While, sometimes, people tend to think that crocheting and knitting are the same thing, they actually are not. Basically, the many differences lie in the processes. For instance, knitting is done by two needles, while crocheting is done by one. Also, knitting moves sets of live stitches from needle to needle, and crochet works with one live stitch at a time.
Both of these crafts work with yarn and can create various objects, from sweaters and scarves to dolls or home accessories. The sky's the limit.
Bored Panda reached out to Norman from “Nimble Needles.” Norman has been knitting for over 30 years, so we asked him some questions about this hobby.
He said that the most fulfilling aspect of knitting for him is the process itself: “It’s almost like meditation to me, and it really helps me to unwind in the evening.”
Norman believes that planning every knitting project with your time constraints is a must: “If you know that you will be very busy the next month, I personally would pick a smaller project. Otherwise, it can quickly lead to frustration.”
Yet, sometimes, when he feels frustrated with a project’s challenges, he doesn’t overanalyze it. He declared that it’s a hobby. It should bring joy, and if there’s a period where it doesn’t -- it’s not the end of the world.
Unfortunately, some people still believe that knitting is only for old people or women. Norman debunked this claim, saying that, for centuries, knitting was a predominantly male occupation. As a matter of fact, women weren’t even allowed in medieval knitting guilds.
He also added that in today's world, he feels things like this shouldn’t be restricted to any social group: “I find the very idea that any hobby or craft was limited to a certain age group or gender preposterous.”
For those who worry that knitting might be a dying hobby in the current times, Norman has some good news. He thinks that there wasn’t a single time in history when knitwear was consumed as much as in these days. “Go to any cloth store, and you will find knitted garments. A lot of people may forget that even a jersey is a knitted fabric. In the case of luxury labels, some of their knitwear will even be hand-knitted or hand-crocheted.”
Knitting can also be an answer to the fast-fashion dilemma. As Norman said, it can reintroduce value into people’s wardrobes: “If you’ve spent 40 hours knitting a sweater, you probably won’t discard it at the end of the season. And being aware of that fact, you will spend more time on picking a material that will last and a design that will still be relevant next year.”
On that note, do you like to knit or crochet? How did you learn it? Share with us in the comments. And don't forget to upvote the memes you find amusing!
