BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting How useful will crochet be?

A friend and I have signed up for a two-day crochet class at our local yarn shop. I'm excited about the class, because I've come across so many patterns that use a single crochet as a finished edge to a garment, or a crocheted lace edge on things.

But for those of you out there who crochet--sell it to me! How else will I find crochet useful? Do you generally use crochet all by itself, or as a part of a knit piece? And which do you prefer--knit or crochet?

Just curious how the rest of you feel.

-Becky

Personally I like crochet better, I find I'm faster at it and I use it lots. I've made afghans, mittens, ponchos, socks....

I was taught to crochet and knit by my mother when I was in grade school. I like both styles but I get really excited about crochet. There are soooo many stitch patterns that you can do to make the same pattern look so different. You can crochet with thread and with yarn. I've made great cotton thread place mats with wonderful peacocks adorning them and as far as I know that is not possible with knitting. Once you get the hang of it then the sky is the limit. I made my grandson a holster for his toy rifle with a basket weave stitch. Granny squares are so fast and versatile and you can make afghans, scarfs, hats that will be unique with not much time invested.
I personally have to count when I knit (I just got back into it recently so I'm not sure if I'll always have to do this....I have a tendency to add stitches without realizing it.) But you can crochet and think, crochet and talk or just crochet.
So how have I done? Are you sitting in your car waiting to get to the class???
The best thing about crochet is that you can come join us at the Bella On Line Crochet forum and let Eva give you great advise and help with any problem you may encounter.
I'm excited for you...I'm sure you will love it.

A babysitter started me off with fine crochet. It never took. I learned to knit. THen about 13 years ago a women a worked with insisted she could teach me to crochet. She taught me to make a shell baby blanket. That year I probably made that blanket 50 times with every yarn imagineable. Everyone I knew was given one. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> From then on I self taught my self to make sweaters, doiles, tableclothes, baby clothes. I was addicted. I didn't go anywhere without. Knitting has never been the same. It's so cumbersome having to deal with more than one needle. Crochet is an addiction. It's been about 8 months since I've done anything and I can feel the urge starting up again. It's getting stronger.

Crochet can be very intricate especially when you get into the doilies and shawls etc.

Hi Becky, ok get ready here comes my sales pitch:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7696.asp and I did do a similar article for the crochet site on why crocheters should learn how to knit. I feel both have something to offer each other, plus it really is good to expand your mind even if you just learn the basics. Since I am also the Crochet News Editor, you can get all the help you need <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> from someone who does both. And yes I do use both in just about everything I do. One of the biggest reasons I can think of to do both is FREE FORM , which I really love.

I learned to crochet first, when I was about seven. It has been a lifelong passion of mine-- I always have something crochet in the works! The joke around my house for years has been-- "Oh, Felicia can crochet _________." The joke has extended to car parts, plumbing needs-- anything we need to buy-- supposedly I can crochet it.

Crochet to finish knitting is wonderful; once you learn it-- it is a great skill in and of itself. I can whip up a baby blanket in no time with my crochet needles- and know that said baby will still have that blanket in fifteen years!

Excuse the pun-- try it, you'll be HOOKED!

I love both knitting and crochet. I think it depends on the kind of piece you're doing.

In Spain, we normally use crochet alone or combined with hemstitch for table linen, blanckets, courtains, bed covers, etc.

We normally combine knitting and crochet for clothes, especially for babies. A tiny cardigan with a crochet edge looks great, as well as socks or any other garment you can think of.

Welcome Obaya, you are right. It does depend on what kind of piece you are doing. Both Knitting and Crochet have their good points and both can be combined to make wonderful projects.

I love both and do either one when I'm feeling stressed out. I think the repetitive movements really calm me down. Plus, I ususally get something nice out of it at the end <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Let us know how your classes go, beckyeas
Grace