by Beverly Bochenek

Created on: November 02, 2010

                I don’t remember who taught me to crochet. I don’t know if it’s something I picked up by myself, though I doubt it, but I don’t recall anyone giving me lessons. I learned how to knit in grade school. Someone in my class taught me how to knit using pencils. I liked it very much but when I entered high school, the knitting needles went away and I did not pick them up again some thirty years after I left high school and college. I knit with a passion and didn’t consider crochet at all until a few years ago and then it was just to do an edging on a knitted piece. Then I had one of the crocheters in my knitting group show me how to do a granny square and since then I’ve been, pardon the bun, hooked.

                I have not abandoned my knitting needles and I don’t think I ever will but crochet has become a part of the needle arts which bring a great deal to my life. If you are a knitter or if you are someone interested in either knit or crochet and don’t know which one to choose, I will say learn how to do both because they bring different things to the crafter. So, why should you learn to crochet? Here’s why I love it:

  It’s faster than knitting. I’m a pretty fast knitter and crochet is faster than knitting. There’s only the one hook as opposed to the two to five knitting needles. Any way you slice it, of the two, crochet will take less time all other things being equal. So if you have little patience then crochet will get you to the point of gratification sooner than knitting.

  It’s easier to learn. Again, it has to do with one crochet hook versus two to five knitting needles. I happen to believe there is a greater stitch variety in knitting, but there are many creative ways to go in crochet that will provide satisfaction for the eyes and the soul. There are more stitches to master in crochet but that’s just a matter of how many loops are on the hook. It is an easy craft to start and get up to speed in a hurry.

  Mistakes are easier to fix. There’s usually only one stitch on a crochet hook and if you make a mistake, ripping out the fabric is easier on the mind and soul than it is in knitting where you have to rip out the stitches and then pick them up. With crochet, you rip and there’s

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