Crochet vs Cross Stitch: Which Craft Is Right for You?

January 07, 2026

If you're looking for a new hobby that's calming, creative, and keeps your hands busy, you've probably come across both crochet and cross stitch. Both crafts have devoted followings, and both offer genuine benefits for your wellbeing. But they're quite different in practice, and knowing which one suits your lifestyle can save you time, money, and frustration.

We're often asked which craft is better for beginners, or which one we'd recommend for someone who wants to switch off from screens. The honest answer is that it depends entirely on what you want to make, how you like to work, and what kind of crafting experience you're after.

Here at Caterpillar Cross Stitch, we've always championed the joy of stitching. And with the recent launch of our new crochet kits, we now offer both crafts under one roof. So we're well placed to give you a fair comparison to help you decide.

What Is Cross Stitch?

Cross stitch is a form of counted embroidery where you create designs by sewing small X-shaped stitches onto fabric with a visible grid. The fabric, usually called Aida cloth, has evenly spaced holes that guide your needle placement. You follow a pattern that tells you exactly where to place each stitch and which colour thread to use.

The result is a flat, detailed design that can be framed, turned into a card, made into an ornament, or incorporated into other projects. Many people find cross stitch satisfying because it combines structure with creativity; you're following a pattern, but you can also choose your own colours or adapt designs to make them your own.

Cross stitch uses embroidery floss (stranded cotton thread that you separate into the number of strands specified by your pattern), a blunt tapestry needle, and an embroidery hoop to keep your fabric taut while you work.

What Is Crochet?

Crochet is a craft where you create fabric by interlocking loops of yarn using a single hook. Unlike knitting, which uses two needles and holds multiple stitches at once, crochet works one stitch at a time. This makes it easier to put down mid-row without worrying about dropped stitches.

The basic crochet stitches: chain, single crochet (called double crochet in US patterns), and double crochet (treble in US terms), can be combined to create everything from blankets and scarves to bags, toys, and home accessories. Amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed creatures, has become particularly popular in recent years.

Crochet uses yarn (in various weights and fibres) and a crochet hook sized to match your yarn. The hook sizes are standardised, so once you know what you're working with, choosing the right tools is straightforward.

Key Differences Between Crochet and Cross Stitch

While both crafts involve working with thread or yarn and a handheld tool, they produce very different results and suit different types of projects.

Cross stitch creates flat, pictorial designs. Think of it like painting by numbers with thread; you're building up an image stitch by stitch. The finished piece is decorative rather than functional, meant to be displayed or given as a gift. Cross stitch is particularly well-suited to detailed designs: text, portraits, landscapes, or geometric patterns.

Crochet creates fabric. You're not decorating an existing surface; you're constructing something from scratch. This means crochet can produce items with practical uses like blankets to snuggle under, bags to carry your shopping, or even toys for children (or adults) to cuddle. The finished pieces have texture and dimension that cross stitch doesn't offer.

In terms of tools, cross stitch requires fabric (Aida or evenweave), embroidery floss, a tapestry needle, and usually an embroidery hoop or frame. Crochet requires yarn and a hook; that's it for the basics, though you'll also want a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and scissors for cutting yarn.

Both crafts are portable, but the nature of your project affects how easy it is to take with you. A small cross stitch project fits neatly in a bag and can be worked on during a train journey or while waiting at an appointment. Crochet projects can range from something small enough to tuck in your pocket to a full-size blanket that takes over your sofa.

Here's a quick comparison:

Cross Stitch: Uses embroidery floss and needle on gridded fabric. Creates flat decorative pieces. Follows counted patterns. Very easy to pause and resume.

Crochet: Uses yarn and hook to create fabric. Makes functional 3D items. Works from written or charted patterns. Builds quickly with visible progress.

Which Is Easier to Learn?

Both crafts are genuinely accessible to beginners, but they have different learning curves.

Cross stitch has one core technique: making X-shaped stitches. Once you've learned how to thread your needle, secure your thread, and form your stitches, you have the foundation for any cross stitch project. The complexity comes from the pattern rather than the technique. A beginner can complete a small project using exactly the same stitch as an experienced stitcher working on a full-coverage piece.

The structured nature of cross stitch; following a grid, counting squares, working methodically, appeals to people who like clear instructions and predictable results. If you enjoy colouring books or jigsaw puzzles, you'll likely take to cross stitch.

Crochet requires learning a few different stitches, and getting your tension consistent takes practice. Your first attempts might feel awkward, and your fabric may be uneven. But the basic motion becomes muscle memory fairly quickly, and once you've grasped the fundamentals, you can tackle a wide range of projects.

Crochet builds fabric faster than cross stitch creates designs. If you're motivated by seeing quick progress, crochet delivers that satisfaction. A simple scarf can be completed in a weekend; a cross stitch piece of similar effort might take several weeks of evening stitching.

For both crafts, starting with a kit removes the guesswork of choosing materials. A good beginner kit includes everything you need with clear instructions, so you can focus on learning the craft rather than worrying about whether you've bought the right supplies.

What Can You Make With Each Craft?

The projects suited to each craft are quite different, and this is often the deciding factor for beginners.

Cross stitch excels at pictorial and decorative pieces. Popular projects include framed samplers and wall art, bookmarks and greeting cards, seasonal ornaments, personalised gifts such as wedding announcements or birth records, patches and decorative panels, and coasters or small finishing pieces.

Cross stitch is particularly good for commemorating occasions or creating pieces with sentimental value. A stitched wedding sampler or birth announcement becomes a keepsake that lasts for generations.

Crochet shines for functional and wearable items. You can make blankets and throws in any size from baby to king, scarves, hats, gloves, and other accessories, amigurumi toys and stuffed animals, bags, pouches, and market totes, home items like cushion covers, coasters, and plant pot holders, and garments like cardigans, tops, and shrugs.

If you want to make things you'll use every day, or gifts that people will actually get the wear out of, crochet offers more options.

Of course, there's overlap. You can crochet purely decorative items, and you can turn cross stitch into functional pieces like needle books or pincushions. But in general, cross stitch leans decorative while crochet leans practical.

Costs: Getting Started in the UK

Both crafts can be started without spending a fortune, especially if you begin with a kit.

A beginner cross stitch kit typically costs between £14 and £25, depending on size and complexity. This includes your fabric, thread, needle, pattern, and instructions, basically everything except an embroidery hoop, which costs around £3 to £5 for a basic wooden one and can be reused for years.

Our crochet kits start at around £49 and include yarn, a hook, and full instructions. While the upfront cost is higher, you're getting enough yarn to complete a substantial project like a bag, a toy, or a set of flowers, for example.

Ongoing costs differ between the crafts. Embroidery floss is inexpensive (typically under £1 per skein), so building up a thread collection happens gradually without much outlay. Yarn costs more per unit, but you also use more of it; a single skein might be enough for an amigurumi toy, while a blanket could require ten or more balls.

For a complete beginner, a kit represents good value because you're not buying supplies you might not need. Once you've completed a few projects and know what you enjoy, you can start purchasing individual supplies with confidence.

Time and Lifestyle Considerations

How each craft fits into your life depends on your routine and preferences.

Cross stitch works in small increments. You can stitch for ten minutes while waiting for the kettle to boil, or settle in for an evening session while watching television. The structured nature means you can stop at any point—mid-row, mid-colour change, whenever—and pick up exactly where you left off. There's no risk of forgetting what you were doing or losing your place if you follow good practices like keeping your pattern marked.

This makes cross stitch particularly suited to busy schedules or fragmented time. Commuters often stitch on trains. Parents stitch during nap times. People with demanding jobs stitch in small pockets of downtime.

Crochet also works in variable time blocks, but some projects benefit from longer sessions to maintain rhythm and tension. That said, crochet builds fabric much faster than cross stitch creates designs. If you want the satisfaction of completing projects quickly, crochet delivers.

Storage is worth considering. Cross stitch projects and supplies take up minimal space; a small box or project bag holds everything. Crochet, especially if you develop a yarn collection, can require more storage. Yarn stashes have a habit of growing.

Both crafts are portable, but consider what you're making. A small cross stitch fits in a handbag. A crochet blanket-in-progress needs a larger bag.

Wellbeing Benefits

Both cross stitch and crochet offer genuine benefits for mental health and wellbeing. The repetitive, rhythmic nature of stitching has a calming effect similar to meditation. Many crafters describe entering a flow state where worries fade and time seems to slow.

The screen-free aspect matters to many people. In a world of constant notifications and endless scrolling, crafting gives your eyes and mind a break while keeping your hands productively occupied. Many of our community members stitch or crochet while listening to podcasts or audiobooks, combining relaxation with entertainment.

There's also the satisfaction of making something. In an age of mass production and disposable goods, creating a finished piece with your own hands provides a sense of accomplishment that buying something simply can't match.

Both crafts have welcoming communities. Our Facebook community includes stitchers at all levels who share their work, ask questions, and encourage each other. Whether you're celebrating a finish or troubleshooting a problem, having fellow crafters to connect with adds another dimension to the hobby.

Can You Do Both?

Many crafters enjoy multiple needle arts, picking up whichever suits their mood or the project at hand. Cross stitch when you want something meditative and detailed. Crochet when you want to make something quickly or create a gift.

The skills don't directly transfer because the techniques are quite different, but the mindset does. If you enjoy one fibre craft, you'll likely enjoy others. And having both in your repertoire means you're never stuck for a project.

Some crafters even combine the two. You can cross stitch onto crochet fabric, adding decorative elements to blankets, bags, or clothing. This technique works best on crochet with a fairly even structure, and it requires a bit of experimentation, but the results can be lovely

How to Choose: A Quick Decision Guide

Still not sure which craft to try first? Here's a simple framework.

Cross stitch might suit you better if you enjoy following structured patterns and counting, you want to create detailed pictorial designs, you prefer projects that are easy to pause and resume at any point, you like working with fine details and seeing designs emerge gradually, or you have limited storage space for craft supplies.

Crochet might suit you better if you want to make functional items you can use or wear, you're motivated by seeing quick progress on projects, you enjoy working with your hands to create three-dimensional objects, you like the idea of making blankets, toys, bags, or accessories, or you want a craft that travels well for larger projects.

And if you can't decide? Try both. Start with whichever appeals most, and if your interest grows, explore the other. There's no rule that says you must commit to just one craft.

Getting Started

The best way to begin is with a kit. You'll have everything you need without the overwhelm of choosing individual supplies, and the instructions will guide you through the process step by step.

For cross stitch, our beginner kits include fabric, thread, needle, and pattern, designed specifically for people who have never stitched before. Pair your kit with our YouTube tutorial videos for visual guidance on every technique.

Our crochet kits come with yarn, hook, clear written  instructions, and a video tutorial specific to your project. The Carlos the Caterpillar amigurumi kit makes a charming first project for complete beginners, while the granny squares bag kit offers a satisfying introduction to classic crochet techniques.

Whichever you choose, remember that every experienced crafter was once a beginner. Your first project won't be flawless, and that's perfectly fine. The joy is in the making, the learning, and the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.

Welcome to the world of stitching. We can't wait to see what you make.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is crochet or cross stitch easier for complete beginners?

Both crafts are beginner-friendly, but they suit different learning styles. Cross stitch has just one core technique (making X stitches) and follows very structured patterns, making it straightforward to pick up. Crochet requires learning a few different stitches and getting your tension consistent, but the basic motion becomes natural quickly. If you like following grids and counted patterns, try cross stitch. If you prefer working with yarn and want to see fabric build quickly, try crochet.

Which craft is cheaper to start?

Cross stitch has a lower entry cost. A beginner kit costs between £14 and £25, and an embroidery hoop (if not included) adds another £3 to £5. Crochet kits typically start around £49, though you get enough yarn for a complete project. Ongoing costs for both crafts are reasonable—embroidery floss costs under £1 per skein, while yarn ranges from £3 to £10 per ball depending on weight and fibre.

Can I do cross stitch if I have arthritis or hand problems?

Many people with hand conditions enjoy cross stitch successfully. Using a hoop or frame reduces the need to grip the fabric tightly, and the small, controlled movements can actually help maintain dexterity. Choose a larger fabric count (like 14-count Aida) so the holes are easier to see and work with. If you find traditional needles uncomfortable, ergonomic needle grippers are available. Listen to your body, take breaks, and stop if you experience pain.

How long does it take to complete a beginner project?

A small cross stitch piece (like a bookmark or a simple motif) takes most beginners between 2 and 5 hours spread across several sessions. A beginner crochet project like a simple scarf or amigurumi toy might take 4 to 8 hours. Both crafts reward consistent practice, and you'll get faster as your skills develop.

Can you cross stitch onto crochet?

Yes, though it requires some experimentation. The crochet fabric needs a fairly regular structure so you can count stitches consistently. Waste canvas (a temporary grid that you stitch through, then remove) can help with placement. This technique works well for adding names, initials, or small motifs to blankets, bags, and garments.

Which craft is more portable?

Both are portable, but project size matters. A small cross stitch fits easily in a handbag and can be worked on during commutes or appointments. Crochet projects can be as portable as a ball of yarn and hook in your pocket (for simple items) or as cumbersome as a half-finished blanket. For maximum portability, choose small projects regardless of which craft you pick.

Do I need to buy a kit, or can I start with supplies I have at home?

For complete beginners, a kit is the best choice. It includes everything you need and removes the guesswork of choosing compatible materials. You might have some supplies at home already, scissors, for example, but the core materials (appropriate fabric, floss, yarn, hooks, needles) need to be purpose-made for the craft. Starting with a kit ensures you're learning with proper tools, setting you up for success.

Happy stitching!

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