Knitting or crochet? Why not knitting and crochet?
I love both of these techniques. I know there are a lot of people claiming that one technique is superior to the other, that one is excruciatingly difficult and the other really simple, or that one is best for garments and the other best for potholders. I don’t buy any of that.
Knitting and crochet are both wonderful techniques – why not use them together? It has already been done, in the wonderful traditional sweaters from Korsnäs, in Finland.
Let’s do it again, with a contemporary take on this combination. Contrasting textures, different functionalities - a new world of possibilities opens up! When I made the swatches for this article, every new combination was an eye-opener and a happy surprise. All I wanted to do was to go on and on. In fact, that’s probably what I’m going to do…
Knitted ribbing and crochet
In my opinion, the reasons to combine knit and crochet are mostly aesthetic, but there can be functional reasons to combine the techniques as well.
Knitted ribbing makes a very elastic fabric that clings to the body. If you want some parts of a design to fit closely, you can certainly achieve this effect with crochet – but it will be easier in knitting.
So why not a close-fitted bodice in knitting, combined with crocheted lace? Or a high knitted ribbing to really define the waist, and the rest of the garment in crochet?
In the swatch pictured, a knitting K2 P2 ribbing is combined with a double crochet V-stitch.
Knitted cables and crochet
You can find a lot of pretty cables in crochet, but personally, I’m in love with the knitted ones. There is a floating quality to the knitted stitches which appeals tremendously to me in the form of cables.
But the fabric surrounding the cables – why not do it in crochet? Crochet will provide a more interesting texture than the ordinary knitted fabric, even with a very simple stitch.
The cable in this swatch is taken from a garment in the Phildar catalogue ”Enfants automne-hiver 06/07”. I started by knitting the cable, and then worked out from it sideways in crochet, using simple double crochet in the front loop only. This combination of textures makes my heart beat faster. Really.
Knitted lace and crocheted solid fabric
If there is one thing on which many people seem to agree, it’s the assumption that knitting is for solid fabric and crochet is for lace.
Why?
There are so many wonderful knitted lace patterns, and so many interesting solid crochet fabrics.
In this swatch, half double crochets in the front loop only are combined with a ”stripe” of knitted lace. The swatch is worked in one piece, without breaking the yarn. When switching from crochet to knitting, just pick up your knitted stitches through your crocheted ones. And when switching back to crochet, just work the crocheted stitches through the knitted ones, right from the knitting needle.
This swatch is the one my nine-year-old daughter prefers.
Edging your crochet with knitting
How many times have you heard: ”It can be nice to combine knit and crochet – crochet makes great edgings to knitted garments”?
Well, let me tell you, I think knitting can make great edgings to crocheted garments.
The edging in this swatch is taken from Nicky Epstein’s book ”Knitting on the Edge” [1]. The crocheted fabric is a simple off-set net in half double crochet: *1 hdc, 1 ch*. Repeat from * to *. The next row is the same, only with the hdc worked in the chain spaces.
Couldn’t you just see the fabric in this swatch worked up as an A-line tunic, with the edging at the hems on body and sleeves?
OK, I have to go. I have some swatching to do, in crochet – and knitting.
