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Does Knitting or Crochet Take More Yarn?

June 2, 2017 by Sarah White

Yarn use in knitting versus crochetMost of us know that crochet tends to be — or at least feel — a little faster than knitting, because the stitches can be a lot taller than a standard row of knitting. But does crochet also use more yarn than knitting?

It seems like it should, but I’ve never seen anyone actually test the theory.

This post is old but I just came across it on Facebook the other day, where Not So Granny tested how much yarn different stitches use.

You should click over for the full results but the short answer is that different stitches worked in different techniques don’t make a huge amount of difference in a swatch, but over a whole sweater you might need an extra ball or two. To me the most interesting thing is the difference between Garter Stitch and Stockinette.

So the upshot here is, if you’re stash busting, you probably won’t go through more yarn that much faster if you crochet versus knitting. Just pick projects you’re excited about so you will actually use the yarn and finish the projects (yes, I’m talking to myself here, too).

[Photo: Not So Granny.]

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Comments

  1. Diane Perkins says

    June 2, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    I love the knit look but I’m too impatient with knitting so I stick with crochet because I’m much faster at it and way more experienced and proficient. If I were doing clothing I would take the time to learn more and knit for sure.

  2. Nancy Covington says

    June 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    Thanks Sarah. That was very interesting and a bit surprising.

  3. grandma says

    June 3, 2017 at 6:48 pm

    crochet uses more yarn

Have you read?

Knit a Great Button Down Shirt

Just about anything you can make in fabric you can make in knitting, but there are some styles that you just don’t see that often translated into knitting. 

For example, a button down collared shirt. This is a classic design, of course, and it looks great in a knit version, but it’s just not something you see much of. 

Noma Ndlovu’s Guglethu shirt is the pattern to try if you want to knit your own button down shirt. This one is inspired by cashmere tops (though the sample was made out of yak yarn, not cashmere, and uses two strands of lace weight yarn held together) and includes lots of high-fashion details like double-knit cuffs, collar and shoulder seams. 

It has a patch pocket on the front and 10 buttons including the button band and the cuffs. 

The designer says you can also use a DK weight yarn held singly if you’d rather, and that the shirt looks good in a variety of yarns. There is another version on Ravelry that uses Berroco Remix Light, which is a mix of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and cellulose fibers. It has a more relaxed look but it still really pretty. 

The pattern has 12 sizes, with a full bust measurement ranging from 32.35 to 72.25 inches, or 82 to 183.5 cm. The designer suggests 2 to 6 inches, or 5 to 15 cm, of positive ease when you pick your size. I could totally see knitting one that’s even bigger to wear more like a jacket, because I do that a lot with button down shirts I already own.

I love all the details on this shirt, which isn’t necessarily difficult to knit, but might introduce you to some things you’ve never knit before (like those cuffs with the plackets, or a shirt collar like this). 

To learn more about this shirt and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself, head to Ravelry. 

[Photo: Noma Ndlovu]

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