Crochet Vs. Knitting

Knitters can create scarves and sweaters with yarn and needles.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that crochet and knitting are interchangeable, and they are not. Knitting uses its own stitches and combinations of stitches to create items--the patterns from those items does not translate to the stitches used in crochet. Each crafting discipline has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Function

Crochet can be used to create lacy edgings.

Knitting produces stretchy fabrics suitable for making sweaters, socks, scarves and beanies--all items that have to fit over a body part that is bigger around than it is in its unstretched state.

Items that have been crocheted are lacier and have more open air incorporated into the design than those that have been knitted. Depending on the crochet stitch used, the item can be very dense and sturdy, such as a throw rug, heavy sweater or pot holder. Taller stitches, such as the double crochet, triple crochet, double-triple crochet and triple-triple crochet, make fabric designs that have a high degree of "drape" and open areas in between stitches.

Identification

Knitters have several loops on their knitting needles.

Knitting is composed of two basic stitches--the knit stitch and the purl stitch. These two stitches are used in making the item the knitter has in mind. The knit and purl stitches are combined to create the cable stitch, a characteristic of knitting. The knitter can use different colors of yarn and the stitches to create color patterns on sweaters that can't be created with crochet.

Crochet is begun using the chain stitch for the foundation row, then from this row the different stitches are used to make the item. Crochet uses a wider variety of stitches--four basic stitches, along with two additional, taller stitches. Crochet also uses filet crochet, shell, popcorn, puff, bobble, V, mesh, fishnet, picot and other stitches, giving the crocheter a wide range of stitches she can utilize to make items individualized for family and friends.

Differences

Crochet usually has only one loop on the hook.

Knitters use two pointed needles or needles connected with flexible tubing to make items such as hats, scarves, cable knit sweaters and blankets.

The crochet artist uses one crochet hook--although she has the choice of several different sizes suitable for different kinds of crochet thread and yarn. She can create a wide variety of items, such as a lacy, romantic shrug, sweater or shawl using several stitches or an afghan made of smaller stitches that help keep cold out on a winter night.

Tools Used

Knitting can be used to create patterns with color.

Crochet uses yarn, crochet hooks in different sizes, stitch markers, tapestry needles and stitch markers. Two different types of crochet hooks include the afghan hook (which looks like a crochet hook on one end and like a knitting needle with a rubber stopper on the other end) and the cro-hook, which has a hook on each end.

Knitting utilizes two pointed knitting needles or smaller knitting needles joined with a flexible length of plastic tubing ideal for making items in the round, such as socks and berets.

Strengths of Crochet vs. Knitting

Crocheters can incorporate open space in their designs.

Crochet is well-suited to making lacier items like bolero jackets, open-work items such as doilies and shrugs, chokers using large chain stitches and beads, decorative accessory items like flowers and granny squares used to make larger items.

Knitting is ideal for making baby socks and shoes, scarves, mittens, cardigans and other sweaters and heavier blankets.

References

• Stitch 'n Bitch The Happy Hooker, Debbie Stoller, 2006
• Michaels: The Differences Between Knit & Crochet
• Lion Brand Yarn: Library of Knitting and Crochet Information (FAQ)
• Crochet and Knitting: Differences Between Knitting and Crocheting

Resources

• Hobby Archive: Knitting vs. Crochet! Find the Difference