Differences Between Crochet and Knitting: Crochet vs Knitting
How Textile Prints Are Changing Fashion Trends
February 1, 2024
The Journey of Silk Fabric : From Silkworm to Luxurious Fabric
February 10, 2024
You’ve seen your grandma or aunt sitting in her rocking chair, needles or hook in hand, working away at some mysterious yarn project. Maybe you’ve even tried your hand at one of these crafts yourself. But when it comes down to it, do you actually know the difference between crochet and knitting?
The Origins: A Brief History of Crochet and Knitting
Crochet and knitting are two popular fiber arts that have been around for centuries. While they seem quite similar, they actually have distinct origins and histories.
Crochet
Crochet originated in the early 1800s. It was popularized in Europe, spreading from Italy to France, Ireland, and Britain. The word “crochet” comes from the French word “croche”, meaning hook. Crochet uses a hooked needle to interlock looped stitches, typically of thread or yarn.
The earliest known published crochet patterns appeared in the Dutch magazine “Penélopé” in 1824. Crochet grew in popularity and complexity throughout the 1800s. Thread crochet was used to make delicate lace and edgings, while yarn crochet was used for home goods like blankets, clothing, and accessories.
Read Also: What is Weaving: Basic Process Types and Tools
Knitting
Knitting has been around for over 1,000 years, dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. Knitting traveled from the Middle East to Europe with trade and conquest. Early knitted items were socks, gloves, and caps.
The word “knit” comes from the Old English word “cnyttan” meaning to tie or knot. Knitting uses two or more needles to interlock a series of loops of yarn. There are many different styles of knitting, including English, continental, and fair isle.
While crochet and knitting are often thought of interchangeably, they are actually quite different. The tools, stitches, and final results differ between these popular fiber arts. Both have a rich history and continue to be used to create a variety of beautiful and functional items. Whether you prefer the hook or the needle, crochet and knitting are crafts that stand the test of time.
Hook vs Needles: The Basic Tools Used
When it comes to crochet vs knitting, the most obvious difference between crochet and knitting is the tools used. Crochet uses a single hook, while knitting uses two needles.
Crochet Hook
A crochet hook is a single tool that comes in a variety of sizes and materials. The hook has a tapered end and a handle you hold to manipulate the yarn. You wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through the loops to create stitches. The size of the hook depends on the thickness of the yarn. Common materials for hooks include aluminum, wood, and plastic.
Knitting Needles
Knitting needles come in pairs and also vary in size and material. The needles have pointed ends to push into the loops of yarn. You hold a needle in each hand and use them to create interlocking loops, called stitches. The stitches build on each other, with each new row creating the fabric. Like crochet hooks, knitting needles come in sizes suitable for different yarn weights. Common materials are aluminum, wood, bamboo, and plastic.
While a hook or needles are the only essential tools for each craft, you may want other supplies like stitch markers, row counters, tapestry needles, and scissors. But at their core, crochet simply requires a hook, and knitting needs two needles.
Whichever craft you choose, be sure to start with the appropriately sized tool for the yarn you want to use. The tool determines the ultimate size and gauge of your project, so it’s important to get the right match. Whether you prefer to hook with a single tool or stitch with a pair of needles, both crochet and knitting can produce beautiful, handmade results. The differences really come down to personal preference and the types of projects you want to create.
Yarn Handling: How Yarn Is Held for Crochet and Knitting
When it comes to yarn crafts, how you handle the yarn itself is one of the biggest differences between crochet and knitting. In crochet, you only use one hook to manipulate a single strand of yarn, while in knitting you use two needles to loop multiple strands of yarn together.
- Crochet
In crochet, you hold the yarn in your non-dominant hand and pass it through the loops on your hook with your dominant hand. The yarn is pulled through the loops individually. You are essentially building up the fabric one stitch at a time by pulling yarn through other stitches. Because you are only handling one strand of yarn at a time, crochet allows for more intricate stitches and lacey patterns. However, crochet fabric tends to be less dense and flexible than knitted fabric.
- Knitting
In knitting, you hold multiple strands of yarn together on your needles, passing the loops over each other to create interconnected stitches. The key difference here is that you are handling and manipulating multiple strands of yarn at once. This allows knitting to produce thicker, denser fabrics that are more tightly woven. The yarn in knitting is held under tension the entire time, while in crochet the yarn is only pulled through when completing each new stitch.
While the end results of crochet and knitting can appear similar to the untrained eye, the way the yarn is handled in each craft produces distinct differences in the stitch and fabric. If you prefer working with a single strand to create delicate patterns, crochet may be for you. If you want to work with multiple strands to produce thicker, sturdier fabrics, knitting is probably your best bet. At the end of the day, both crafts yield beautiful results, so why not give them both a try?
Stitch Construction:
The Difference Between a Crochet Stitch and a Knit Stitch
When it comes down to it, the key difference between crochet and knitting is in how the stitches are constructed. Crochet stitches are created using a single hooked needle to pull loops of yarn through other loops. Knitting stitches are made by passing loops of yarn over two straight needles.
Crochet Stitches
In crochet, you insert a hook into a loop, yarn over by pulling the yarn behind and over the hook, and then draw that loop of yarn through the first loop. This creates one crochet stitch. By repeating this process, you can create a chain of crochet stitches. The most common crochet stitches are the single crochet stitch, half double crochet stitch, and double crochet stitch. These stitches have different heights but the same basic construction.
Knit Stitches
In knitting, you insert one needle into a loop, wrap the yarn behind and over the second needle, and pull a new loop through the first loop. This binds the two loops together on the needles. Knit stitches are created by passing the loops from one needle to the other. The knit stitch and purl stitch are the two most common knitting stitches, and all other knit stitches are variations or combinations of these.
Read Also: Knitting: Explore Types, Techniques and Tools for Beginner Level
While crochet and knitting share some similarities, the way the stitches are constructed is fundamentally different for the two crafts. Both produce beautiful, handmade fabric, but the finished results also differ. Crochet typically produces a more open, holey fabric while knitting can achieve tighter, denser fabric. Understanding the differences in how the stitches are made is key to mastering these rewarding yarn crafts.
The Finished Product: How to Tell Crochet and Knitting Apart
When you see a finished handmade item, how can you tell if it was crocheted or knitted? Here are some telltale signs to look for:
- Crochet projects typically have more open, holey stitches since crochet uses only one live stitch at a time. Knitting, on the other hand, has multiple live stitches on the needle at once, resulting in a smoother, more solid fabric. Crochet also tends to be thicker and bulkier.
- Crochet stitches are all loops pulled through other loops, while knitting has flat, interlocking rows of stitches. Crochet stitches tend to be uneven in height, creating a bumpier texture. Knitted stitches are very uniform, creating an even, flat surface.
- Crochet edges often look more rough and handmade, while knitted edges can look smoother and tidier. Crochet projects frequently have a visible starting chain along one edge. Knitted pieces typically have neater selvedge edges.
- Crochet motifs, granny squares, and other crocheted shapes often have a very distinctive look with openwork holes in a square pattern. Knitted pieces are usually in a standard rectangle, though knitted lace can also have an open pattern.
- Crochet uses only one hook to make loops, while knitting uses two needles to make stitches. So if the item has been made using only one tool with a hook on the end, it’s likely crochet. If it was made using two shorter tools with points on the end, it’s probably knitting.
- Some projects combine both crochet and knitting, with sections of each, to get the benefits of both crafts in one piece. But if you examine the stitches closely, you should be able to spot the difference between predominantly crochet and predominantly knitted areas. With a little practice, you’ll be reading handmade projects like an expert in no time!
Conclusion
So there you have it the key differences between crochet and knitting. Both can produce beautiful results, but crochet tends to work up faster with usually just one hook in hand. Knitting takes more coordination with those two needles, but opens up easier shaping. At the end of the day, choose whichever craft calls to you more or even learn both! As long as you’re creating something with your own two hands, that’s what matters most. Just have fun with it and make something you can take pride in, whether it’s a snuggly scarf, a cute amigurumi doll, or a wearable work of art. The only limit is your imagination!