Knitting vs Crochet

Knitting vs crochet - which is best for you?

There's no right or wrong answer to this question - it really depends on personal preferences and which one appeals to you more.

• Some people find knitting easier because it uses two needles & a whole section of stitches are held on the needles/cable.
• Others find crochet easier because it uses only one hook and allows for more flexibility and free-form improv in creating textures & shapes.
• Some people love the idea of making small projects like toys & accessories, so crochet may suit them.
• Others want to make garments so might gravitate towards knitting, even though there are plenty of wonderful patterns available for crocheted garments. There's nothing like snuggling up in a hand-made sweater, shawl, or even a toasty pair of socks - your feet will thank you!
• If blankets are your thing then the choice becomes even more difficult. There are thousands of blanket patterns available in both knitting & crochet - from easy striped baby blankets to intricate designs requiring the mastery of advanced skills.

OR... perhaps you tried one or the other when you were younger, and want to relearn the technique that interested you then. If that's the case then you'll probably be surprised by the changes that have happened in the yarn world since you last put down your needles or hook. Hand dyeing, pattern writing, tools, skills & techniques have all developed & changed rapidly in the last few years. This is mostly due to the wonderful online yarn community which has grown up around knitting & crochet. New ideas and sharing of knowledge & resources are easily accessible to everyone: we'll happily share information about getting started in this amazing online space.

Find your happy place

At Skein Sisters we're passionate about hand knitting & crochet. Everyone in our team enjoys knitting & crochet as a hobby for themselves (we all do it almost every day), and we all have particular areas of interest & expertise, just like with any other craft or activity. Hand making with yarn isn't just work for us, it's our passion, and this means we love to share our enthusiam and excitement for fibre arts & crafts with others. So if you ask any of our staff, we'll all have a preference for crochet or knitting, but we all do both!

Ultimately the choice between knitting & crochet comes down to a personal decision about what feels right, and what you like the look of most. Ask us questions and we'll do everything we can to help you make the best choice for you. Have a look at the lovely variety of knitted & crocheted samples which we have in the shop so you can imagine the possibilities... you can also see many of these online here on our website, on our Youtube channel, or on our Instagram. Our weekly email newsletter/ magazine will keep you up to date with what's happening in the shop, and what's happening in the yarn world (did you know that more people knit & crochet worldwide than play golf?) Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page.

Socials are a wonderful source of inspiration - try #handknitting or #crochet on Insta... or take a dive into Ravelry, an amazing online pattern resource for patterns, yarn, connecting with other crafters and so much more...and it's free to join. 

If you're still not sure about knitting vs crochet, then try the technique that appeals most, whichever you choose we're here to support you....and when you eventually decide to add your second choice into your skill set (as do most people who love working with yarn) we'll be here to help with that too.

Whichever you choose, you'll benefit from the mindful relaxation, happiness and sense of achievement that comes from creating by hand.

Still thinking about it? Read some of our Customer Stories, take a look some of our other articles in Skein Sisters' Tales or just grab some yarn and find your happy place!