History of Crocheting

Crocheting is the process of knitting different pieces of material together in an interlocking motion to form a fabric, and derives from the French word crochet meaning hook. It can be used for therapy, creating sweaters, gloves and other kinds of clothing and textiles, or just simply making items for yourself and your loved ones for the holidays. It was initially developed during the Victorian era as a faster way to make lace instead of using needles and bobbins. (Ohrenstein 4).

Crocheting was introduced as a way to alleviate starvation caused by the Irish famine at the time. It became popular after crocheted laces were made for Queen Victoria, in which she wore in support of the suffering Irish. During that time, it was widely used in baby bonnets, nightgowns, handkerchiefs, cuffs, and collars and became popular amongst women that enjoyed indulging in handiwork  and making patterns as a hobby. (Ohrenstein 4).

In earlier days, yarn was used as the material for crocheting, but it was much lighter than the yarn used today. Earlier techniques were slip stitches that were made using tools such as bones, wood and animal horns (Blakley 5). Priority was placed more on making crocheted items for home décor and not fashion, like today. These techniques changed as a result of the need for more patterned laces (Ohrenstein 4). The craft remained domesticated until the 1960’s when young people rebelled against the establishment, and the art of crochet changed drastically (Blakley 5).
Today, easier materials are used for crocheting such as the crochet hook, instead of natural tools. Many people still indulge in the craft and it has definitely become a popular craft amongst all ages and in undomesticated settings.

Blakley Kinsler, Gwen. “Crochet Beginnings”.The Fine Art of Crochet: Innovative Works from 20 Contemporary Artists. Authorhouse. 5-12. 2013. Print.

Ohrenstein, Dora. “A bit of History”. Crochet Insider's Passion for Fashion. Leisure Arts Inc. 4. Print.