Knitting, Weaving or Crochet: What's Your Method?

A number of people have asked about the differences between knitting, weaving and crochet so here is a very simplistic explanation of each to try to clear it up a bit. Knitting, weaving and crochet are similar in that they are all ways to make cloth or form fabric. The technique used to make the fabric and how the construction looks when the cloth is finished are the main differences. 

Weaving

Weaving is a system of making fabric with two separate sets of yarn (the warp and the weft). The warp is wrapped around the loom and runs the length of the fabric. The weft is entirely separate yarn that goes back and forth across the width of the fabric as the warp strands are systematically moved up and down. The moving of the warp up and down while the weft is moved back and forth creates a sort of grid that holds all the strands together. If you look at fabric and it looks like a grid, it is probably woven. The yarn for the warp and weft can be the same or different. 

Knitting

Knitting uses two or more needles to form fabric. The stitches the knitter is working with are held on one needle and additional stitches are made by using a second needle to pull a strand of yarn through loops held on the first needle. The knit stitches are only removed from the needle when an additional loop is made through that particular stitch. The new stitch is usually held on the second needle. Knit fabric often takes on "V" shapes on one side. The other common knitting stitch is known as a "purl", which is what it looks like on the other side of the "V".  It is worth noting that it is common and possible to change yarn or knit with multiple strands of yarn at the same time and that it is also common to wrap the yarn around the needle to create lace.    

Crochet 

Crochet is typically made with a single hook, a strand of yarn and a series of loops. Only one or two loops are on the hook at a time, which is different from knitting as most stitches must stay on the needle to preserve the work when knitting. Crochet is a fairly easy way to make circles, squares and lace out of a single or multiple strands of yarn and it is easy to change colors of yarn as well. 

Hopefully, now you will be able to look at pieces of cloth and determine which method was used to make each. Look at the shirt you are wearing up close. Which does it look like?