To knit or not to knit.. knitting vs. crochet..
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| Knit |
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| Crochet |
There are two basic stitches in knitting and everything else is built on those two. That's part of what makes it so easy and takes less yarn than crochet.
I of course love crocheting and am much faster at it than knitting but the general consensus is that crochet "grows" faster, that is you end up with more fabric doing less work than in knitting. Crochet is sometimes easier for lefties, although if you are just learning you can learn to do it with either hand. In knitting, you can knit left-handed or right handed and both hands do pretty much equal share of the work.
I also think you can make cooler stuff with crochet. Knitting for the most part is two-dimensional, but crochet stitches are 3D which means you can build off of them in any direction. That's why things like softies and amigurumi are more frequently done in crochet, whereas garments are more frequently knitted.
It may be "grass is greener" for me -- I can crochet nearly any shape, but have mangled every knitting project I ever attempted.
I have to say, knitting is more conducive to multi-tasking - it's a lot easier to knit speedily by touch than it is to crochet without looking at the work. You can knit even complex stitches while reading, browsing, whatever - but since you're always needing to find and work into foundation loops in crochet, it's tougher to make progress with touch alone. Then again, I think crochet is easier to pick up and put down for a few minutes at a time.
Then, I guess the biggest question, is what would you like to make? I think knitting makes a lot more sense for most garments - better drape, lighter, less yarn overall. Crochet is better for toys and accessories and other structured items. Although there are so many laces made with crochet that are just as perfect looking and gorgeous to make for curtains and doilies.
How do you want to make stuff? If you want to follow patterns, there's a lot more support out there for knitting than for crochet. If you want to do free form stuff and explore, crochet - which can take its finished shape with every stitch - is really satisfying. This is possible in knitting, too, but it just doesn't have the inherently sculptural structure of crochet fabric, and isn't as good for that sort of thing (that said, I have to disagree that there are no cool engineering possibilities in knitting - there are lots of incredibly architectural, satisfyingly mathematical ways to construct and shape knitted garments.
They're very different crafts - they both turn string into fabric, but the planning, execution, and end results are pretty dissimilar. I say learn both!
Happy Hooking! :D
