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Should I learn to knit or crochet?

43 replies

rumtumtugger · 29/11/2012 14:42

I'm a total beginner but have a deep seated desire to hand-make knitted or crocheted toys for my dd to snuggle with. DH has said he'll send me on a knitting or crocheting course for Christmas, yay! So which method is easier to pick up and to stick with (given I'll likely be doing it in front of the telly of an evening)? Which method would make decent-looking toys for this ham-fisted beginner?

OP posts:
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FlyOverTheMistletoe · 29/11/2012 14:57

I can't crochet, but knitting is really easy. Sign up to ravelry for both sets of patterns. To learn you can pick up the basics on youtube. Lots of places have knitting groups (local library etc.) and I'm sure they will gladly help you.

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Doyouthinktheysaurus · 29/11/2012 17:10

I've never mastered knitting but I have learnt to crochet quite quickly using YouTube video's and everything grows so much quicker with crochet than knitting I think.

I'm two thirds the way through a scarf and I only started a week ago. If I was knitting it, it would probably be spring before I was at that pointGrin

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alarkaspree · 29/11/2012 17:16

I am biased in favour of knitting because I am completely baffled by crochet, but other people seem to think it's much easier. Could you get a friend to show you the basics of both and see which you prefer? I think, but am not sure, that if you mainly want to make toys, you will find more crochet patterns available.

[http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com/_NgEHdwUQB00/SDmumdh44DI/AAAAAAAAAag/-yd1sXHhJ5k/s320/amigurumi%2Bhermit%2Bcrab.JPG&imgrefurl=knitting101.blogspot.com/2008/05/amigurumi-toys.html&h=289&w=320&sz=35&tbnid=mQeJtZAt5JJlDM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=100&prev=/search%3Fq%3Damigurumi%2Bhermit%2Bcrab%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=amigurumi+hermit+crab&usg=__6MtxU5AJu3cbF47gO4-ktaz4dss=&docid=5XEmk_NTDP09TM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-Je3UOnUCsqq0AGsuoHYBQ&ved=0CD0Q9QEwBA&dur=6097 This adorable hermit crab] is on my list. Dd thinks she is going to knit it herself but she will give up in disgust before she has even knit a row.

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sashh · 30/11/2012 07:07

I do both. I think for a beginner try crochet - not so easy to drop stiches and yoou can crotched on an edge - er, if you are making a cardigan you can crochet the sleeve directly onto the body, with knitting you have to make the sleves and soe them on.

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WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 30/11/2012 07:21

Crochet for me, it doesn't matter if you stop half way thiugh a row, it's very portable, I take small projects (ball of wool, hook, scissors) out and about with me in a pencil case. There are very few basic stitches, everything else is just a variation on those so once you have mastered them you can progress rapidly to more complex projects. It is very easy to crochet little cuddly toys. Have a look at Nikki French's book Cute and Easy Animals book, they really are.

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duchesse · 30/11/2012 07:30

Knitting for me all the way. I find crochet incomprehensible and most importantly don't like the way it looks. If I liked the look of it I might try to overcome my lack of ability to do it. I guess it boils down to which you like the look of best really- I think you'd be more enthusiastic if you actually really like what you're making.

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SoupDragon · 30/11/2012 07:31

Crochet. Knitting is abhorrent.

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SoupDragon · 30/11/2012 07:33

Seriously though, I think the answer to Which method would make decent-looking toys for this ham-fisted beginner? is crochet. it is very forgiving of mistakes and I found I was very quickly competent enough to make something acceptable.

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GlaikitFizzog · 30/11/2012 07:38

Knitting!

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Theas18 · 30/11/2012 07:44

" should I learn to knit or crochet?"...... the answer is yes!!

i'm mainly a knitter. However I think crochet probably makes toys easier/quicker...

Make a" monster" then noone can telly " you the arms are different lengths and it's a funny shape" LOL. Seriously a simple stuffed crochet shape with safety eyes is a cuddly monster and will be loved!

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ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter · 30/11/2012 07:54

I knit and i love it. Can only do extremely misshapen basic crochet. I think you may have inadvertently started a debate worthy of bf/ff. Grin

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ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter · 30/11/2012 07:56

I think you should learn both. Crochet is generally faster once you get good at it but it uses up a lot more yarn for a project. Once you learn come back and tell me how.

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SoupDragon · 30/11/2012 08:00

Unless you learn Crochet, you can't join Team Hooker.

And who wouldn't want to be a hooker?

:o

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PurplePidjChickIsNotTheMessiah · 30/11/2012 08:02

For clothes, knitting

Toys are better crocheted - amigurumi - because crochet is naturally worked in the round

I say this as a confirmed hooker!

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biff23 · 30/11/2012 08:02

I've just learned to crochet and love it. I learned mainly from you tube but have also signed up to the art of crochet. You get loads of freebies and I'm also waiting on the kit for the soft toys coming through.

The thought of knitting makes me want to run for the hills, not too sure why.

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Caerlaverock · 30/11/2012 08:18

I love both. It is really fast and easy to make wee crochet toys, knitting is a bit harder for toys

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breatheslowly · 30/11/2012 08:22

I've just started crochet - it's really easy, my only problem is counting rows and stitches.

This book is good or easy little animals and explains how to crochet too.

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FlyOverTheMistletoe · 30/11/2012 10:36

I never ever thought I'd say this - but I tried really hard to be a hooker Grin but I just don't understand the patterns, Theas is spot on - you could make a monster, so the odd mistake won't show. My knitting is portable too, but thats because I have a very big handbag !

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Thistledew · 30/11/2012 12:27

If you take to knitting you can knit one of these really cute cats or dogs

I am on my second cat pattern and find them really quick and easy to do, even though I am by no means an experienced knitter (I have only previously knitted one baby cardigan, a couple of scarves and half a sock- got bored with that last one).

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rumtumtugger · 30/11/2012 13:29

Oh dear, didn't mean to start a ruck! The amigurumi is EXACTLY the kind of thing that I'm looking for, so crochet it is. I'm joining the hookers club! Sorry to you knitters...once I get the hang of crochet maybe I'll try knitting?

OP posts:
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SoupDragon · 30/11/2012 13:38

Yay! A new hooker :o

[pimp]

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Deux · 30/11/2012 13:49

If you are near a John Lewis, they run a great Beginners Crochet class. I had learned as a child but kept getting a bit stuck when I started to crochet again last year. I went to a JLP class and it was great. Just 4 hours and tea, coffee and pastries included. It was about £25.

I knit and crochet but much prefer crochet for 'things' and knitting for garments.

I find crochet much more forgiving and I don't have to concentrate as hard as with knitting. But then I am Scottish and do weird 'Scottish' knitting where one knitting needle is clamped firmly in the oxter. Y'all know what an oxter is, right? Grin

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PurplePidjChickIsNotTheMessiah · 30/11/2012 14:32

Meh, classes, I teach for cake if you're in the area? :)

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GlaikitFizzog · 30/11/2012 15:11

Oxter! Oh aye min!

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