What is Knit and Crochet?

This is a series about knit and crochet. Inspired by the response from an infographic describing the craft, I decided to write accompanying posts to go into detail. Infographics with a lot of words aren't very interesting so I'm filling gaps here on this blog post.

I used to work at a retail yarn shop, and one of the most frequent questions we got, mostly from beginners, was “what is the difference between knitting and crochet?” Both involve using yarn to make garments, but can be entirely different animals.

First of all, knitting involves creating a fabric by interweaving loops through each other. To do this, you manipulate the yarn with two knitting needles. There are a number of “live” stitches at any given time, and the stitches are not considered “complete” until they are bound off. You work back and forth in rows until the garment is complete.

While similar to knitting, crochet instead uses a hook to pull loops through one another, with each stitch considered “complete” while you are working it. Most of the time, there is only one stitch on the hook, versus multiple live stitches on knitting needles.

From my personal experience, each craft has its own strengths and weaknesses, which also varies depending on your personal preferences and techniques. I crochet much more quickly than I knit, so I prefer to use crochet for large flat projects, like blankets, shawls, and some sweaters. I also think that since crochet makes a thicker fabric that knitting, that thickness and softness is perfect for those types of projects. I prefer to knit garments that require more delicate and detailed shaping, like socks, hats, and fitted sweaters. Working a flatter fabric allows you to make more intricate shaping that helps a garment fit properly.

You can even combine the two techniques too. Recently, I completed a custom ordered baby blanket. The customer wanted a baby blue blanket with a border like a picture frame. I knitted the main part of the blanket then crocheted the border. The crocheted border was thicker, it created an effect where most of the blanket was pulled into its shape by the border. The blanket was made with the novomerino 4-ply yarn from KPC yarn in Mist and Lagoon.

Both are highly enjoyable! I find that once you learn how to do one, it is quite easy to pick up the other. After some time you will have learned the fine muscle control in your hands and how yarn behaves. Imagine making custom gifts for friends and family, or even make something extra fancy for yourself. It's not limited to winter wear either. With lighter yarn and patterns, you can make clothes/accessories that you can wear year round. In addition to clothes, there's a whole world of things you can create with these skills, from Amigurumi figures, household items, and much more. In my next post I'll talk about the different types of yarn that I've used, so stay tuned!