PRIDE
This summer, Gay PRIDE parades will be going on all around the world in towns large and small. This, oddly enough, led to me thinking of my two favourite arts: knitting and crochet.
Knitters, I have noticed, have an extraordinary pride in their craft. They are not out to justify themselves, they feel no desire to prove that what they love to do is worthwhile. Knitters are proud to be knitters.
Knitters are fun, welcoming, and helpful. Even people who don't knit may get caught up in the easy camaraderie of a knitting community – I did. I don't knit, as a general rule. I prefer my hooks to my sticks, but the theory of knitting fascinates me a great deal. I have devoured every word of Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman, and I'm always on the lookout for exciting new techniques in the world of knit/purl.
Crocheters, on the other hand, often have a somewhat defensive attitude about their favoured medium. The constant, unconscious mantra I sense being chanted in the hearts of hook-users is this: We are just as good as knitters! We can do anything knitters can do! Knit/purl is equal to sc/ch!
We, too, are fun, welcoming, and helpful. We, too, have innovators in our ranks, and recent contributions to zines like Crochet me prove it.
So here is my point: We don't need to be just as good as knitters. We don't need to do everything that knitters do. There is only one reason at all for us to have any desire to replicate knitters: because we want to. Not because we need to prove that we can; not because we want to shove it in the face of the next snooty stick-user we meet. But just because we want to do it with our hooks.
PRIDE is about loving who you are for being who you are. It's about shedding the negativity that others may have instilled in you about your self. It's about saying "I'm fabulous just the way I am."
So yes, pick up that H hook and craft a Fair-Isle sweater if you want to. Painstakingly recreate Victorian lace with size 100 thread if you want to. But also feel free to make things with your hook that will stretch the limits of crochet, to take your yarn to new heights and distant horizons. Your art is fabulous just being what it is.
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I never understood why there was any competition, they are completely different things. I prefer crochet because of the speed and adaptability of it. I can make things in crochet that would be awful difficult if not impossible in knit, the structure of it and the fact it's just one stitch at a time makes it so versatile. It's also really portable. I'm not carrying two big needles and something big, I can do things in motifs and just take as much yarn as I think I'll use and one hook with me.
I'm proud to be a hooker. (I never in my life thought I'd say something like that though)
You can see machine knitted stuff everywhere...but you will never see machine crocheted things, that is because no one has created a machine that can duplicate crochet. If that doesn't make us all full of pride, what else will?
I see knitted garments now mimicking crochet garments - the tide has turned and all should rejoice. It makes both art forms stronger!
I wish I could knit, but I just can't make my fingers work that way!
I think someday I will knit, just so I can put some nice edgings on my crochet!
Ahahahahaha. That made me laugh out loud. Wonderful. I think I will use that line on my mother.
Szarka
SWEET!
I never really understood why there is a competition between knit and crochet. I'm a knitter, but I'm learning to crochet. I like both. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, plus they complement each other so well.
I don't really understand the either/or attitude about crochet and knitting. For me it was much easier to learn knitting techniques and much harder and more time-consuming to learn crochet techniques. So for me, crochet was more complex and challenging.
I don't believe this is because one is superior to the other, I think it just takes a different design and thought process. In my case, it's more difficult. But I love the openwork designs crochet offers and I'm determined to learn more.
I agree with Naomi - both have their strengths and uses and they do compliment each other very well.
I agree. I taught myself to knit very quickly and advanced relatively quickly as well. I've had the darndest time catchin' on to the crochet though. At least it's less painful to rip back!
While I'm partial to knitting (probably because I'm better at it), I still enjoy crochet as well. The each have their place. I love the speed of crochet. Even though I'm not not all that fast with it, I am truckin' along on an afghan now. I'm not ready to commit to knitting an afghan yet and I'm sure when I do I'll go with squares rather than an all one piece thing.
And hey, whenever I do too much of either one and get yarn burn on my finger or a bit of a hand cramp, I can just switch crafts and thus hands! ;) This is seriously cutting into my schoolwork time. Lol.
I so agree. I learned to knit when I was 10 and I've loved it ever since. I learned to crochet in order to put an edge on a shawl (still hasn't happened). The two crafts are totally different but they each have their strengths. You can't make some of the *amazing* lace borders in knitting that you can with crochet, but you can't really do complicated colorwork in crochet like in knitting. I'm very glad to know both. ^_^
Hi thesleepysheep -
Check out the Horse Around Purse as a simple example of the colourwork you can do in crochet.
Cheers,
Kim, Ed.
I want the pattern for that round afghan! I love it! It's fabulous!
Being a knitter and crocheter myself - I do recognize that at one time I did feel the need to "defend" my crocheting. But you know - these days, I approach my crochet exactly the same. I feel the same way about it. In fact, crochet is better, if you ask me. Quicker, easier to transport, frogging isn't as painful... I love it!
Actually, the pattern has a mistake in it that creates an extra section which prevents the blanket from laying flat. But by the time I figured that out, I was already to the brown section and there was no way I was frogging it!! It's a round ripple afghan, and you can find many patterns for them for free on the 'net.
I learned to crochet as a child, over 30 years ago. I taught myself to knit 3 years ago. I love the way knit products look, but I, myself, have only completed knit scarves and dish clothes. I have crocheted afghans, sweaters, baby hats, slippers, hot pads, etc.
Crochet is much faster and easier to fix if you make a mistake. I really have a fear of making a mistake in a knitting project. With crochet there is no fear.
I don't understand the competition between the two crafts. We all love yarn....isn't that enough?
Tesso
There is absolutely no need to be defensive about what you love. The more I knit the more I find out that crocheters harbor some animosity towards the knitting community and vice versa. Once a week I go to a local coffee shop or book store to hang out with a fabulous group of knitters and crocheters. None of us entertain such silly prejudices as thinking one craft is better than the other. It's great to learn the reasons behind why we each choose what we choose and we love to do it all. I suggest that we embrace these unique forms of artistry and work on converting the non-knitters/crocheters to become a part of our wonderful community!
You're absolutely right. I'm sick of defending crochet. Not very long ago I got into a drawn out argument as to why someone who was interested in *either* knit or crochet should try crochet, a lone voice for the hook in a crowd of knitters who assured her knitting was better.
I realized too late that I should have just said "In spite of some similarities, they're two very different things with different merrits. I like crochet better, you should try both before you decide."
No more will I make this mistake! From here on out the answer to "Why crochet? Why not knit?" is, "Because I like crochet better. It's very different from knitting," and that will be the end of it!
It has been my experience (I've been crocheting 30 years) that the dividing lines and walls, were erected by knitters of long ago, and does (sadly) still happen today. It seems to be that a large percentage of knitters look down their noses at crochet. I heard a story from a fellow crochet friend who went to a specialty yarn store to get supplies and yarn, and when the sales lady (who was helping her) asked her "what size needles are you planning to use for this yarn?" and my friend replied that she didnt knit, but crochet, well that lady's entire attitude changed. Not only did she walk away and offer no more help, but the other attendants in the story kept "eyeballng" her like she had the plague. Sad.
A 3 years ago, I picked up one of those "Learn How to Knit in a Day" books and sat down with the intention of learning how to knit. I'd work for hours trying to perfect my knit and purl (which I never could get the hang of) stitches. Eventually, all of this stuff got shoved to one corner of a closet. Now, only a year ago, I decided that maybe I ought to give crochet a try--after all, my grandmother tried to show me how when I was little, so I was already familiar with making a chain. Turns out, this was exactly what I'd been looking for and what I have a knack for. I crochet for hours every day--I'm already working on hat/scarf combos for Christmas presents (ziploc bags make great places to store small stuff like that so that they stay dust free). I crochet everywhere--my son's baseball games, practices, work, at Coors Field--anywhere that I will be sitting for an extended period of time and might get restless. We should all be proud of whatever our creative outlets are and we should encourage the creativity (in whatever capacity) of others. Knit or Crochet? Who cares? Any negativity on either side is unnecessary. And I have read things that imply that whatever energy you have within you at the time you are creating a piece becomes part of your piece, so we should all make sure that it's positive! :)
Kudos for the gay pride comments, though I find it interesting that the parallel you are drawing is not commented on in the rather large number posted. Straight/Gay, Knitters/Crocheters. No reason for the predjudice, different, and equal. And definately fabulous!
I see the parallel as being one of, well, pride. Being proud of who you are and what you do regardless of what others may think or the prejudices they may hold. However, I would never want to imply that the igorances that crocheters face are even a fraction as serious as the blatent hatred that the gay and lesbian community faces. No one would ever stage a protest because I crochet. Or not allow me to enter a legal partnership because I crochet. Or want to physically harm me because I crochet instead of knit. So, I have to respectfully disagree--they aren't the same. But the message was clear: Hold your head up and be proud.
I've been crocheting for nigh on 20 years now and only since knitting became "hip" did I realize that I was supposed to be ashamed of myself. Bleah on that. I taught myself how to knit but I didn't like the process and found it somewhat limiting; however, I'd never make nasty comments on my blog about knitting or shake my hook in some random knitter's face and lecture them on why MY art is superior. Sigh.
Im sorry, but that blanket is horrible.
It's a gay pride blanket. You know, rainbow? We have pride in our clashing colors thank you very much.
Oh--come on....remember, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all!
Spoken like a true knitter. ;)
My biggest regret is that I don't have enough time in my life to be really good at both crafts! So now that I can do just about anything in crochet, I decided that this summer I would devote to practicing my knitting techniques. My goal is to be really good at both some day...maybe when I retire...ha!!
I taught myself to both knit and crochet when I was a kid. I've done both sporadically but in bursts of great intensity for many years, as well as needlepoint and cross-stitch. At the moment, crochet is my big thing and I'm making use of a book I found called something like (I think) the mon picot 1030 stitch patterns for knit and crochet. It's at least 30 years old and my favourite reading matter at present.
I have knitted plain, cable and patterned jumpers, cardigans, hats, bootees etc but prefer to knit kids and babies clothes as they're quick and prefer something like cable as it's more interesting (I get bored easily).
I've crocheted blankets, scarves and am currently churning out hot-water bottle covers using as many different stitch patterns as I can from my fantastic book. Hot-water bottle covers are tremendously uncool and that's why I love them so much (I also do tea-cosies). Also, it's winter here in australia and people appreciate something practical to keep them warm.
Anyway, this very rambling post is just to say I love crochet because it's fast and also very forgiving of mistakes. And I love knitting for all the things knitting is. And as far as I know there's no law that says you have to form a monogamous relationship with just one handicraft - enjoy what you do and when you're ready to enjoy something else, move on.
Happy hooking to you all!
Marg
I don't understand the competitiveness between knitters & crocheters. After all, many of us do both. Personally I prefer knitting but that is at least in part because crochet is so much harder on my wrists (knitting hurts sometimes too). But both result in lovely objects (well usually - there are tacky things produced in both media).
I went to a knitting circle the other day with my crochet, the owner of the yarn store had invited me. She is a very open minded knitter. When I sheepishly said all I knew was crochet, she said, "Great, can you bring more crocheters to this group!" That settled it for me. I am a proud crocheter.
Great to see another Australian posting!!!
I've tried both knitting and crochet. Crochet just clicked - easy as that. Knitting - well, if I have to, but I don't really enjoy it. Most people are intrigued by my crochet, but I do often have to correct them and tell them that it's NOT knitting.
But the real challenge in being a crochet fiend 'down under'? Matching wool to the great patterns that you find that originate far from here, finding great crochet publications (if I spot a good crochet book, I'll buy it, even if I can't really afford it!), and - one recent challenge - finding a crochet hook over 10mm. Would order online, but the cost of postage is quite frankly not attractive. However, love the element of a quest, and am currently revelling in making gorgeous scarves for the winter that has finally arrived! (and bags for Christmas, if they work out OK). Also love sites such as this that make me feel like part of a wider crochet community - and provide some more great patterns! Proud to be part of it!
I'm a 40 year knitter and a 5 year crocheter. I love what I can do with crochet...things that are a PIA to do in knitting. I was put off crochet for a long time because of the disgusting yarns associated with crochet. Never got why using a hook meant you had to use crappy acrylic yarns.