Knitting vs. Crocheting: My Journey and Comparison
Embarking on the journey of learning a new craft, whether it's knitting or crocheting, can be both exciting and challenging. My personal experience with both knitting and crocheting provides a unique perspective on the learning process and the challenges each craft presents. Here, I will share my journey and offer insights into which one might be more difficult for beginners.
My Entry into Crocheting and Knitting
My introduction to crocheting and knitting happened at different times in my life, providing a distinct comparison between the two crafts. My mother's mother, referred to as my maternal grandmother, taught me to crochet around the age of four and a half. She likely saw it as a way to keep me busy and quiet. Conversely, I began learning to knit from my father at the age of four, where he started with my little brother as he was a "hellion," requiring immediate calming down. By this time, my younger sister had already been taught crocheting.
Learning Techniques and Styles
When it comes to holding the working tool, there's a notable difference between the two crafts. I knitted in a British flicking style, where I held the yarn in my right hand, similar to Carol Feller. In contrast, I crochet in a Continental style, where the yarn is held in my left hand, although I use a more complex method involving a cat's cradle with the hook to pick up a strand, which is less visually similar to the traditional Continental method.
Personal Experience and Difficulties
People who struggle with learning either craft often mention the difficulty in holding the working tool correctly. For example, my favorite aunt taught me to crochet when I was eight, and while I didn't excel at it at that young age, it was still a lot of fun. Later, at around 11 or 12, I was taught to knit in a church girls group. I found knitting to be far more complicated than crocheting and struggled to keep up with it after the instruction ended. It wasn't until I was 17 or 18 that I revisited knitting and managed to learn the technique with much trial and error.
Advanced Skills and Current Preferences
By the time I was 19, I considered myself an advanced knitter, having explored various knitting techniques. However, my skills in crocheting remained somewhat limited, with the ability to only chain and double crochet, no matter how much effort I put into it.
Challenges in Teaching and Learning
Teaching and learning can also be a challenge, especially when there's a difference in handedness. My experience with knitting illustrates this well. My grandmother struggled to teach me because she didn't know how to knit, and my left-handed brother's wife tried to teach me but couldn't match my tendency to reverse her techniques. Eventually, I found a book explaining knitting techniques clearly, which helped me learn. However, teaching a left-handed granddaughter continues to be a challenge, as I find it tricky to teach her standard techniques that suit right-handers.
Finding Solutions and Resources
In the digital age, finding resources for learning crafts has become much easier. For example, I discovered left-handed knitting and crochet videos on YouTube, which made a significant difference in my granddaughter's ability to learn. Such resources can be a great help for those struggling to learn a craft due to differences in handedness.
Conclusion
Overall, my personal experience shows that both knitting and crocheting can be challenging for beginners. However, with practice and the availability of more resources today, these challenges can be overcome. The key is to choose the method that feels most natural and keep practicing until one gets better. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, both knitting and crocheting are rewarding crafts that can bring joy and satisfaction.