If you’re new to knitting or crochet, they might look quite similar. After all, both involve turning yarn into fabric to make decorative or useful items. But when it comes to knitting vs crochet, which is easier to learn?
The short answer is – it depends! Some people find they have a natural talent with knitting needles, while for others, the crochet hook is a doddle.
But you can get an idea of which craft might suit you best before you try them out. And we’re here to help you do just that.
We’re going to take you through the similarities and differences between knitting and crochet. We’ll explain why some people prefer one over the other. And we’ll help you decide which camp you might fall into.
Knitting vs crochet: key similarities and differences
Both knitting and crochet involve turning yarn into stitched objects. That could be anything from a coaster to a sweater, a bookmark to a blanket, a dishcloth to a child’s toy. In fact, when it comes to what you can create, there’s no difference between the two techniques.
What is different, though, is the equipment and stitching action.
1. One needle or two?
The most obvious difference between crocheting and knitting is the tool you use to form the stitches.
With knitting, you have a pair of needles. With crochet, you have just one, and it’s called a hook.
The needles or hook can be different sizes, depending on the type of yarn you’re using and the fabric you want to make.
Knitting needles come in a range of different types: straight, round and double-pointed. They generally need two hands to use them. (Although in days gone by, women often used knitting belts to hold one of the needles.)
There are two main types of crochet hook, tapered and inline. But whichever type you use, you’ll hold it in your dominant hand.
Also Read: Is Crocheting Hard?
2. Types of stitch
In knitting, there are only two types of stitch – knit and purl. The combination can create a multitude of different textures, patterns and effects.
With crochet, on the other hand, there are far more. Basic stitches include the chain stitch, single crochet and double crochet. But that’s just the beginning.
And there are also two different languages when it comes to talking about crochet. The US version names stitches differently to the UK one. And more confusingly, the two systems use the same terms to mean different things!
A single crochet stitch in US terminology, for example, is the same as a double crochet stitch in UK jargon. And a US double crochet is the same as a UK treble.
All this adds an extra dimension to learning how to crochet.
Also Read: 44 Different Types Of Crochet Stitches
3. Speed of work
Generally speaking, it’s quicker to complete a project using crochet than knitting. That’s because the stitches are generally bigger. So if you’re the kind of person who likes to see results fast, crocheting may have the edge.
Following a pattern can help get results quickly too, because someone else has done the designing for you. And here knitting may be more appealing. It’s pretty easy to find a wide range of knitting patterns. But crochet patterns are thinner on the ground.
Also Read: How Long Does It Take to Learn to Crochet?
4. Costs of your hobby
You can get started with knitting just a pair of needles and a ball of yarn. But you’ll quickly find you need to expand your collection of needles to cover a range of sizes.
You’ll need different sized crochet hooks eventually too. But these tend to be less expensive than knitting needles. And overall, the equipment costs for crochet are generally less than those for knitting.
On the other hand, crocheting also requires more yarn to create the same surface area of fabric. A rough rule of thumb is that you’ll use between 25 and 30% more yarn to crochet a piece of fabric than to knit a piece of the same size.
You’ll only have to invest in your equipment once. But you’ll need to get your hands on yarn for every project you do. And depending on what fibers and finishes you choose, yarn can be very expensive, if you want to save your money, you can check out our budget and quality milk cotton yarn.
For ongoing costs, then, crocheting can work out to be more expensive than knitting.
5. Characteristics of fabric
Both knitting and crocheting can create anything from fine, delicate fabric to chunky materials. The yarn, needles or hook, and pattern will all have an impact.
But all other things being equal, crocheting tends to create a fabric with bigger stitches and larger holes between them. That usually results in a bumpier finish.
Crocheting also tends to create a less stretchy fabric. That’s because the neighboring stitches aren’t aligned in the way they are with knitting.
If you’re looking to make three dimensional objects – like a toy, for example – that can be easier with the sturdier fabric you crochet.
Knitting, on the other hand, will give you a smoother finish and a better drape. That can make it a good choice for flowing garments with smooth edges, like a shawl or scarf.
6. Handling mistakes
Even experienced crafters make mistakes. When you’re just starting out, you’re likely to make many more.
If you’re crocheting, you correct errors through a process known as “frogging”. This is pretty straightforward – it just means ripping out the stitches you’ve got wrong. (The term gets its name because you “rip it, rip it” – like the sound a frog makes!)
You can frog to correct mistakes when you’re knitting too. But it’s not the only approach. You can also “tink” or “safe frog”.
To tink, as the word itself suggests, is to knit backwards. In other words, you unmake each stitch in turn.
Frogging is used to remove bigger errors – if you’ve got several rows to undo, for example.
Safe frogging attempts to avoid you losing stitches that have nothing wrong with them. It involves picking up stitches in the row below the mistake, then unraveling everything up to that point. But it only works for certain types of stitches.
In short, correcting mistakes is a simpler, if more brutal, process with crochet than it is with knitting.
Learning the ropes
But what does all this mean for which is the easier craft to master?
Well, you could think of crochet as being easier because it only uses one hook. You can create larger surface areas more quickly, so it takes less time to complete projects. And if you go wrong, it’s easier to unpick your work than it is with knitting.
But others could argue that knitting is easier. There are only two different stitches, unlike the multitude of crochet stitches. And everyone calls them the same thing, rather than there being a confusing mishmash of overlapping US and UK terms.
One way we’ve heard it described is that it’s easier to go from 0 to 1 with knitting, but easier to go from 1 to 10 with crochet.
In other words, it’s easier to get started with knitting. But once you’ve mastered the basics of crochet, it’s easier than it is with knitting to progress to more advanced projects.
This isn’t a universal experience, though! If you have problems with coordination or dexterity, that single crochet hook could make it easier to get started too.
Are you a knitter or a crocheter?
When it comes down to it, whether knitting or crocheting is for you is a personal choice. The only way to know for sure is to give them both a go and see which one you prefer.
But you might enjoy crochet more than knitting if:
- You have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or another condition that causes pain in your hands, or you find it difficult to coordinate both hands
- You want to complete projects quickly
- You want to correct errors quickly too, and don’t mind ripping out lots of stitches to do it
- You like the sturdier texture and charm of crochet fabric
- You enjoy making three-dimensional items
- You don’t mind spending more money on yarn
- You don’t mind searching out patterns, or designing things yourself
- You don’t like the clicking sound of knitting needles.
On the other hand, you might prefer knitting to crochet if
- You want to get started quickly
- You find the idea of multiple stitch types confusing
- You don’t want to have to remember the difference between US and UK jargon
- You don’t mind investing in lots of different knitting needles
- You would prefer to use less yarn
- You’re happy to take your time to correct errors
- You want to create fabrics with smoother texture and better drape
- You want access to a wide range of patterns
- You find the clicking sound of knitting needles soothing!
Quickfire summary: Knitting vs crochet
To sum up, knitting is easier in some respects than crochet, while crocheting is easier in others!
If you have problems with manual dexterity or coordination, crocheting could be the better bet. It only requires you to use one hook, and you can create more fabric quickly.
With knitting, managing two needles can be tricky. But unlike crochet, there are only two stitches to learn. And there’s a whole range of knitting patterns to guide you through whatever article you want to make.
Whether you choose knitting or crochet, we hope you enjoy learning a new craft.
