. I have seen many crocheted baby blankets and stuff, and they are all beautiful.

As for expense, it's the cost of the needles, which you use over and over again in both, and then the cost of yarn for each project. What costs the most, IMO are the books with the patterns. I've joined lots of magazines and get many free patterns that way, but I still put out a lot of money in books.

Hope that helps.

[mmeblue]

IMHO, I've never been able to learn to knit. I just can't coordinate 2 needles, but I learned how to crochet myself.
I'm the other way around - I tried to teach myself both, and I caught on much more easily to knitting than to crochet. :) I haven't done a lot of knitting, but I found that once I got the rhythm of it down, it was pretty easy.

Hmm...I have a friend who knows how to crochet visiting this weekend...I might try giving that one another shot. :)

[elladee]

I've taught myself both. I started with knitting, and do prefer that since I have a little more experience. I also prefer the look of knitting for things like sweaters. Though I've crocheted some very pretty scarves.

The advantage to crocheting (and the reason I picked it up) is that it is easier for me to do in small spaces. I used to ride the subway to work, and found that I needed more room that the small seat allowed when I had people on either side of me. The needles are bigger and I tend to stick my elbows out to the sides. I can stay much more compact when I crochet.

Expenses and project completion time are pretty much equal.

[Jane&Andy]

I crochet, I've never tried knitting. But my Mom knits. Everything I do goes much faster than her projects. Maybe its just the patterns we pick but my impression is that crocheting is faster.

There isn't really a cost difference. You need special needles in different sizes for both. I think the cost of knitting needles is comparable to crochet needles. The yarn and the patterns is where all the money goes.

My sister taught me how to crochet. It was difficult at first but now I could almost do it blindfolded.

[BTB]

Thanks ladies - I've googled looking for photos to see how the finished projects look, but get a lot of sales sites instead. Anybody willing to share any pictures of your work? (assuming you can tell by sight something knit from something crocheted, can you?)

[Jane&Andy]

yes, you can tell by sight if something is crocheted vs. knitted, the stitches look different.

I have more pictures in this thread Anybody Crochet? (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=147)
but here's a few
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5db36b3127cce91f8bef15d5600000016108AZN27Ny3btK
http://images.snapfish.com/343%3C9%3C6723232%7Ffp54%3Dot%3E2328%3D%3C26%3D524 %3DXROQDF%3E23234%3C36397%3B6ot1lsi

[BTB]

That's a great thread - thanks for the link!!! You make absolutely beautiful stuff.

[Jane&Andy]

thanks. :)

[BTB]

Jane! I was super-impressed by your work in the cross-stitching thread. Is there any needle craft you're bad at? :D

Couple more questions: so crocheting is done with one needle, knitting two, yes? Is one or the other easier to put down in a hurry if you must, without making a big ol' mess of your project?

Many of the patterns in the crocheted items look so delicate, is that a function of the pattern or a hallmark of crochet?

Thanks! I'm hobby-shopping and for now I can only pick one to try to learn. :)

[elladee]

Yes, crocheting is done with one "hook". Knitting is done with two "needles".

Now, it can get more complicated (at least for knitting, I don't know much about complicated crocheting). For fancy knitting, you will probably need circular needles, double point needles, etc.

Crocheting does tend to give an open, delicate look. Though that can be achieved with knitting as well. I wish I had pictures of knit items. Have you checked out the knitting thread here? There may be a picture or two in there.

[Jane&Andy]

I think knitting is harder to put down in the middle of a row (at least thats my impression from watching my Mom work). And with knitting if you make a mistake you have to go back and unknit each stitch, while with crocheting you just pull the thread out and the stitches come undone.

With crochet, you can make lots of different patterns. Some are delicate and some are big and chunky. It depends on the yarn you use and and the size needle.

I finished this one in less than a week:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d833b3127cce92761ccd436000000016108AZN27Ny3btK
(its a large baby afghan, so not as big as an adult sized afghan).

I used a large needle and worked with two skeins of yarn at the same time.

Its been a long time since I've made any doilies so I don't have any pictures but for that I use a tiny needle and very delicate thread.

So you have a pretty huge range with crocheting.

I was super-impressed by your work in the cross-stitching thread. Is there any needle craft you're bad at?
thanks, and I'm not very good at sewing. :)

[diedra1027]

I think knitting is harder to put down in the middle of a row (at least thats my impression from watching my Mom work). And with knitting if you make a mistake you have to go back and unknit each stitch, while with crocheting you just pull the thread out and the stitches come undone. I don't crochet, but I would also guess that knitting is harder to put down in the middle of a row. It gets more difficult to put down if you are working on something with a detailed pattern. For the record, you can pull knitting out too, you just have to take it off the needle (it can be really hard to get it back on).

Here are some of my knits...

Felted knitting bag:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da02b3127cce9f7e32bb0da400000016108EZuGjdm5ZW

Sweater for my nephew:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d906b3127cce9342595f7d6800000015108EZuGjdm5ZW

Winter hat for Avery (modelled by stuffed animal, of course :)):
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4cc08b3127cce9f7e32a3150800000015108EZuGjdm5ZW

[Carrie K]

I taught myself to knit, but I haven't had much luck teaching myself crocheting. Knitting isn't that difficult, and it's not too hard to pick up where you left off if you stop in the middle of the row - depending on the complexity of what you're knitting. If it's really a complicated pattern, I just write down where I left off, and after awhile (and this part actually took me years, lol) you do learn to "read" your knitting. There are needle "caps" too, so that your stitches won't slip off.

I tend to knit with circular needles - the two separate needles shift all the weight of the project from one needle to the other and it kills my hands, while circular knitting leaves the bulk of the project in your lap. They don't take up as much space as two needles either.

I've heard that crocheting actually uses up three times as much yarn per stitch than a knitted one does, but I have no idea how accurate that is. It was at Stitches West, one of the shows Knitter's Magazine puts on two or three times a year around the country. But if it's true, the same project would cost 3x more if you did it in crochet. But the cost really depends on the size of the project and the yarn. There is yarn out there that is just insanely priced and there are much more reasonably priced one. Elann sells online and they're pretty low priced, particularly for the quality.

Knitting can be lacy like crochet, it just involves yarnovers, something I did by accident long before I tried to do them on purpose. I love lace though, it's so pretty.

Not that I'm not going to learn crocheting eventually! Crocheting has just as many good points as knitting does. Half the finishes of knitted projects are done w/crochet. I just know knitting better, lol.

edited to add: Diedra, that baby sweater is awesome! I love cables. I'm dying to make a felted bag too.

[Etoile]

good points about knitting:
i find it easier to do mindlessly. i have to pay more attention to crocheting.
the stitches are more even and tight.

good points about crocheting:
to me, it goes faster.
can stop in the middle of a row, or just pull out a few stitches. easier to correct.
i find it easier to follow a crochet pattern than a knitting one.
not as heavy in your hands

[Raven_Girl]

I recenly learned how to knit and its so much fun. My mom has TRIED to teach me to crochet but I could never get it. I've made 2 scarves already. And I plan to made more for the holidays for friends and family. :D ;) :D

[nordey]

My grandma taught me to knit when I was a child and I've recently taken it up again as a hobby this summer. I'm working on a sampler afgan because I wanted to practice learning a lot of new stitches/patterns. Plus at 12" per square, I feel like I'm accomplishing something with each pattern I finish!

However, the difficulty for me is that once I finish each square I have to crochet around the edges to prepare to stitch the pieces together. This has proven very difficult for some reason and it looks kind of cruddy too! :(

So, for any of you out there who knit AND crochet - do you have any tips for me?

TIA!

[Sarah6690]

I do both. IMO, crochet is easier, but I have been doing that much longer than knitting. For me at least, it goes MUCH faster, easier to correct mistakes, and easier to put down in the middle. BUT, I do love the look of knitting better for the most part. Items, such as sweaters can be done using either, but I really don't like the look of crochet ones. Here, I stole this from
www.learntoknit.com

Ask avid crocheters or knitters why you should learn their art and they’ll probably say because it’s the most beautiful and versatile art form. Some say one’s faster; others, more fashionable. Decide for yourself. We hope you learn both.

Crochet

Crochet is an extremely versatile and popular technique for making a variety of fashion and home decor accessories. By combining basic crochet stitches and lighter weight or softer yarns, you create a delicate, drapable fabric; a thicker yarn produces a sturdy fabric. Beautiful textured and raised stitches are especially easy to make in crochet.

All you need to crochet is a continuous strand of yarn and a single hook. You start with a slip stitch and continue to make loops (called chains), creating a foundation row. Rows are built on this foundation. Crochet stitches are made with loops and wrapping yarn around the hook. The loops are drawn through the wrapped yarn to make the stitches.

You can crochet in rows, keeping your work flat, or you can join your stitches, creating a ring and work in the round.

One of the most recognized crochet patterns is the Granny Square motif. These colorful crocheted squares or circles are joined together to create afghans and vests. At the fall European couture collection, a Granny Wrap was a big hit and was even featured on a recent cover of Vogue Magazine.


Knit

Knitting has long been the favorite technique for sweater making because of the detailing and color patterning that is possible, and the supple, drapable fabric the stitches produce. The two basic stitches--knit and purl--can be worked alone or together and form the basis of dozens of designs as well as other stitches.

Knitting requires two needles and a continuous strand of yarn. You begin by making a slip knot on one needle and "casting on" the number of stitches you need for the project. (That’s the term for creating the foundation row on one needle.) The basic stitches are created using both needles, wrapping the yarn over one needle and drawing the wrapped yarn through loops on the other needle.

Circular knitting needles--long, flexible needles with a point on each end--are growing in popularity because they eliminate seams and the need to continually turn your knitting at the end of a row.

Crafting with Yarn

Wrapping, twisting and braiding yarn provide endless home-dec and fashion possibilities. Make amazing silk tassels, twist multiple strands of yarn into holiday wreaths, braid boucle yarns to trim a favorite outfit, or just have fun wrapping gift boxes. The possibilities are endless, fast and fun.

Also, if you want to browse at the different types of things you can make with either, I recommend
www.knittingpatterncentral.com (http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com)
and
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[kemaji]

Add me to the list of people who know how to knit and are hopeless at crochet. I originally learned how to knit when I was in 2nd grade and have been doing so on and off since then.

[jenji]

I can both knit and crochet, though I don't do either well and my conclusion on the matter is that for basic things Knitting is easier to learn at first, but if you get good instructions on the crocheting stitches it ends up being easier to do and I think it goes faster than knitting and it's easier (for me, a novice in both) to do more detailed things crocheting than knitting