Knitting vs. Crocheting: What's the Difference and Which Should You Learn?

You can create the most beautiful pieces—garments, accessories, blankets—by knitting and crocheting. Both techniques of needlework use yarn and the meditative act of stitching in repetition, one that tends to be relaxing and mentally stimulating. Both require practice to excel in skill, and the result is truly a personalized labor of love.

But what are the differences between knitting and crocheting? Is one easier than the other? If you're a beginner deciding which to learn, we're here to help. Here's what you need to know about the techniques and tools you use to knit and crochet.

The Differences Between Knitting and Crochet

At their core, both knitting and crocheting are methods of stitching yarn together—just in different styles. In knitting, the stitches form a "V" shape. In crochet, the stitches are more like knots. Knitting uses a pair of long needles to form the loops, moving a set of loops from one needle to another; the stitches are held on the needle. Crochet uses a single hook to hook the loops together directly on the piece.

Below, we dive deeper into the differing tools and techniques of knitting and crochet so you can better determine which is the right fiber craft for you and the type of projects you hope to accomplish.

Knitting Tools, Techniques, and How-Tos

In knitting, one uses a pair of long needles to form the stitches. There are different types of needles: straight, circular, and double-pointed. Needles are categorized by size (as determined by the tool's diameter) and the type of stitch that you can do with them.

For example, larger needles are perfect for making the large loop stitches you want for certain projects like a knit blanket, whereas you would want smaller needles for making baby accessories like socks and beanies. On straight needles, you can make flat pieces with a back-and-forth stitching movement. Circular needles let you knit in a circular motion, ideal for projects like cowl scarves and hats. As you progress in projects, you will find that having one size of each needle is not necessarily sufficient in knitting.

You also have a few options for technique: English knitting, German/Continental knitting, or the specialty lever knitting. In knitting, the "V"-shaped stitches of your work hang off the needle and are transferred from one needle to the other, loop by loop. Starting and stopping your knit project in the middle of progress means that stitches could be left on both needles making it slightly unwieldy. And keeping the knit stitches from falling off both needles in transit will require needle stoppers. It also means you may be required to offload your work onto stitch holders while another piece gets knit on the same pair of needles.

If you're looking for knitting projects for beginners, consider the following patterns and projects:

• Basic knitting techniques
• Cozy fingerless mittens
• Knit scarf

Crochet Tools, Techniques, and How-Tos

Crochet requires the use of a hook, which comes in a range of sizes. You make loops with the hook to create the essential crochet stitches such as the single, double, and treble stitch. The initial loop is a slip knot that is followed by a chain. Unlike knitting, crochet stitches resemble a chain of small knots. You can create several slip knots and chains for your project, but should try to keep an even tension as you work through each stitch.

You choose the size of the hook based on the size of the stitch needed, and it's a good idea to consider the weight of the yarn for your project, too. A small hook won't work very well with a yarn that has a higher weight.

For example, you should use a B/1 to E/4-sized hook when working with superfine yarn weights to create delicate items like baby clothes. But you would want a Q hook to crochet larger afghans, sweaters, and rugs with jumbo-weight yarn. Oftentimes, one basic set of hooks will be enough to most of your crochet projects. You can have multiple projects going that require the same hook without having to worry about the project size, holding stitches, or if you're crocheting regular or in the round. In crochet, the stitches are simply looped onto the piece so there's no transferring of stitches from one tool to another.

You can learn the basic crochet stitches step-by-step here.

Crochet vs. Knitting: Which Is Easier?

For beginners who seek convenience and versatility, we suggest crochet. Since crochet uses a single hook, the tools and techniques are minimized. It is this major difference that makes crochet typically easier than knitting and more accessible as a self-taught hobby.

For those looking to master a wider range of tools, then consider knitting. Children who learn how to knit from an early age can develop more complicated skills. The great benefit of knitting is that it supports sophisticated designs in intermediate to advanced stages, with some projects combining techniques. And you could always consider Tunisian crochet, which many consider to be the best of both techniques.