Knitting, Crochet, or Cross-Stich?

[Hollywoodhaha]

Which out of the three would you say is easiest?

I have tried knitting and I can semi-do-it, I can't crochet really, and I have not tried cross stich yet.

Would you say cross stich is worth it, and where is the best place to buy things for it?

 

[FergieTCat]

I do all three and I find crocheting to be the easiest. Once you find a rhythm, it goes fast. My grandmother taught me all three when I was a child.

With that, I am currently working on a cross-stitch piece. If you want to see what's out there, visit The Stitchery's website.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I think cross-stitch is easiest to start, because the patterns and the fabric are pretty easy to figure out and you are simply following that pattern (a la paint by numbers). However, it does require a little more attention (in my opinion) than the others do and it's harder for me to cross-stitch and watch tv. I prefer knitting because once you get it started (unless you are working on something really complicated) it's pretty mindless. As far as getting supplies, Michaels or Joann would be good retail stores to hit, unless you have some cool local crafting shops (which I always prefer because you get a little more variety). Also check out Herrschners.com - great crafting website online. Craftster.org is an awesome community of all kinds of crafting.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I come from a long line of crafty ladies, and I love to see others get into working with their hands.

 

[Denine]

I do counted cross stitch. I tried to crochet in college, but had no real luck. My MIL does all three but mostly crochet.

 

[Darsa]

I crochet a lot, have done X-stitch in the past and it was hard on my eyes. Never knitted; I have been told that crocheting is faster than knitting, and I bet it's easier if *I* can do it!

Back when I was able to afford things, I used to LOVE to go to AC Moore; they have coupons you can print online a lot and have a great selection. Michaels is also a good one, and JoAnn Fabrics is okay, but the one near here doesn't have much of a selection.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I can do all three but my crochet skills are very basic. Knitting tends to go slowly because the stitches are so small. I would say cross stitch is the easiest in terms of figuring out how to do it. If you're a beginner, start with a simple kit. It gets easier after the first try. I made samplers for my friends when they had babies. I like the kind you can personalize with the name, birthdate, etc. I made them for each of my boys when they were born. They still have them hanging in their rooms at 14 and 11!

 

[MIGrandma]

I tried to learn knitting and crocheting, never was able to grasp them.

I used to do quite a bit of cross-stitching and really enjoyed it. We had a great local cross-stitch/needlework shop here and that's where I bought most of my patterns, supplies, etc. but it went out of business a few years ago. I've gotten things at Joanne's, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby too. I've actually been thinking about getting back into it, maybe this fall.

 

[NMAmy]

I like cross-stitch but I've always preferred stamped to counted--it's just less to keep track of. Now that I'm older, I have a hard time with wall-hangings, etc, since they're too small to see. I make a lot of embroidered baby blankets. They're quite big projects but the stitches are larger and easier for my old eyes.

I find knitting and cross-stitch easy and relaxing but crochet is the hardest for me. I think it's because it's the only one of the three that I didn't learn as a child and I'm not as comfortable with it.

 

[ChrizJen]

I think cross-stitching is easiest, with crocheting in close second. I can't knit to save my life...lol
But I agree that crocheting is definitely easier to multitask with. I can do that while I watch TV. I can't really do anything else while cross-stitching.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm left handed and when I wanted to learn to crochet, I found all of the instructions were for right handed people.. I was determined though, so I just taught myself to do it right handed - LOL.. I don't think it's all that difficult..

Haven't done counted cross stitch in quite awhile because of issues with my eyes, but I think that's fairly easy - as long as you pay close attention to what you're doing..

Knitting? I could never get the hang of that because I knit waaaay too "tight"..

To me, crocheting and counted cross stitch are equal - in terms of ease.. It's just a matter of really wanting to do it and having the time to really concentrate..

Good luck!

 

[pixiewings71]

I love cross stitch, don't do the others. My Aunt did and tried to teach me but it didn't quite work. LOL

I get counted cross stitch most of the time but I have done stamped as well, I prefer counted tho. For me it's just easier.

I get my kits from Michael's usually, lately they have had the worst selection so I ordered a few from The Stitchery, they are nice too but I prefer to see them in person when I buy and ordering online defeats that.

 

[Maridw]

I'm left handed and when I wanted to learn to crochet, I found all of the instructions were for right handed people.. I was determined though, so I just taught myself to do it right handed - LOL.. I don't think it's all that difficult..

Haven't done counted cross stitch in quite awhile because of issues with my eyes, but I think that's fairly easy - as long as you pay close attention to what you're doing..

Knitting? I could never get the hang of that because I knit waaaay too "tight"..

To me, crocheting and counted cross stitch are equal - in terms of ease.. It's just a matter of really wanting to do it and having the time to really concentrate..

Good luck!

C.Ann - Good for you for teaching yourself. My sister is left-handed and my grandmother taught us both to crochet. She had my sister face her to show her the stitches that way she was seeing them reversed from what she was doing.


Hollywoodhaha - Stamped cross stitch is pretty easy. I have done both counted and stamped and found that even though I love counted, I just can't stay interested in it. I love to crochet and can do it without really thinking especially if the pattern is very repetitious. Also if I am doing a pattern I am familiar with, I can zip right through it. Note - when you are reading a crochet pattern, make sure you read the entire row's instructions. I have started a row only to find part way through the row, that I didn't do something near the beginning and had to take the row out.

 

[Phedre]

I do all three also and I think crocheting is the easiest to make beautiful projects. You could probably learn cross stitch fastest out of the bunch but you can make soooo many cool things with crocheting and do it pretty quickly and easily once you get the hang of it. I also find crocheting very easy to fix if you make a mistake, which I do often. It's quick and easy to rip up your work back to the mistake and redo it. I think knitting mistakes are harder to fix and knitting projects are much slower (for me at least!) to complete.

I learned crocheting by watching you tube videos and using raverly.com. So far, everything I have needed to know about crocheting can be found on the internet Good luck with whatever craft you decide to go with

 

[Maridw]

I learned to crochet when I was in elementary school, but did not get into it until I was in my early 20's. Thankfully my grandmother was still around to help me out on some things.

Once I had my DD and she started getting into Barbie's etc. I found patterns to crochet doll furniture. Then she got into dance and I happen to find a pattern for a ballet costume. I did a few changes to the pattern and did an outfit for her Barbie that matched my DD's dance costume. I now have over 70+ patterns of outfits that match full size costumes for Barbies.

When I found out I ws going to be a grandmother, I started crocheting sandals, booties, bonnets & blankets. (I even made two bonnets for someone on the Disboards). There is one blanket the my grandmother started, my mother worked on it a little & I was working on it. (It was supposed to be a bedspread for my mother). I talked to her and since I didn't have much done on it, she suggested making a crib blanket for the new grandchild. My granddaught now has an heirloom that was done by 3 grandmas (1 great-great grandma, 1 great grandma & 1 grandma).

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I think cross stitching is easier overall as it isn't hard but I think it's hard to do anything else i.e. watch TV. You do need to pay attention to what you're doing.

Crocheting and knitting are both things you can do something else with and as long as you have the rhythm/count down, you'll be fine. Of the two, I think crocheting is easier mainly because you can see your progress faster.

 

[M&N]

I liked doing crewel work. It gave me a variety of stitches rather than just making crosses. It required no counting either and I could do it watching tv.