Knitting vs Crochet: What's the difference?
We're often asked about the difference between these two much-loved woolly crafts. Both use yarn to create beautiful handmade items, but which is the best? We set our crack team of yarn enthusiasts to work to find out!
Is it easier to learn to knit or learn to crochet?
Each craft has its own challenges for beginners. In knitting, you have a lot of "live" stitches on your needles at the same time which can lead to dropped stitches, but it is much easier to see where each next stitch is to be worked. The benefit of crochet is that you only ever have one "live" stitch at a time - so if you drop it, it's not going to go far! However, it can be difficult to know where to put your hook for each next stitch and can be .
So - this is down to your personality really. What's most likely to annoy you - dropped stitches that might need fixing or not having an easy straight line to follow? You're never going to know for sure until you give it a go.
Free Beginner's Guides
Which is faster, knitting or crochet?
I often hear people say that crochet is faster than knitting, but when you get down to it, I don't think it's as straightforward as that.
The act of pulling a loop through another loop is exactly the same in knitting as it is in crochet. For most knitting stitches you only have to perform this action once, but for most crochet stitches require this action to be performed multiple times, so on the most basic level, working a single stitch is likely to be quicker in knitting.
However, most individual knitting stitches are usually smaller than individual crochet stitches.
Plain knitting (stocking stitch/stockinette) stitches stack together like little two-dimensional Vs, with very little space between them. The most comparible crochet stich (slip stitch in US terms or single crochet in UK terms) which uses one loop per stitch can probably be worked at exactly the same rate. When both patterns are worked in the same yarn, it creates a much much more dense fabric than its knitted counterpart, and the piece of fabric you're creating will seem to grow more slowly.
When we talk about crochet though, the single crochet/slip stitch is not commonly used for a whole pattern. Most patterns are created in combinations of doubles and trebles, which use multiple loops to create taller stitches. Fabric which is made in plain doubles or trebles is still slightly thicker than the comparible knitted fabric but it will seem to grow more quickly.
In my experience, when comparing like with like as closely as possible (for arguments sake, let's say plain knitting in DK yarn vs. treble crochet in 4-ply yarn), the work will grow at about the same speed.
What makes much more difference than anything else is your own technique and expertise. Keep practicing and whichever craft you choose will get easier and faster!
What uses more yarn, knitting or crochet?
This is another thing that I hear quite often - apparently, according to some crafters, crochet is very yarn-hungry whereas in knitting, your yarn will go much further. This is pretty similar to the question above really - it's hard to compare like with like. However, I'm going to try my best to give you some actual numbers and examples to show how much yarn is used for each craft!
Colourwork yoke pullovers
Crochet: Scandi Dreams Jumper (Crochet Now 75), 1,680m of DK yarn for finished bust size 108cm
Knitting: Budding Lotus Sweater (Knit Now 138) 1,750m of DK yarn for finished bust size 113.5cm
Lace triangle shawls
Crochet: Walking in the Woods Shawl (Crochet Now 67), 1,125m of DK yarn for finished shawl 163cm x 80cm
Knitting: Cranberry Crosshatch Shawl (Knit Now 126), 825m of 4-ply yarn for finished shawl 170cm x 85cm
Chunky Jumper Patterns
Crochet: Clarendon Cable Jumper (Crochet Now 72), 1,120m of chunky yarn for finished bust size 113cm
Knitting: Cor da Rosa Jumper (Knit Now Issue 137), 650m of super chunky yarn for finished bust size 111cm
Is knitting or crochet best for making garments?
Honestly, both are great! The thing to pay attention to is drape, which can be a little trickier to create in crochet but talented designers can make crochet garments which are just as light and airy as knitted ones. Still not sure! Try some for yourself...
Free garment patterns to download:
- KNIT: Daydream Jumper
- CROCHET: Diamonds Cardigan
How About Toys?
This is one where we can give you some really good like-for-like examples! Our magazine Your Crochet & Knitting often has both knitted and crocheted patterns for the same character.
In Your Crochet and Knitting Issue 13 we had patterns to knit or crochet your own Clanger. Both were equally adorable! You can see that the texture of the knitted toy is smoother and his crocheted twin has a little bit more texture and the fabric itself has more structure to it.
For Your Crochet and Knitting Issue 17 we had a knitted and crocheted version of Bagpuss. The two were so similar that even the woolly experts in our office had to get right up close to tell the difference. In a fuzzy yarn like this where you can't really see the texture of the fabric, both are just the same.
But really...what's the actual difference between knitting and crochet?
Finally we reached out to you, our lovely crafty friends, for the answer! For a bit of fun, I asked on twitter...
And these are some of my favourite responses!