When crocheting or knitting is mentioned, most envision a sweet old lady sitting in a rocking chair surrounded by a mountain of yarn and cats. While most older ladies enjoy a good granny square, they aren’t the only ones participating in this hobby. Since TikTok became a popular social media app, multiple people have showcased their talents on this app in many different ways. Unfortunately, some people still cannot tell the difference between crocheting and knitting, although they are very different in lots of ways.
Crocheting is a process of creating projects using one crochet hook and yarn or other sorts of material to make loops and knots. Crocheting is the preferred method when making projects requiring shapes other than square or rectangular shapes, especially 3D ones. Learning to crochet is not necessarily easier than learning to knit, as both have techniques and stitches that must be learned over time. Crocheting has many benefits, for example, it’s a quicker process than knitting. It’s also better for making stuffed animals, socks, and hats. Additionally, crochet cannot be machine-made, like knitting. With that being said, remember that when purchasing a crocheted something from a store for cheap, that means someone is hand-making that entire project in a short amount of time for low pay. Instead of purchasing it, head over to a craft store, pick up some hooks and yarn, and begin the process of learning how to crochet!
Knitting is the process of using two hooks, mainly made of metal or wood, to interlock hoops with other hoops. Knitting is the preferred method when making clothes or flat garments that are mainly made of squares or rectangles. Unfortunately, knitting is not able to make 3D shapes like crocheting, unless it’s a tube. Knitting is not easier to learn than crocheting, but many find that learning to knit first helps them understand crochet easily. If knitting isn’t that easy for you, you could always buy a knitting machine, such as a Sentro to help you make tubes or panels to eventually piece together and make knitwear.
Both crocheting and knitting are wonderful hobbies to start at a young age, as both keep your hands dexterous and fend off daily pain and joint stiffness in the hands. Both hobbies also help with stress and anxiety, as the repetition helps release serotonin. While also releasing the happy hormone, both reduce blood levels of cortisol. While distressing, crocheters and knitters alike are able to make unique and interesting projects for themselves or others, such as kitchen towels and rags, stuffed animals, clothes, coasters, and so many other options. Lots of patterns are available all over the internet for anything imaginable, though some do cost money. If there isn’t a pattern for it, freehanding is a great way to expand creativity and mess around with different stitches and designs.
It’s important to not have a hobby that is solely based on a screen and learn to create something with hard work and determination. Teenagers should learn to knit or crochet early on in life as this could serve as a life-long skill for them. Later in life, they could end up using crochet or knitting to decorate their house, making blankets and pillows, and even clothes for themselves and others.
