Knitting vs Crocheting: Which Hobby Should You Choose?

Originally published on May 13, 2025

Are you thinking about learning a new hobby but you are torn between knitting and crocheting? Whether you're looking to relax after a long day, create handmade gifts for loved ones, or pick up a new skill, both knitting and crocheting offer endless possibilities. But how do you decide which one is right for you? In today’s blog post, I’ll compare these two popular crafts, share my personal journey with them, and hopefully I can help you figure out which hobby suits your personality and goals.

Knitting vs Crocheting

What Are Knitting and Crocheting?

Before we compare this two, let’s first start with the basics:

• Knitting is a fiber craft where a thread of yarn is woven into a series of loops to create a garment. You only need two needles and a ball of yarn to start this hobby
• Crocheting, on the other hand, uses a single hook to pull loops of yarn through each other. You also only need a ball of yarn and a crochet hook to start this hobby. 

Both hobbies are relaxing, creative outlets that allow you to express yourself while producing something beautiful. Plus, they’re known to reduce stress and improve focus! 

A knit skirt with the classic v stitches	A crochet dress, worked only with double crochets and chain stitches (The picture came from a time before I had a blog)

How I Started My Journey with Knitting and Crocheting

I was introduced to crafting in a very special way. After my husband’s surgery, two close friends who crochet helped me discover this wonderful hobby. I learned everything from the YouTube channel Jayda in Stitches. She’s an amazing teacher and such a lovely soul - every time I watched her videos, I felt a sense of joy.

Later, while watching Christmas movies with the cozy knit sweaters, I decided to try knitting. I wanted to create those colorful sweaters myself!

At first, I struggled to keep track of all the stitches and rows, and when I lost a stitch I unraveled my entire knitting because I didn't know how to fix them. I am glad I took the time to learn how to fix them properly 😄. Switching from crocheting to knitting can be very challenging - but once I got the hang of it, I fell in love with it and it became my favorite hobby. 

My journey taught me that there’s no right or wrong way to start - you just need patience and practice.

Calendar blanket I made back in 2020	Crochet purse I made in 2022

Differences Between Knitting and Crocheting

If you’re still unsure which hobby to choose, here’s a breakdown of their key differences:

Tools Needed

• Knitting: Uses two needles (straight, circular, or double-pointed). Managing both can be tricky for beginner.
• Crochet: Uses a single hook. Easier to handle initially, with fewer tools to coordinate.

Techniques

• Knitting: Relies on knit and purl stitches. Combining these creates patterns, but getting the tension right to create even stitches can be challenging for beginners.
• Crochet: Involves chains, single crochet, double crochet, and more. Stitches are completed individually and require more hand movement.

Speed

I like to say that crafting isn’t about rushing to finish a project - it’s about the journey. Knitting and crocheting are expressions of patience, mindfulness, and creativity. There’s something magical in the quiet moment you have for yourself when creating stitches, and how your project grows bigger with each stitch. It’s not about crossing the finish line, it’s about how it makes you feel along the way. It’s about connecting with yourself, finding calm in the chaos, and turning each moment into something truly meaningful. For me, every stitch is like a little meditation, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of creating something with my own hands.

But if you still are interested in the speed:

• Knitting: Can be slower, especially for beginners.
• Crocheting: Can be faster because you work bigger stitches.

Fabric Characteristics

• Knitting: Produces stretchy, drapey fabric. 
• Crochet: Creates dense, structured fabric.

Fixing Mistakes

• Knitting: A dropped stitch in knitting can unravel down  several rows (people will often say "the stitch is running away"). It requires tools like crochet hooks to fix it, but with a lot of practice, it's also possible to fix it without one. This can be intimidating for beginners, but I will go deeper into this topic soon!
• Crochet: Mistakes are easier to undo, since stitches are independent.

Yarn Usage

• Knitting: Uses less yarn for the same project. (But I would not say that knitting is cheaper, because the knitting needles can be very expensive)
• Crochet: Consumes more yarn due to thicker stitches and denser fabric.

Learning Curve

• Knitting: It can be more challenging due to coordinating two needles and maintaining even tension.
• Crochet: Often easier to start with as a beginner

Portability

• Knitting: Circular needles can make projects more portable, but straight needles may be bulkier. Always use stitch stoppers in your project bags so that you don't lose any stitches.
• Crochet: A single hook and minimal tools make it highly portable.

Versatility

• Knitting: Excels in colorwork (Fair Isle, Intarsia) and lace.
• Crochet: Better for 3D projects (toys, baskets) and bold textures.

I crocheted a little diaper bag for my daughter	Diana sweater

Community & Resources

Both crafts have big communities, though knitting may have more historical resources. Online tutorials on YouTube or help from the community on platforms like Ravelry or Reddit are available for both.

Which Hobby Is Easier for Beginners?

For absolute beginners, crocheting tends to be the better starting point. With just one hook and fewer stitches to learn, you can complete small projects quickly and build confidence. However, don’t rule out knitting if you prefer working on flat, structured pieces. I and many people enjoy switching between the two depending on their mood or project type.

Here are some beginner-friendly tips:

• Start with medium-weight yarn and appropriately sized needles/hooks.
• Try simple projects like scarves, dishcloths, or granny squares.
• Watch free tutorials on YouTube or take an online class.

Crochet drawstring bag; I gifted this to an elderly women	Bookmark with cable details

Is it Difficult to Switch from Crocheting to Knitting?

This is a question I get asked a lot - and for a good reason! It’s exactly what I did when I first started my knitting journey. Aside from the little sock project my grandmother knitted for me back in school, I didn’t have any real experience with knitting. I learned crocheting first, and honestly, switching to knitting was quite a challenge.

When you’re crocheting, you’re only working with one stitch at a time - it’s straightforward, forgiving, and pretty hard to mess up. But knitting? Oh, it’s a whole different story. Suddenly, you’re juggling multiple stitches on two needles, and instead of foundation chains (which are super simple in crocheting), you have to learn techniques like the long-tail cast-on or provisional cast-on. And there are so many ways to start knitting! It can feel overwhelming at first, but trust me, it gets easier with practice.

One of the biggest differences between the two is how mistakes are handled. In crocheting, if you lose your loop, you just pick it up and keep going. But in knitting, if a stitch slips off the needle, it can require you to unravel down several rows, leaving you staring at what feels like a disaster. Fixing it takes patience, you have to carefully pick the stitches back up without twisting them. I’ve been there, I didn't know how to fix any mistakes so I unraveled everything. It's frustrating, but it’s also part of the learning process.

Another key difference is fixing errors. In crocheting, if you make a mistake a few rows back, you only need to undo one stitch at a time and redo it. 

In knitting you either have to “tink” back (that’s “knit” spelled backward - undoing stitch by stitch) or take the needle out entirely and unravel everything to the point of the mistake. Then, you have to pick up all the stitches again. It’s stressful, but this is where lifelines become your best friend - they literally save your progress and prevent total disaster. Seriously, if you’re new to knitting, don’t skip using lifelines!

And let’s not forget Increases or Decreases ! In crocheting, you simply crochet two or more stitches into one single stitch to increase. But in knitting, there are so many more techniques, like M1 (make one), KFB (knit front and back), Lifted increases , and more. Each type of increase means something different and gives your garment a unique look. 

For me personally, starting knitting after learning crocheting was really difficult. However, after countless Books, videos, and a lot of practice, I finally learned it. And for me, every single minute of learning this craft was worth it! Now, I want to pass my knowledge on to all of you who might be facing the same dilemma.

A crochet dress, the stitches are much more open	A knit dress, the fabric is not as transparent

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid of learning a new hobby! In this post, I really wanted to be honest and share my personal opinion on learning a new craft. I tried to make it as detailed as possible so you don’t end up being surprised.

When I first started knitting, I tackled a pattern way above my skill level, and I almost gave up on this craft because I thought I wasn’t cut out for it. Much later, I realized that this particular pattern was full of errors, and many knitters had given up on it too. But at the time, I didn’t know that patterns could have mistakes.

That’s why I started test knitting. I always wanted to give my best and help designers in the best way possible, and in the process, I learned so much! Test knitting is incredibly helpful, especially for beginners. It benefits both you and the designer: the designer gains a better understanding of what beginners need, while you get a deeper understanding of different techniques in knitting.

Knitting and crocheting are both wonderful hobbies that bring joy, creativity, and relaxation into your life. Personally, I love switching between the two because they both have their own unique charm. For example, I think some things just look best when done in knitting - like colorwork sweaters with those beautiful, classic knit structures. On the other hand, when it comes to little toys or plushies, I feel like crochet really shines. There’s something about the texture and versatility of crochet that makes these projects extra special.

While knitting might appeal to those who love structure and precision, crocheting is perfect for anyone who craves bold textures and creative freedom. But honestly, there’s no right or wrong answer here - the best choice is the one that excites you the most. Whether you pick up knitting, crocheting, or decide to do both (like me!), what matters most is finding joy in the process and letting your creativity flow.

So, which will it be - knitting, crocheting, or maybe both? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let me know how your crafting journey unfolds!

Until then, happy crafting! 

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