What is the major difference of knitting and crocheting?

Answer 1

To crochet, you use a hook which resembles a comma
on a stick.
You begin by making a slip knot
then you use the hook to make another
until you have a chain.
Then you do the same thing again
but you work it through and wrap it around.
Crochet is what you usually see
in the magazines that show
doilies from the Victorian Age.

Knitting is similar except that
you use 2 needles that look like
sticks with a flat end on it.
Imagine giant size straight pins
as big around as a pencil.
Both are fairly easy to learn.
Knitted pieces have a tendency
to be softer than crocheted items.
And not all knitted stitches are tight,
it varies from knitter to knitter.
It's sort of like handwriting,
no two do it the same.
There are several good books on the
market currently that show you step by step,
you may even be able
to find a craft tape or DVD on both.
I do hope this has helped
and not frightened you.
I teach both and
have been teaching for over 30 years.

Answer 2

From a manufacturing point of view: knitting can be created by machine. Crochet *MUST* be made by hand as there are no machines available yet that can reproduce the crochet stitches.

From a fabric point of view: Knitting is a series of loops built on top of prior loops creating a fairly flat fabric. Crocheting is a series of individual stitches; since the individual stitch uses more yarn than a knit stitch, it is slightly dimensional (like 2D).

From a speed perspective: crocheting is considered faster

From the artistic perspective: both can create stunning works, but only crochet offers the freedom to change stitches, yarn, hooks, directions or dimension ANYwhere in the work.

From the tool perspective: Knitting requires two needles. Crochet requires one hook with the other hand (usually) controlling the yarn tension. Both use stitch markers, tapestry needles.

From the number of people enjoying: reportedly for every one knitter there are three crocheters

From the stash perspective: since crochet stitches are slightly heavier, more fiber will be needed for a given project.

From the historical point of view: knitting has a long history. The history of crochet is still being determined; most saying it's just a few hundred years old.

From the *freak out* episodes: knitting needles cannot be removed from the work without using some sort of stitch holder, to remove the needles would result in losing stitches. Whereas it's no big deal to remove crochet hooks. Also, while it's never pleasant to correct errors, knitting is more difficult; crochet has the freedom to "fudge" or easily rip back to make the correction.

Whichever you decide to go with, they're both great! :)

I hope this helps.
~Dee Stanziano
CYCA Certified Crochet Teacher

Answer 3

You have had the explaination of how many needles you use so I won't get into that. The difference is also with the patterns. You can make beautiful project with both but the patterns vary. The majority of knitting is what you see on sweaters, popcorn stitch , the large and small cable There are a couple of others but you don't see them too often. The crochet has a lot of open work that you will now see in the stores that are made up in plastic. Don't mistake what you see in the store and the beautiful work you can do with crochet. I do both and love both crafts and would not change that knowledge for anything.

Answer 4

Knitting uses two or more pointed needles, while crocheting requires only one needle with a hook on the end.

When crocheting, the crafter works on one loop at a time, making chains by pulling a loop of yarn through the loop on the hook, or by inserting the hook into the existing fabric and pulling a loop through both the fabric and the loop on the hook, leaving only one loop on the hook. When knitting, multiple loops or stitches are worked across the needle, the width of the fabric being dictated by the number of stitches across.

BUT, I do both knitting and crocheting and to me the MAIN difference is in the finished article. Knitted things are much stretchier than crocheted things. As a result, knitted things feel softer and have more "drape". I prefer crochet for things I want to hold their shape like doilies, and knit for things I want to have more "drape", like sweaters.

Answer 5

Knitting requires 2 knitting needles and only has 2 stitches, the knit and purl stitch. Crochet uses one hook and there are a multitude of stitches. Both are fun to learn.

Answer 6

Knitting is done on 2 needles and requires a lot of stitches to start off with. Crochet just uses one hook and you only have one stitch to deal with at any one time. It is a lot quicker than knitting as well.

Answer 7

I consider the major difference to be the number of loops at the end of a row in mid-project. It can get confusing when to throw in middle-eastern and South American knitting done in-the-round with hooks, and "afghan stitch" crochet which picks up a row of stitches as though to knit and then binds them off as though to knit with each row. When you reach the end of a crochet row in the middle of a project, there's one loop on the hook. When you reach the end of knitting row, all of the loops are still on the needles.

Crocheting is generally managed with a single tool which is hooked on one or both ends and may be worked either back and forth or in-the-round. Hand-knitting (as opposed to frame-knitting or machine-knitting) is requires tools be operated with *both* hands, excepting circular needles, this means multiple items/tools and also may be worked either back and borth or in-the-round.

Hand-knitting tools include: needles, pins & hooks. Knitting "pins" have a head on one end and a point on the other. Double-pointed needles have points on both ends. Modern South American hooks are typically made from bicycle spokes (pointed on one end and a hook adapted from the other), with the project worked onto the hook end and off the pointed end. Circular needles have knitting points on both ends and a cord between ... convenient for circular knitting and for larger projects (28"-36" long straight needles would be awkward).

Answer 8

knitting is done with two needles where you connect the yarn loop by loop. Crochet is done with a hook and you work in rows back and forth.

Answer 9

knitting is done with two long needles and crocheting is done with one hook. the needles and hooks come in different sizes for different projects.

Answer 10

knitting creates a tighter look in the yarn and is harder than crocheting