SaveA crochet hook and a knitting needle are not interchangeable and nothing about one tells you much about the other. The confusion is worth clearing up before you buy either, because the sizing systems overlap in a way that suggests a relationship that does not exist.
Part of our supplies library.
The tools
| Crochet hook | Knitting needles | |
|---|---|---|
| How many | One | Two, or four to five for rounds |
| Live stitches | One at a time | The entire row at once |
| Dropped stitch | Nothing unravels | Runs down the whole piece |
| Sizing | Millimetres, US letters, UK numbers | Millimetres, US numbers, UK numbers |
| Typical cost | 5 to 9 pounds | 8 to 20 pounds a pair |
A 5 mm crochet hook and 5 mm knitting needles produce completely different gauge. The millimetre size describes the tool, not the fabric, and crochet stitches are larger for the same tool size.
What you can share between the crafts
Yarn
Fully sharedAny
Yarn is yarn. The weight names are the same and any yarn works for either craft, though the hook or needle size for a given yarn differs.
Blunt yarn needles
Fully shared2 pounds
The same tool weaves in ends for both. Buy once.
Stitch markers
Mostly shared3 to 5 pounds
Locking markers work for both. Closed ring markers are knitting-only, because a crochet marker has to come off mid-round.
Tape measure and scissors
Fully shared5 pounds
No difference at all.
Row counters
Mostly shared3 pounds
The barrel type that sits on a needle will not fit a hook, but a clicker works for either.
Blocking mats and pins
Fully shared15 to 25 pounds
Identical requirements. Rustproof pins matter for both.
What you need to buy twice
- The hooks or needles themselves. No overlap whatsoever.
- Patterns. A knitting pattern cannot be worked in crochet or the reverse.
- Cable needles and stitch holders. Knitting only; crochet has no equivalent need.
- Tunisian hooks, if you take that up. They are long crochet hooks and will not substitute for either standard tool.
If you are genuinely unsure which craft to start, buy one 5.0 mm crochet hook and one ball of worsted yarn. Eight pounds, and if you decide on knitting instead the yarn carries over and you have lost the price of a coffee.
Questions
Can I use knitting needles for crochet?
No. Crochet needs a hooked end to pull loops through. Knitting needles have no hook.
Is a 5 mm hook the same as 5 mm needles?
The tool is the same thickness but the fabric is not. Crochet stitches come out larger for the same size, so gauge differs considerably.
Can I use the same yarn for both?
Yes, entirely. Yarn weight names are shared and there is no crochet-specific or knitting-specific yarn.
Which should I buy first?
A single 5.0 mm crochet hook, if only because it is cheaper to find out whether you enjoy the craft than a pair of needles plus a pattern.
Do crochet and knitting patterns share abbreviations?
A few, like ch and st, but most differ. A knitting pattern cannot be worked in crochet.
Are crochet hooks or knitting needles easier for arthritis?
A crochet hook, usually, because one hand does most of the work and ergonomic handles are widely available. Knitting spreads the load across both hands, which some people prefer.