A dear friend taught me to crochet about 15 years ago. I just started knitting recently. I find that crochet is much, much easier (esp. when it comes to correcting errors), but it makes my left hand ache, and I just think that knitting is more appealing to me. It was awkward at first, but it feels very natural now. I really love it, as long as I’m not making a mess!
I’ll take both!
I can knit and crochet. My grandmother taught me to knit and crochet. For years I just crocheted because it was easier than knitting. But just in this last year I took up knitting again and with no problem. I do incorporate crocheting into my knitting alot though. I like crocheted edgings better than knit edgings. Crochet patterns are easier to follow than knit patterns. I never had a counter until I took up knitting again.
I learned to knit by internet videos and a little help at church, but just couldn’t get into it. The two needles just don’t work well in my hands. My mother taught me to crochet when I was a kid and I hadn’t done it for 20 something years. But I picked it back up and started again. I’m still just learning, but it’s so much faster than knitting. Now if I could only figure out how to do the fancy stiches and how to read a pattern I’d be good. 
I’ve been crocheting for 20+ years, and only knitting for a couple weeks. But knitting is completely comfortable for me. I picked up a crochet hook last week and did a few small pieces… after a couple hours, my hook hand was aching. I don’t get that with knitting. For something large, I’d probably rather crochet it, since it goes faster, but for small objects, I prefer knitting so far, since my hands don’t hurt from it.
I have been teaching students of all ages, basic knitting skills, and a few advanced stitches.
What I’ve learned is, for some reason, knitters don’t comprehend written instruction as well as hands on instruction. The most common complaint I hear from new students is: I’ve TRIED to learn from looking at books, but, I just don’t get it!
But, as soon as I teach them how to knit, all of a sudden, the door of understanding is opened, and the student grasps the meaning of the diagrams, drawings, and instructions.
I LOVE to watch a person “open that door”! Its so rewarding to see students gain confidence and become eagerly interested in "what can I make next?"
I’m not sure if those who crochet have trouble understanding diagrams and written word, but, I know knitters do, at first.
I’m going to learn to crochet, as I can see how beneficial it will be for me as far as grasping a new concept, applying it to my skills, and using it to teach others.
I’ve heard crocheting is much easier than knitting. Must be true, based on the # of crocheters vs. knitters.
I LOVE knitting. I really do. It’s exciting to learn new techniques, and to create designs of my own. I love the colors, the textures, the designs. It satisfies something deep inside my soul.
I read somewhere about different styles of learning, audio, visual, logical, spatial,kinetic, all that. I would guess successful knitters are the visual/spatial learners.
Signs of visual/spatial learners:
* sensitive to colours/pictures
* dislike listening for too long without seeing any pictures or images
* remember faces, building or any concrete things
* When reading, seek out or have interest in pictures or diagrams
* like to draw, build, design and create things
* like daydreaming, look at pictures/slides; good at imagining things
* like watching movies, reading maps, charts or diagrams
* prefer to use pictures or images to communicate their idea
* sensing changes about people’s appearance, things in his/her house/school
* like playing mazes/puzzles
This is me, to a “T”. I do all of this, and have all my life.
Google learning styles, and see what you can discover about it.
The thing I was most grateful to discover about different learning styles was, I probably was not born with the ability to understand math, nor to even care about math, AND, depending on your strengths in learning styles, this will greatly affect your choices in hobbies.
I loved to knit, once someone showed me how.
I hope this helps you.
I am a knitter. My Ohma taught me to crochet when I was 10, but I lost all crochet skills by my teenage years… I learned to knit about a year ago in order to teach my Asperger’s son to knit (to help his fine motor skills and help him to relax when anxious). I’m just starting to become interested in crochet again… But for now I am definitely a knitter.
My MIL can knit and crochet, but is definitely a crocheter. My grandmother can knit and crochet and is a crocheter. I think that people who love creating can’t just pick one outlet. They may prefer one more than another, but why pick one when you can enjoy knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, crafting, scrapbooking, card making, rubber stamping… That’s my motto! :woot:
Hello All,
I have wondered this very thing for over 30 years. I believe that the answer may be like my experience with cooking. We all have our favorite recipes. Our success may be simply dependent on the ingredients we use.
1 cup of "love to try new things"
1 pinch of teacher (class, book, or web site)
1 hour of “me” time
1 (or more)http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/images/smilies/heart.gif
loved one to shower with our creations
Yarn, Thread, Material to taste
Mix to perfection!
A recipe for success, be it crochet, knitting, bobbin lace, needle/shuttle tatting, sewing, quilting, or ________(fill in the blank)
JoAnnhttp://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/images/smilies/knitting.gif
:knitting:
My mother tried to teach me how to crochet granny squares one time a long time ago but I never learned how at that time. As far as knitting goes I taught myself from the lion brand website booklet and this website. I also taught myself to crochet from the booklet thing at lion brand also but my mother had to tell my to ch how ever many to make my project square.
As a kid, I remember watching my Mother crochet, cross stitch, and make tatted lace. She made all kinds of beautiful things. Her side of the family crocheted as well. My father’s side of the family was of the quilting persuasion. Of course I don’t know how to go with the flow, so I started knitting, spinning, weaving, and making bobbin lace. I do know how to crochet reasonably well, but I typically limit it to edgings for my knitting or to fine thread lace. I enjoy it, but not as much as knitting. Maybe because I actually have to look at what I’m doing with crochet, whereas with knitting I can do it primarily by feel while watching tv, or talking.
I learned to crochet when younger, have been crocheting for 20 yrs or so, tried to knit once years ago and gave up. I made it my new years resolution to learn to knit. i think knit items look so refined as opposed to crochet. I have noticed crochet goes much much faster though, but knitting uses much less yarn.
Interesting topic!
I had a friend teach me to crochet about two years ago and enjoyed it. But I wanted to learn to knit too. I tried once and couldn’t get it. So I came on knitting help.com and learned from the videos…just watched them and watched them until I got it. I can do both equally but prefer to knit. For some reason, I think knitting is a bit more challenging b/c you have to keep the stitches on the needles and if not, you have a mess. I also can knit faster than I crochet. It is kinda weird b/c I like knitting better but it took me a bit longer to pick it up.
I learned to crochet first and am still more comfortable doing that. For me the learning curve on knitting was huge. I’ve been doing it over a year now, and am getting more comfortable with it. What held me back was the difficulty of fixing mistakes vs. that of crochet. Now I make fewer mistakes, and when I do, I can fix them (you pick up those dropped stitches with a crochet hook of course!)
As others have said, each craft is good for different things. I love to crochet afghans because they go fast. I’m getting into making wearables and like the knitting feel more. The more I knit, the better I’m getting, but I’ll always see crochet as easier for me. Maybe one day I’ll be equally comfortable with both.
I’d like to get as good as those of you who combine the two–maybe a knitted sweater body with crocheted lacy sleeves or edging. There are lots of nice ideas out there.
Right now I’m a crocheter. I taught myself from booklets and the internet almost 2 yrs. ago. I love it and it’s very comfortable and goes fast! I’m getting to where I’ve started making my own patterns.
Now I’m trying to learn to knit and am having a very difficult time…it’s very awkward still (after many months) and I haven’t mastered tinking or frogging yet. I’m going to stick with it though because I really want to learn…I feel some things are better knitted and of course I hate seeing a pretty item and then noticing it’s a knit pattern and having to pass on it.
I just keep reminding myself of how awkward the crochet was at first and I started collecting some knit patterns to encourage me to keep trying.
I think I learned to crochet first, and then knit, but I learned both between the ages of say 8-13 or so. I honestly prefer to do cross-stitch first, and choose my knit/crochet method based on the project. For example, I much prefer to crochet hats (I have challenges with dpns), but I like the look of other knitted projects like sweaters and mittens. For delicate lacey projects I prefer thread crochet. I basically just choose what I think is easier and/or looks better.
When DH and I first started dating, I would take a crochet project with me to his family functions since I mostly just sat and listened and nodded politely.
His grandmother told me that she used to knit, before her hands became too shaky, but was never able to learn to crochet. Interestingly, her daughter crochets but does not knit (DH’s mom) while her son-in-law can knit but not crochet (DH’s stepfather).
My mom crochets but does not knit. I know that she tried knitting at least once, but either it didn’t take or she didn’t like it. I’m not sure which.
I think that crocheting and knitting serve different purposes. Personally, I want to expand my crocheting skills to making doilies and other home projects and I want to develop my knitting skills to making socks and other wearable projects. 
I’ve been knitting for 23 years, and crocheting for about 10 years. I find that if I want to sit and take my time, then I am knitting. If I want it done quickly (or it’s a big project) then crocheting is the way to go for me!
I have found that I can’t read patterns by first glance. I have to study them over and over again until it sinks into my head. But I also think that has something to do with my learning disability…
My mother is a long time crocheter, like 20+ yrs. Since I am left handed my Aunt taught me to crochet the basics at like the age of 12 or so. I never really got into that much as a teen.
18 months ago decided I wanted to learn to knit and did do by learning from a book. Once I mastered knit and purl I was off and running. Then I was introduced to KH and Amy’s videos helped some of the finer points click.
Once I got rolling on knitting I found that some patterns wanted you to crochet an edge. Well that skill was one that I had but needed a refresher course. So I picked up the crochet set that was like my knitting set I had and went to town refreshing my self.
I can honestly say my knitting skills are intermediate and my crochet skills are not quite beginner but I’m not to the intermediate point either. If I crochet is usually something like a doily, toys, or granny squares to make an afghan.
[FONT=“Times New Roman”][COLOR="#201090"]My mom taught me to crochet (her preference) and to knit (her bain). She had a lot of trouble knitting and showing me how to knit, but she is a master at crochet. I do prefer to crochet, simply because it has more varriety of stitches. I came here to KH to re-learn how to knit.
Since I learned to crochet first, I hold the yarn in my left hand and continued that practice for knitting. I was also captivated by the “knitting back” vid. It makes perfect sense to be ambidextrous with knitting, but most every one I see stops, holds the needles with one hand, and then wraps with the other hand.
I find crochet easier but I think that may be because my only set of knitting needles (size 10?) got broken. :think: Or that I don’t have any knitting patterns. :sad:
But I definately find knitting takes more attention to the needle points or else “jack” ends up falling off the needle too quickly. :
–Jack :guyknitting:[/COLOR][/FONT]
I knit and crochet. I have crocheted since I was about 13. Was taught by my Aunt. Who only crocheted. No one in my family knits. I took knitting lessons years ago. I could do it but I literally ground my teeth while doing it. Gave it up. A few years ago I picked it back up I’ve survived kids and have a teenager now so I thought I am not gonna let knitting scare me this time. LOL Now I love it. Of course one of the main things I wanted to learn was socks. Which I’ve now made over 20 pairs. Crocheting is quicker but for garments and socks I prefer knitting. Crocheting I will try just about any pattern. Knitting I’m still a scaredy cat. I have a few items I make over and over. LOL I have promised myself though I will branch out. I have started a poncho now and I’m on the back side. Woot Woot.
My aunt taught me to crochet at 8. I just taught myself to knit. I lust after knitted socks and sweaters. :roflhard:
I’m told that i knit like a crocheter!
I don’t have any problem reading patterns and this site helps with technique.
I doubt I’ll ever be a fast knitter. Or ever be able to “zone knit”, like i do crochet.
grandma
