For most adult beginners, crochet is the easier first craft: one hook, one live loop, and mistakes that unravel back to a single stitch. Choose knitting first if you mainly want soft, drapey fabric for things you wear.
What is the real difference between crochet and knitting?
Crochet uses a single hook and builds fabric one stitch at a time. At any moment only one loop sits on the hook, and every stitch is finished before the next begins. Knitting uses two needles and holds a whole row of live stitches at once, passing them from one needle to the other as you work. That single difference explains most of what follows. Crochet fabric tends to be thicker and firmer, with more texture. Knitted fabric is thinner, stretchier and drapes, which is why most sweaters and socks are knitted.
Which one is easier to learn?
Crochet usually feels easier in the first week. You only manage one tool, and there is only one loop to keep track of. If you make a mistake, you pull the hook out and the work unravels to the last correct stitch with nothing to lose. In knitting, a dropped stitch can run down several rows, and putting it back needs a little practice. Knitting has fewer basic stitches to learn, though: knit and purl cover a great many patterns. Crochet has more stitch names to learn, but each one is a small step from the last.
Which craft suits the projects you want to make?
Think about the first three things you would like to make. Crochet is the natural choice for small stuffed animals, often called amigurumi, as well as baskets, bags, coasters, granny squares and textured blankets. It shapes three-dimensional forms easily. Knitting suits fabric that needs to drape and stretch, such as scarves, hats and garments. Both work well for blankets and dishcloths. If your list is mostly toys and home pieces, start with crochet. If it is mostly things to wear, start with knitting.
How long does it take to learn the basics?
Most adults can learn a starting chain or cast on and one basic stitch in a single evening, especially with a video and patient hands. A small first project, such as a coaster or a short practice square, usually takes a few evenings. Even tension, where every stitch is the same size, takes longer and comes with practice rather than effort. Expect the first piece to look a little uneven. That is normal, and it is the clearest sign that you are learning.
What should you buy for your first project?
Keep the first purchase small. A beginner kit for one small project is the simplest start, because the pattern and the yarn are chosen to work together. If you prefer to gather your own supplies, choose a smooth, light-colored, medium weight yarn and the hook or needle size printed on its label. Add a pair of small scissors and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. Avoid fuzzy, very dark or novelty yarns at first, since they make stitches hard to see.
Can you learn both?
Yes, and many people do. The skills overlap: reading a pattern, holding yarn with steady tension and counting stitches all carry from one craft to the other. A good path is to finish two or three small projects in one craft first, then try the other once your hands are used to working with yarn. If neither appeals right now, embroidery is another gentle start, with a needle, thread and a hoop and no tension to manage at all.