If you’ve ever wanted to make something out of yarn or fabric, you may have considered either sewing, knitting, or crocheting at some point.
You may be wondering what the differences are between the three.
You also might have questions regarding whether knitting or crocheting is easier.
Well, luckily, we’re here to help.
In this resource, we will teach you everything you need to know about the differences between sewing, knitting, or crochet.
We will also discuss the pros and cons of each. So if you’re eager to start a rewarding new hobby of making things with your hands, read this. Hopefully, we can help point you in the right direction.
Sewing
Sewing is when you join two pieces of fabric together using a needle and thread. When sewing, you are combining fabric that is already made.
You can use sewing to create clothing items, blankets, pillows, furniture, bags, accessories, and much more.
Tools Needed for Sewing
- Fabric
- Needle
- Thread
- Sewing machine (optional)
Sewing is essentially done with a needle, thread, and the fabric you are sewing. You can sew by hand, or you can use a machine. Sewing by hand is generally done for smaller or more intricate pieces where you need to be really precise.
If you want to speed up the process using a small sewing machine is more common the sewing by hand. There are also industrial sewing machines that are used for mass-producing sewing projects.
Pros of Sewing
- Much faster if using a sewing machine
- Sewing machines create even and clean seams
- Great for quickly finishing simple projects
Cons of Sewing
- You are not creating fabric, only joining existing fabric together
- Can take very long if sewing by hand
What is the Difference between Sewing and Knitting?
Sewing and knitting are completely different. In both sewing and knitting, you will be using needles, they are used very differently in each craft.
When sewing you are piercing a pre-made fabric with a sharp needle to join them together by a thread.
When knitting you are not using sharp needles, you are using larger thicker ones. When knitting you are creating fabric by making stitches with yarn.
Knitting
As we discussed earlier, knitting is joining a series of yarn loops together with a knitting needle to create fabric.
This is done by joining together rows of connected loops of yarn to create stitches.
You can use knitting to create anything from clothing, hats, blankets, rugs, home decor, accessories and more.
Knitting is extremely versatile. There are a ton of different yarn sizes, needles, and stitches that can be used.
The two most common stitches you will be using while knitting is the knit stitch or purl stitch.
Knitting is usually done by hand but can also be done with a loom or machine as well.
Tools Needed for Knitting
- Yarn
- Knitting Needles
- Loom (optional)
- Machine (optional)
Pros of Knitting
- Easy to learn
- Create your own fabric from yarn
- Tons of patterns to follow
- Easier to create beautiful colored patterns
- Easier to knit things with a nice drape
Cons of Knitting
- Knitting can be a little bit slow
What is the Difference between Knitting and Crochet?
Knitting and crocheting are similar but the are some key differences.
For one, when knitting you are using knitting needles to interlock loops of yarn, but when you are crocheting you are using a crochet hook.
In both knitting and crochet, you are making stitches but the nature of these stitches is different. In knitting, the stitches you are making are essentially loops, while in crochet the stitches you are creating are more like tiny knots.
When crocheting you finish each stitch before moving onto the next one, which is different than knitting.
Crochet
Crocheting is joining together loops of yarn or thread to create fabric or textiles. You are doing this by making stitches with your crochet hook.
The most common crochet stitches are the:
- Chain stitch
- Slip stitch
- Single crochet stitch
- Half double crochet stitch
- Double crochet stitch
Crochet stitches are done one at a time which can seem rather intricate if you are a beginner.
Tools Needed for Crochet
- Yarn
- Crochet hook
You only need one crochet hook to begin crochething, while knitting you need a pair of needles. Crochet hooks can be made out of plastic, wood, bamboo, or metal.
Pros of Crochet
- Better for creating bulky items
- Easy to undo mistakes
- Can work some projects faster
Cons of Crochet
- Harder to create more intricate items
- You cannot use a machine and must do it by hand only
- Harder to find patterns than for knitting
- Takes more yarn than knitting
What is Easier, Knitting, or Crochet?
This topic is widely up for debate, and unfortunately, there is no simple answer. Everyone has their own personal opinion on which they believe is easier, but really it comes down to the person. We believe though that most people will find crocheting easier.
When knitting there is often a lot of changing directions, colors, and stitches which can be difficult for beginners to get used to. It is a lot easier to mess up knitting than crocheting.
Crocheting is a little more straightforward, and it has the added benefit of being very easy to undo stitches if you make a mistake.
Since crocheting is done with one tool, some beginners also find it easier because they are using their dominant hand for most of the work.
So if you’re unsure of which one to try first, we recommend crocheting for beginners for those two reasons.
Should You Learn Knitting or Crocheting First?
Since crocheting is a little bit easier, we recommend beginners learn this first. Crocheting can be a little bit quicker when you are crocheting by hand, and since it’s easier to undo work when you make mistakes, it’s probably best to start with crocheting.
A simple crochet pattern can be completed in as little as several hours, so you’re much more likely to keep going with your craft hobby when you can see the rewards of your hard work right away.
Intricate patterns could take a long time though, so we don’t recommend you start with something too complex so that you don’t get discouraged when things don’t go as smoothly as you were hoping for.
Ultimately whichever one you learn first will in part depend on your goals and the types of pieces you want to create. There are some pieces that that will result in a much more intricate and elegant final project with a knit pattern over crochet, so don’t be afraid to try knitting first if you strongly desire.
Closing Thoughts
Sewing, knitting, and crochet are all great hobbies to pick up if you want to start creating something with your own two hands. Sewing can be done very quickly with a machine. Sewing is much different than knitting or crochet though.
Knitting and crochet are very similar but the process is different. Whichever one you choose to pick up, just remember to stay patient and practice regularly.
You should get the hang of it in no time at all.
