If you are looking to explore relaxing activities to try out, knitting and crochet are great options!
What is the difference between the two? How do you know which one to choose?
This is your guide to exploring what makes each activity unique so that by the end of this article, you will be able to tell the difference between knitting and crocheting.
What are the basics of knitting vs crochet?
Let's begin with the defining characteristics of knitting. For starters, knitting is one of the oldest methods of needlework for creating fabric. A knitter will use two knitting needles and yarn: moving stitches from needle to needle to create interlocking loops which will eventually produce the desired fabric.
Since knitting stitches are made on the needle itself, the finished fabric is often smooth, uniform in shape and will be somewhat stretchy. Still, you can create textured fabric depending on the yarn and knitting patterns you've chosen. Cute knitted hats, sweaters and scarves are popular pieces made through knitting.
Get to know more about the amazing benefits of knitting!
In contrast, crochet uses a single hook and yarn to produce fabric. The yarn gets wrapped around the crochet hook and pulled through to create stitches, one loop at a time. Hence, the desired fabric is made through a series of single, interlocking loops.
As a result, you will find crochet stitches to be of different sizes and shapes, and the fabric produced will be less stretchy and not as smooth as that of knitting. However, you can create unique textures through crochet that you cannot achieve through knitting. That is why home decor items like amigurumi are usually made with crochet tools.
Is there a difference between knitting needles and crochet hooks?
In addition to using knitting needles versus a single crochet hook, what other tools are used to tell the difference between knitting and crocheting? It's time to make comparisons between crochet tools and knitting tools.
What tools are used in crocheting?
- Crochet hook
- Yarn
- Stitch marker
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
The most common crochet hook types are inline crochet hooks and tapered crochet hooks. An inline hook has the same width as the shaft and has a defined point at the lip, while a tapered hook has a lip wider than the shaft and a rounder head.
Due to the sharper angles of inline hooks, you can create tighter stitches - perfect for projects like gloves or socks. The rounded features of tapered hooks can help you work faster, so you may use a tapered hook to cut down the working time for larger projects like blankets.
What are the tools for knitting?
- Knitting needles
- Yarn
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
Knitting needles come in various sizes and shapes: circular needles, straight needles and double-pointed needles are the most popular types.
Want to know which knitting needles should be used for your next project? Learn how to choose the right needles according to your knitting technique.
A tapestry needle can also be an optional part of your crochet tools, but it is necessary for knitters. When you want to weave the ends of your yarn, the blunt tip of the tapestry needle can help you join the ends with a new ball of yarn or change to a different coloured yarn.
What uses less yarn: knitting or crochet?
Since crocheting relies on a single hook and yarn to produce fabric, you can save money by buying crochet tools as compared to purchasing various knitting needles which will be more expensive. However, you will use up more yarn in a crochet project as compared to a knitting project of the same size. You don't have to buy as much yarn if you choose knitting vs crochet!
Does crochet look different from knitting?
Now that you've got the crochet and knitting tools down, how can you tell a knitting project from a crochet project?
By paying close attention to the stitches, you will be able to tell the difference!
What do knitting stitches look like?
First, you should know the basics of knitting so that you can identify knitting stitches: the cast-on, binding-off, knit stitch and purl stitch are the quintessential elements that every knitter should know. After this, you can actually follow along with instructions to create special knitting patterns!
Here are some popular knitting stitches and what they look like:
- Garter stitch, which uses a knit stitch for every row and looks the same on both sides of the fabric
- Stockinette stitch, involving alternating rows of knit stitches (right side of the fabric) and purl stitches (wrong side of the fabric)
- Cable stitch, or twisting vertical rows of knit and purl stitches to make a "cable"
- Ribbing, which creates alternating columns of knit and purl stitches
What does crochet look like?
When you compare knitting vs crochet, there are more variations of stitches that you can achieve with crochet. These are the basic crochet stitches you can identify on any piece of garment:
- Single crochet, an easy stitch for beginners that creates a smooth and solid fabric
- Double crochet, a taller stitch that produces fabric which is more open and flexible than that of the single version
- Treble crochet, among the tallest stitches for creating looser fabric and lacy patterns
To the naked eye, fabric produced from knitting stitches appears smoother whereas garments made up of crochet stitches have more texture. However, knowledge of these various stitches can help you create crochet pieces that are smooth and knitted pieces with lovely textures!
Try out your hand at knitting stitches with these easy knit projects.
Which is more relaxing, knitting or crocheting?
Could this be the determining factor for which activity you will choose?
Let's consider each activity in terms of speed. Will it take longer for you to use your knitting tools or your crochet tools to complete a project of similar design and size?
Generally, crocheting can be done in a shorter period of time as compared to knitting since there are fewer tools involved and it can be easier to manage one hook than a pair of knitting needles. At the same time, you can fix mistakes in your stitches more easily in a crochet piece than in a knitted piece as you can conveniently rip out your stitches without using many crochet tools.
However, if you want to prioritise designs and intricate patterns, you may enjoy the process of knitting vs crochet. The difference between knitting and crocheting is that knitting allows you to create more delicate patterns of fabric and you can also add detailed embellishments that will stand out on smooth, knitted fabric.
Meanwhile, crocheting is more versatile for creating sculptured pieces like those for stuffed animals and summer hats as crochet stitches will hold these shapes better than knitting stitches.
So, which sounds more relaxing to you? Here's what we have learned about the difference between knitting and crocheting so far:
| Knitting | Crochet |
|---|---|
| Knitting needles and yarn are used to create smooth and somewhat stretchy fabric. | A single crochet hook and yarn are used to produce textured fabric that is less stretchy. |
| Circular needles, straight needles, double-pointed needles and tapestry needles are common tools in knitting. | You can find inline crochet hooks and tapered crochet hooks for crocheting. |
| Garter stitch, Stockinette stitch and cable stitch are popular knitting stitches. | Popular crochet stitches include single crochet, double crochet and treble crochet. |
| Knitting is more time-consuming but requires less yarn and is great for creating intricate designs. | Less time is needed for crocheting and it is convenient for fixing stitching mistakes, but more yarn is required. |
You should know that both knitting and crochet are popular activities for relaxation and recreation, so you will be able to wind down from a long day regardless of which hobby you want to pick up! Here are some useful knitting resources to get you started.
Should I pick up knitting or crochet?
Now that you are aware of the difference between knitting and crocheting, you may already have an inkling of which needlework style speaks to you more.
While we cannot decide for you if knitting or crocheting is better for you, here are some elements you can consider on which craft to pick up:
- Do you have any personal preferences? For instance, you could prefer the texture from crochet pieces but would like to have the intricate designs that only knitting can produce.
- What type of project do you want to work on? Depending on whether you want to create an item of clothing, an accessory or even a household item like a coaster, it may be better to pick up your crochet tools instead of knitting.
- Which type of craft is most accessible to you? This could be trying out whether knitting vs crochet is easier to pick up, if crochet or knitting tools are more available to you, and if there are classes near you to teach you how to knit or crochet.
Looking for the best classes to pick up knitting or crocheting?
It's time to visit Superprof and find the best tutor for you!
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