I haven't crocheted since I learned how to knit. Not one hook. But this latest issue of Bust has a crocheted DIY project in it...so that got me paging through Debbie Stoller's Happy Hooker book...which got me thinking maybe I shouldn't shun crochet just cuz I can knit now.
It's like there is this great divide, a binary between yarn people. Crochet people don't knit. Knit people don't crochet. I think yarn people are judgy about it, too. I think I felt more proud of myself for learning to knit than I did for learning to crochet. Maybe I am the one who made up this binary? That would be terrible. How divisive of me. Maybe? I actually don't work yarn in group settings enough to know whether this is true. But anyway, I feel like I crossed a divide into knitting and stayed there happily for about 8 years. Until there was this purse pattern. And the blanket featured in Bust! This has opened all new worlds for me in terms of goals.
Now I feel sudden pressure to finish my other nephew's sweater so I can get started crocheting something awesome. There are seriously cute things to choose from PLUS I could have the satisfaction of feeling truly bipartisan if I cross the divide and give both art forms a chance. It seems like a good, humanitarian thing to do.
Alas, I cannot begin on this upcoming trip because I'll have a baby upon my lap most of the time (though, admittedly, crocheting would be easier than knitting in this scenario). But you look out, LYS, when I get back. I am coming your way.
After years of nomadic temporary employment, advanced degrees, and chocolate ice cream, a rugger with a love of knitting and a cyclist with no domestic skills signed a Ketubah and bought a house in Pittsburgh.
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2 comments:
Knitting came so easy for me but I had so many issues starting a crochet project that i hated crocheting.. now i prefer crocheting becuase I feel like it's so easy to make things up...
Ooooh I totally agree with Valtastic that it's easier to make things up with crochet. Crochet also goes faster, and give a stiffer, less stretchy fabric with more texture, so it's just good for different things than knitting. I am still in the middle of knitting Ella's sweater, but took a break to crochet a case for my Nook (which I've been meaning to post pictures of, because I made it up as I went and I'm quite proud of it).
I don't think you're wrong about the divide, but I think it's there mainly because a lot of people can only do one, and once they've learned one they have a hard time learning the other. I know people who do both, and they just have different strengths and benefits, so there's not too much of a divide.
Crochet is awesome for purses, even felted ones, because you end up with a nice thick, stiff fabric with more visual interest (imho) than knit purses.
One last bonus: crocheters are more likely to hold their yarn in their left hand while knitting too, which is the more efficient way to knit (as opposed to throwing the yarn with your right hand), so it's a big benefit to your knitting speed and accuracy!
Do share that purse pattern please...
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