Trying to decide whether to learn to knit or crochet first? Let’s talk about the learning curve to both, skills needed and equipment you need for both hobbies. Both are fun!!
What is the learning curve to both?
They both take some work and time to understand. I am an expert knitter and an expert crocheter (though my blog is primarily knitting patterns). 🙂 I actually love to rotate between the two hobbies, just for variety. Crocheting and knitting are both fun and rewarding!
Let’s start with knitting since I learned that first.
I taught myself how to knit from a book in 2003. Yes, at the time, there wasn’t the advantage of YouTube tutorials. Now that technology is right at our finger tips, we can learn quite easily. It’s such a blessing!
Knitting involves holding 2 needles and creating loops onto one needle and pushing them onto the second needle, one stitch at a time.
Do you want to learn English knitting style or Continental knitting style? Basically, you decide which hand will hold the working yarn. I recommend choosing continental knitting style because I find that I can knit faster with this method. Either gives you the exact same stitch, so it’s just about preference. Try to learn both and then decide which style/method feels more comfortable to you.
Equipment you will need for knitting:
You will need a variety of knitting needle sizes. Typically, the thinner yarns require smaller knitting needle widths. The thicker/super bulky yarn will likely require the larger knitting needles. The pattern will tell you which size knitting needles to use. The sleeve on the yarn will also give a suggested needle size to use if you want to create your own pattern. For beginners, I suggest working on straight needles, I like working with worsted weight, bulky and super bulky yarns which typically require US size 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 needles. When I first started knitting, I just picked a pattern and choose the needle size, but now Amazon has some really basic sets of knitting needles for good prices. No need to spend a lot money on needles when you are first starting out.
Knitting skills to learn first:
- You will need to learn how to cast on. I prefer the long-tail cast on method.
- Then, you will want to learn the knit stitch.
- Then, learn the purl stitch.
- Next, learn how to bind off.
With these 4 steps you can make a lot of beginner patterns. Learning how to knit 2 stitches together is very easy once you know how to do the knit stitch.
Items you can make with just these knit stitches/ techniques:
You will be able to knit squares and rectangle shapes, such as dish cloths, blankets and scarves. These make great beginner projects. My first project was a garter stitch blanket.
Now, let’s talk about Crochet:
I taught myself very easily to crochet, thanks to YouTube videos in 2015. I am very much a hands-on learner, so I did find it easier to learn crochet from YouTube videos compared to learning how to knit from a book. I don’t think knitting is more complicated though. YouTube videos are so helpful! I taught my 7 year old daughter to crochet and then she learned how to knit, but she loves to do both.
Crochet involved holding a crochet hook and wrapping the yarn around the hook, creating one stitch at a time.
Equipment you will need for crocheting:
You will need a variety of hook sizes. Choosing the size of the crochet hook will be based on your pattern or the type of yarn you are using. The size of the hook is usually found on the sleeve of the yarn or in the pattern. If using a thinner yarn, its typically used with a smaller hook and vice versa, the super bulk yarn will be worked with a larger size hook. I bought a very inexpensive kit will multiple size crochet hooks on Amazon.
Crochet skills to learn first:
- Learn to how to make a chain.
- Learn how to single crochet/single crochet stitch.
- Learn how to half double crochet stitch.
- Then, learn how to make the double crochet stitch.
With these 4 steps you can create nearly any beginner crochet pattern.
Items you can make with just these crochet stitches/ techniques:
You can make square and rectangle shapes with these techniques until you learn how to do increase and decrease. Scarves, blankets, and dish clothes make great beginner projects! My first crochet project was a dish cloth. Practical and easy to make.
What is your conclusion: which will you try first?
Both are fun and easy to learn, especially with YouTube tutorials, if you are a hands-on and visual learner like me. 🙂 Both give you the satisfaction of creating yarn into a beautiful creation that you made with your 2 hands!
Leave me a comment below with which hobby you are going to try first! If you already knit and crochet, which do you prefer or found easier to learn?
I hope you have fun with all of the fun hobbies available to us!!
God bless, Hannah
