Ep. 15 – Knitting vs Crochet, which one do you prefer??

If like us, you knit and crochet, you’ve most likely been asked which of the two you prefer. While this is an impossible question to answer, with certain parameters we can pick one or the other. In today’s episode, we compare both crafts and share about the pros and cons of each.

This episode was pre-recorded since Dani is gone for a week-long family vacation this week. Since it was recorded less than 30 minutes after last week’s episode there are no “How was your week?” & “What did you buy this week?” segments today. 

What are you working on?

Nathalie

• I’m working on Theo’s first year of life temperature blanket. I’m currently halfway done crocheting the days of the first month then I’ll of course have to seam them all together.  

Dani

• Dani is working on Isa’s Novice Cardigan (pattern from Petite Knit – sized down because she is using worsted instead of DK). She is very much enjoying the change of pace that is following someone else’s pattern instead of creating one of her own; it is a nice mental break. 

Now let’s talk about today’s subject – Knitting vs Crochet, which one do you prefer??

First off, we need to mention that we both do both crafts. If you only knit or only crochet or are new to both crafts, this will be an interesting episode for you as we compare them. 

Which is your favorite?

As Dani always responds when she’s asked this question: “I have two kids, you can’t make me pick between my kids. Same goes for knitting and crocheting. I enjoy both and I love things from each that are different.”

Picking one is possible only with specific guidelines. 

For instance, we both favor knitting when it comes to wearables as the drape and the stretch is unmatched. The resulting fabric is also typically a lot less holey and a lot thinner. While it is possible to achieve a similar feel with crochet it usually involves using smaller yarn and stitch combinations that take forever to work up. 

When it comes to blankets however we both much prefer crochet as it works up much faster making it much more fun to make. Plus, the stitch repeat tends to become muscle memory making it very soothing. 

For hats we both prefer knitting as it fits and stretches better. Crochet hats can be nice to if they are worked flat and then seamed (we both don’t like when they are worked in the round). 

For most other accessories like bags or plushies (or anything with a shape really) we pick crochet. Shaping in general is just so much simpler with crochet. 

But let’s compare them more in details:

Crochet pros and cons

• Works up much faster.
• Uses a lot more yarn.
• Tends to be harder on the hands/wrists (especially when working with bigger yarn).
• Easier to learn as you can easily go back a few stitches and start over.
• Tends to be a little more complicated as there are more stitches to remember and various places to work these stitches (in the stitch, around the stitch, in between the stitch, etc.).
• Patterns tends to be more complicated to understand (see point above) and can be written many ways to mean the same thing which can be confusing. 
• Gives you way more freedom as far as creating shapes.
• Need more of your focus and attention as you continuously need to make sure you’re inserting your hook in the proper place.
• Easier to find where you were at if you stop working on your project for a little while. 
• Seaming various pieces together is easier. 
• You typically don’t have to worry about your piece curling like you do with some knitting stitches. 

Knitting pros and cons

• Much slower to work up.
• Uses less yarn (making it ideal to use fancier/more expensive yarns as you need less).
• Typically, easier on the hands/wrists especially when knitting continental.
• Harder to learn (mistakes are much harder to notice, understand and correct).
• Once you know the craft, knitting tends to be easier to make.
• Knitting patterns tend to be much simpler to understand.
• Shaping is much harder and doesn’t always yield a clean result.
• Better for times when you can’t be 100% focused on your project (think on road trips, while watching a show, etc.) as you can feel the stitches as you work them. 
• Harder to figure out where you were at when you pick up a project that hasn’t been touched in a little while.
• Seaming pieces is a little more complicated. 
• Curling pieces can be an issue, so you must keep that in mind when picking stitches for your project.

Which do we do more?

Looking back at the last year, we seem to both have crocheted more (new patterns for Dani and plushies for me) but the year prior it was more knitting (market prep means making all the knit hats and headbands). 

Being able to do both crafts of a blessing as it gives you the possibility to pick the most appropriate one based on any/all the characteristics mentioned above.  

As always if you have any questions, comments, thoughts or even podcast topics ideas, please email us at: dropastitchpodcast@gmail.com. 

Have a great week everyone!