1. Both start with the germ of an idea.

Knitter: Wouldn't it be great to have a one-button black cardi I could wear with anything?

Home remodeler: Wouldn't it be great to tear down this wall?

2. Both cost a lot of money.

K: It's only a $100.

HR: It's only a $1,000.

Both can be unforgiving.

K: Would you look at that, I forgot to take my gauge. (Proceeds to rip.)

HR: Would you look at that, the kitchen's on fire. (Deploys fire extinguisher.)

3. Both involve prodigious amounts of swearing.

K: F*ck me.

KR: F*ck everything.

4. Both require problem solving on the fly.

K: I'll just add an increase here and one there and no one will ever know.

HR: We'll just shim it up.

Both require vaccuming

K: 15 minutes to suck up extraneous bits of fluff and yarn.

HR: 5 hours to suck up extraneous toxic chemicals and dry wall dust.

Both can be extremely satisfying.

K: Look what I did in 70 hours.

HR: Look what I did in 70 hours.

Before: Tiny living room window

After: Really big new window in progress