Knit or Crochet? How Knitting and Crocheting Differ

"I love the thought of going right back to the basics and producing actual fabric with my hands."

Should you knit it or crochet it? Is there really that much difference between the two?

Fiber Art: Turning Yarn Into Fabric

Knitting and crocheting are methods of weaving yarn into fabric that have wide appeal. It's almost magical how yarn can be turned into fabric without the need for a loom and, for those who dislike sewing, knitting or crocheting is a great way to create fabric using simple yarn and needles or a hook. Both knitting and crocheting do not require the preparatory work that sewing does: cutting and laying out pattern pieces, pinning and cutting fabric, threading a sewing machine, basting, sewing seams--and the list goes on and on . . . (no offense to those who love sewing).

Knitting and crocheting have advantages and disadvantages and each crafting method has important differences, which can help you to decide which method to use for a given project.

While most people know that crochet uses one hook and knitting involves two needles, the differences between knitting and crochet go much further.

Each method allows crafters to produce fabric suited to a particular need. This entails design elements and texture.

Continue reading below to learn about the pros and cons of knitting and crochet and key differences between the two methods.

Knitting is usually done on two needles but it can be done on four or five needles or circulars, depending on the project. Loops are worked off one needle onto another. Standard knit stitches look like small v's.

Advantages

• Knitting uses less yarn.

• Knitting uses two basic stitches: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. All other stitches are variations of these two stitches.

• Why knit a garment over crocheting it? Certainly, many fine and usable clothing items can be made from crochet but knitting produces a stretchier fabric.

• Some people prefer the look of knitted goods, as for example, as seen in knitted sweaters. Others like how a knitted garment feels. Knitted sweaters and socks have a lovely soft texture against the skin.

• Many beautiful designs can be incorporated into knitted sweaters using a technique called fairisling.

Disadvantages

• Knitting is slower than crochet.
• Because it uses two needles, some feel knitting is somewhat harder to master.
• Casting on can be tricky.
• Risk of dropped stitches and having to pull back work.
• Because a knitting needle holds multiple stitches, if these slid from the needle, recapturing them can be a challenge.

A hook is used to draw yarn through stitches, creating loops. Because of this "looping" a looser weave is generally created and fabric is somewhat bulkier because yarn is wrapped around stitches.

Advantages

• Crocheting is faster if using regular yarn and hook, such as for afghans. The nature of many crochet stitches (loosely woven, instead of compact knit stitches) and hook size contribute to projects that whip up quickly.
• Lacy-looking items can be worked in finer cotton, using a smaller hook. Beautiful geometrically balanced designs can be made from crocheting. (These projects take longer because of tiny crochet hook size and threadlike crochet cotton.)
• Because, under usual circumstances, one stitch stays on the crochet hook, the crocheter does not have to worry about dropped stitches.
• If crocheted work unravels, it is very easy to see and count stitches and it is an easy matter to crochet them again.

Disadvantages

• Crochet uses more yarn so may cost a bit more.
• Depending on the stitch or type of yarn used, crocheted items may have a rougher texture

• Knitting generally produces a stretchier/thinner/softer fabric, ideal for sweaters or socks, and considered to have a nicer feel against the skin, whereas crochet produces a thicker/stiffer work, generally considered more suitable for afghans or slippers.
• Knitting is preferred for adding other types of design elements. A good example is seen in Cowichan sweaters.

• While crocheting with regular yarn produces fabric that is somewhat less soft against the skin, because of the taller/looser stitches used in crochet, fabric yardage can be produced at a faster rate (treble crochet, for example, produces tall stitches, thus making crochet the preferred method when making afghans or throws.

A crocheted afghan using loose, tall stitches can be made up in record time. As well, if stitches are all the same, a crafter can fly along a row with a crochet hook.

• Crochet is considered the perfect vehicle for structured work such as is seen in doilies or table runners with geometric design elements such as pineapples or in decorative touches such as pansies or roses. These items are actually worked using crochet cotton and a tiny crochet hook. These, it is considered, are easier to produce with a crochet hook instead of knitting needles. (Knitted doilies are seen occasionally but are considered harder to produce.)

• Panels of filet crochet are used to create picture-like designs containing leaves, berries or flowers, animals, letters or even people. Using crochet, these look fantastic and are usually worked using only two stitches. Such is the versatility of crochet!

Certainly, there are no hard and fast rules and much depends on the type of yarn used (which contributes to softness or stiffness of knitted or crocheted or items), the type of stitches used: flat, bulky, tight or loose, and the skill level of the crafter. Most things can be produced using either knitting or crocheting and much depends on the preference and know-how of the person making the item.

Neither method could be said to better than the other. Knitting or crocheting will be chosen, depending on the project at hand and because of how the end result will look and feel. Whatever method you decide to use, there is something unbeatable about making things from scratch, using simple yarn to create fabric.