Knitting is an ancient art of stitching and has been a popular technique of making sweaters, woolens, and stockings for many centuries. Though today, knitting is done by both machines and hand, hand knitting is still a popular hobby for many. Knitting requires a continuous strand of yarn and two or more needles. The two basic stitches of knitting - knit and purl, can be worked alone or together and form the basis of varieties of designs as well as other stitches. You begin knitting by making a slip knot on one needle and "casting on" the number of stitches you need for the project. In this way you create the foundation row on one needle. The basic knitted stitches are created using both needles, wrapping the yarn over one needle and drawing the wrapped yarn through loops on the other needle. Besides the single point needle and double pointed needle, circular knitting needles are growing in popularity because they eliminate seams and the need to continually turn your knitting at the end of a row.

Like Knitting, Crocheting is also a very popular technique for making a variety of fashion and home decor accessories. By combining lighter weight or softer yarns and basic crochet stitches, you create a delicate, drapable fabric. On the other hand a thicker yarn produces a sturdy fabric. Beautiful textured and raised stitches are easy to make in crochet. To do crocheting you require a continuous strand of yarn and a single hook. You start with a slip stitch and continue to make loops. These are called chains and using the chains you create a foundation row. Rows are built on this foundation. Crochet stitches are made with loops and yarn is continuously wrapped around the hook. The loops are drawn through the wrapped yarn to make the stitches. Crocheting can be done in rows, keeping your work flat, or you can join your stitches, creating a ring and work in the round.

A comparison of knitting and crocheting
Knitting and crocheting are popular hobbies. These were once important home crafts necessary to keeping one's family clad and warm. Today, most of the knitted and crocheted garments are machine-made. But handcrafted items are also available at specialty shops or made by many at home both for fun and for the pride that comes from wearing something one made on his own. Knitting and crocheting are similar processes in the sense that loops of yarn or thread are pulled through existing loops to make chains and fabrics. However, the two crafts are very different in how they are accomplished.

Knit and crochet tools
Knitting uses two or more pointed needles. Crocheting requires only one needle with a hook on the end.

Knit and crochet stitches
Knitting and crocheting stitches are different in the sense that in crocheting, the crafter works on one loop at a time and makes chains by pulling a loop of yarn through the loop on the hook or inserts the hook into the existing fabric and pulling a loop through both the fabric and the loop on the hook, leaving only one loop on the hook. On the other hand, in knitting, multiple loops or stitches are worked across the needle, the width of the fabric being determined by the number of stitches across.

However, there can be similar effects achieved in both knit and crochet. But they are just achieved differently. Cable stitch, the braided pattern that is a standard feature of a knit sweater, can even been done in crochet. Working in the round or crafting a tube of fabric is possible in both knitting and crocheting.

It is not necessary that a person who knows crocheting also knows knitting. But both the crafts are enjoyable, relaxing and meditative. Knitting or crocheting while watching your favorite television programs is a favorite pastime for many and which allows you to claim that you are really "working" and not just "wasting your time".