Knitting Vs. Crochet

Here we go again, I don't know why but there is a little bit of a rivalry going between crochet and knit. Only a bit and it depends where you are if you have ever seen this or not. But everyone wonders, especially when you are first getting into this, which one is worth learning?

The biggest thing is a 'which takes more yarn'? I've heard everything between there is no difference, up to 'oh crochet uses 42% more yarn' how they got that number I don't know. I've looked it over as I did so and I think I found how and why crochet does 'use up more' yarn then knitting.

It doesn't if you are just stockinette and single or double crochet. Some stitches are a yarn eater in crochet, like the popcorn stitch it uses a lot of yarn.

When it comes to crochet there are a lot of different possible stitches, single, half double crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, bauble versions of all of those, just a lot. When it comes to knitting you have knit, purl, and at best yarn over and decrease. What changes patterns is how you match up those different ways will make patterns. While crochet patterns can go from lacy to bulky it isn't the same as knitting, even when solid like just straight stockinette, has a lacy vibe.

Yarn has a S twist, the way it is twisted is meant for knitters. Some places like Lion Brand will make Z twist yarns which is perfect for crochet.

Right handed.

I'm a leftie so for me S twist is perfect for crochet and Z twist is perfect for knitting. Which may be why yarn splits more when I knit then when I crochet, but there is no real way to know. However most of the population is right handed and so everything really is meant for knitters.

Pretty much every store I went into has all different kinds of knitting needles with only a few crochet hooks. Crochet doesn't really have any notions that are fully crochet other then stitch markers as the lobster clawed ones are meant for crochet while the just circular one is for knitting. The thing that knitting needles have that crochet hooks don't need is point protectors, this you put on your needle points and it keeps your project from sliding off the needles.

I only ever went into one store where there was more crochet hooks then knitting needles and it was shocking but a pleasant surprise to me. The fact is there are just so many kinds of knitting needles, straight needles, circular needles, double pointed needles DPN, interchangeable needles. There are just crochet hooks, different brands sure but a Susan Bates hook and a Boye hook are the same kind just different things like a tapered or inline hook but they are still just simple crochet hooks. Same with aluminum, plastic or wooden hooks.

I take this as a plus for crochet, because you only need it to make a circle, to have all of your hooks in one place is easy. Plus you have fewer hooks to buy. In the end if you just have straight needles you aren't going to make a hat or a circular pillow. With just one crochet hook you can.

There are more patterns with knitting. Just is. Plus whenever someone sees you they think you are knitting, which is easy mistake to make especially since not very many people even know what crochet is. However it does get tiring and annoying to constantly have to explain to people 'oh no I'm not knitting, I'm crocheting. It's kind of like knitting but it's just one and instead of fully straight it is hooked.'

But the question of which is better? Knitting or crocheting?

Yes.

Now me being a bit wishy-washy, both are good. Just let me explain.

I think that they both have their place. Think of it like yarn, a lace weight yarn would be horrible to make a full blanket it, it would be forever and be expensive to make out of lace yarn. However to make a shawl it will be beautiful.

It is easier to explain it in the term of knitting, you can't do everything with DPN but when it comes to making a small circle it is good to have, while having straight for a scarf is perfect.

So I think knitting and crochet can both be wonderful depending on your project. To me both have a place with a fiber artist just like loom knitting. I think that no one should turn their nose up at either, if one doesn't jive with you then of course don't force yourself to knit or crochet if it doesn't work for you, but for me I go about making things in whichever way seems to work best for that particular project.

Also I tried to learn to knit for years, I am a graduate from the University of Youtube, but I couldn't knit until after I learned to crochet.