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Crocheting vs. Knitting: Which One Takes Longer?

If you are trying to decide between taking up crochet or knitting as a new hobby, one of the first things many people ask is…

If you are trying to decide between taking up crochet or knitting as a new hobby, one of the first things many people ask is whether crocheting or knitting takes longer. Or you may be experienced in both crafts and are trying to decide which will allow you to finish a specific project faster. In this post, we’ll look at the main differences between crocheting and knitting and which one really takes longer for those of you who are wondering: Does crocheting or knitting take longer?

Knitting takes longer than crochet. This is because knitting requires two needles rather than a single hook and generally involves smaller, more compact stitchwork compared to the larger stitches created by crochet. Although knitting has two basic stitches whereas crochet has five basic stitches, knitting may also generally require more techniques to complete.

This may not always be the case for everyone, though. There are several things that can play a part in how long it takes to finish a crochet or knit project. Now let’s look at the specific factors that define the time it takes to crochet vs. knit…

Does It Take Longer to Crochet or Knit?

When looking at whether crocheting or knitting takes longer, a large part of the distinction comes down to the type of stitches each of these crafts generally produces in addition to the basic techniques required to complete those stitches.

Although the general consensus is that crochet takes less time than knitting, it will also depend on the efficiency of the crafter! More experienced knitters will be able to complete a project much more quickly than someone who is not very experienced with crocheting. Each crafter is going to have a different rate of completion based on their experience and overall speed at completing each stitch.

Yarn & Hook/Needle Size vs. Speed

The yarn weight and hook size for crochet or needle size for knitting that you use will have a big impact on the time it takes to finish a project.

As a general rule, using a larger hook/needle size and a larger yarn weight will make your project take less time, and using a smaller hook/needle size and a smaller yarn weight will make your project take more time. This is because creating the same amount of fabric will require more and more stitches and will become more compact as you decrease in yarn weight and hook/needle size.

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To learn more about yarn weight and corresponding crochet hook sizes and pick out the perfect yarn for your project, check out the article I wrote covering just that: Does It Matter What Yarn You Use for Crochet?

How Long Does It Take To Crochet?

Crochet will take different amounts of time based on the project, however, crocheting is generally considered to be faster than knitting. A hat, for example, can be crocheted in a couple of hours.

Stitches

There are five basic crochet stitches. These are, in order of stitch size, the slip stitch, chain, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet. Making an item using the double crochet stitch will be much faster than using a single crochet because there is both more yarn and more space within the double crochet stitch than the single crochet.

In addition, crochet stitches are generally larger than knit stitches, which means that the resulting fabric will work up faster than knit fabric. This also means, however, that crochet will use up more yarn on average than knitting will.

Crochet stitches are easier to fix if you make a mistake compared to knit stitches. Dropping a stitch on accident or making a mistake is quick and simple to fix because you’re only working with a single stitch at a time. You can simply pull the yarn and undo the stitch in order to redo it quickly.

Techniques

Crocheting only requires the use of a single hook which works a single stitch at a time. The fabric created by crochet is traditionally bulkier with visible spaces between the stitches. It is more often used for items like toys, hats, and decor items like baskets.

How Long Does It Take To Knit?

Knitting will take different amounts of time-based on the project, however, knitting is generally considered to be slower than crocheting. Knitting a pair of socks, for example, can be knitted between a few days to several weeks.

Stitches

There are two basic knitting stitches, the knit stitch, and the purl stitch. Variations in the knitted fabric are always created using variations of these two basic stitches. The smaller nature of the knitting stitches means that it will take less yarn on average to knit rather than to crochet.

Techniques

Knitting requires the use of two knitting needles which are always actively working several stitches at a time, and can therefore be seen as more complicated than crocheting.

The fabric created by knitting is traditionally denser with few visible spaces between each stitch. It is more often used for more delicate items like sweaters, socks, and gloves.

Correcting mistakes while knitting can be more difficult and take up more time than crochet. You’ll need to take all of the loops off of your needle before threading all back on which may take a while.

The Winner

In conclusion, not only is crochet faster, in general, to work up than knitting, but many beginners will find it faster and easier to learn and get started with than knitting. The basic crochet stitches can be learned in a matter of minutes while learning the basics of knitting can be quite tedious and confusing for beginners.

Ultimately, your speed at both crocheting and knitting will depend on your own experience and comfort with performing the basic stitches and movements, the size of the hook/needle and yarn weight that you are using, and the difficulty level of the project that you are making.

Crocheting and knitting both have their strong suits for different types of projects, however, the larger stitches created by crochet with a single hook rather than two needles working several live stitches at a time like its counterpart make crochet the winner when looking at speed.

If you’re looking to finish a project quickly, opt for a large crochet hook size and a heavier-weight yarn to really speed things up and get that project done fast! Beginners especially will find a bulkier yarn and large hook size easier to work with and see each stitch clearly.