Where does the word Crochet come from?
The word crochet comes from the old French word crochet, meaning 'little hook. "Which in turn is from croche.
Croche comes from the Germanic word croc. Both mean hook.
Crochetage means a single stitch used to join separate pieces of lace together. People used this term in French lace making in the 1600s.
When did Crochet first start?
Crochet was first called crochet in the mid-1800s.
In the early 1700s, where tambouring came to Europe after spreading through India, Persia, North America and Turkey, the method changed.
The background cloth used for tambouring was eliminated. The French called the new technique, "crochet in the air."
In the early 1800s, shepherd's cloth was produced, along with the shepherd's hook. It is thicker than a modern crochet hook but still with a hooked end.
In the mid-1800s, it became known as crochet or slip stitch crochet. In the 1960s, the granny square and crocheted home goods appeared and became more popular.
The earliest known published crochet pattern was in a Dutch magazine called Penélopé, in 1823. It listed instructions for five types of purses. Crochet is a wonderful hobby. You probably sit down to crochet whenever you have free time, but have you ever thought about how crochet originated?
If you are interested in knowing more about the history of crochet, you've come to the right place.
What does crochet mean? Where did crochet come from? Who invented it? Who was the first to create a crochet hook? I answer all these questions and more in this article. I will delve into the rich history of crochet. Which came first, knitting or crochet?
Knitting. Crochet came last in Nålebinding, knitting and crochet. The technique called Nålebinding came long before knitting or crochet. The history of crochet is much shorter than the other two, but just as fascinating.
Nålebinding is Danish, which means "to bind with a needle" or "to bind with a needle".' The women of the Nanti Tribe (an indigenous people of the Camisea region of Peru) still practice it.
The technique also remains popular in Scandinavia and the Balkans.
Nålebinding can be confused with knitting, but modern knitting began in the early 11th century, with ancient Egyptian socks.
After knitting, the word crochet first appeared in 1823 in the Dutch magazine Penélopé.
Who invented Crochet?
It is difficult to narrow down the origins and who invented it. The most reliable link to someone or people who developed crochet is through a unique Chinese embroidery technique or the French method 'tambouring.'
A French woman born in 1829 named Mademoiselle Riego de la Branchardiere wrote the first crochet pattern. She also wrote and published several books on crochet and knitting.
Although Mademoiselle Riego de la Branchardiere was French, she is credited for the invention of Irish crochet. It went on to become a prevalent method of crochet and remains so today. (See below).
A diary entry written by Elizabeth Grant, in The Memoirs of a Highland Lady (1797-1830), refers to shepherd's crochet.
It is the art of making garments made of cloth by making a rope/thread with a hook. More about shepherd's knitting further down in the post.
Irish crochet and the great Irish famine.
Due to terrible poverty, the Irish needed a way to earn money. Irish crochet lace was a great answer. Introduced to Ireland because of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1849), the Irish used it as a famine relief.
Developed in the mid-1800s in Ireland, Irish crochet or Irish crochet lace imitated Venetian knitted laces, which were expensive. Irish crochet lace is a style of Irish lace. The new method was a cheaper way to make money.
Teachers were taught the craft and began teaching young people to crochet in schools. They were sent out to show their knowledge to others. About 16,000 women were crocheting lace in 1851.
The process of making Irish crochet
Traditionally made with a fine steel hook and crochet linen thread, it is produced by crocheting separate lace motifs.
When you're done, you assemble them into a cloth that is the shape and outline of the design. Then, you baste it all together (sew with yarn for short tacking).
Next, you baste the motifs together with picots and chain stitches. Then you remove the basting stitches. Modern Irish crochet is with mercerized yarn instead of a crocheted linen yarn.
Irish lace
Irish lace is believed to be related to crochet.
Lady Arabella Denny, an Irish aristocrat, helped promote Irish lace with her extensive connections. Thanks to her and other upper-class Irish citizens, Irish lace made sales abroad.
Queen Victoria gives crochet a boost
Since Irish crochet was an inexpensive way to make lace, the higher class of society in early Victorian Britain considered it 'beneath them.'
To make crochet more fashionable, Queen Victoria bought Irish crochet lace from women in Ireland who were desperately trying to earn money.
She learned to knit and produced eight crocheted scarves. She gave each one to veterans of the South African war. Her efforts certainly gave crochet a boost in popularity!
Crochet History - A Timeline
1812 - A book called The Memoirs of a Highland Lady by Elizabeth Grant is published. In her writing, she talks about "shepherds knitting," essentially known today as slip stitch crochet. Shepherds knitting was and still is a version of crochet.
1823 - The first crochet pattern is published in a Dutch magazine called Penélopé, with instructions for coin purses.
1835 - The first patterns for crocheted purses were published in Germany and the Netherlands in many magazines. At this time, the patterns introduced two more stitches to create variance in the designs, single and double crochet.
1844 - The mercerizing process is invented. This is a process added to the manufacture of cotton to make it stronger and more durable. This means it becomes much easier to crochet with and becomes a more popular fiber of choice.
1846 - In the UK, magazines begin to publish patterns on how to make Spanish needle lace. The method of crocheting also changed. Instead of just working through the loop again, and the yarn cut at the end of each row. Sample working both, and the rows worked back and forth and then turned. The new method was similar to crochet today.
The late 1840s - As discussed in this post, the Irish crochet lace method of lace is produced. It becomes a way for impoverished people to earn money in The Great Irish Potato Famine.
The 1850s and 1860s - Due to the industrial revolution, things became mass produced and cheaper to buy. This includes crochet hooks. It also leads to many middle and upper class women having more free time. This means that more and more crochet is becoming popular as a hobby.
1867 - The very popular, and still running to this day, fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar is founded.
1910-1920 - Due to the Edwardian period in the UK, fashion changes and becomes more detailed. Popular crochet clothing styles change to reflect this.
World Wars - Governments encourage women to contribute to the war effort and crochet items for troops and soldiers in need.
After the wars - With restrictions on textiles lifted, crochet is rediscovered as a hobby. It becomes much more popular, as do other fiber arts.
1960s & 1970s - Possibly due to hippie and other alternative subcultures, crocheted items become very fashionable, particularly those made with granny squares.
1994 - Gwen Blakley Kinsler founded the Crochet Guild of America. Her goal was to encourage people from all over the United States to discover the enjoyable hobby of crochet.
2007 - Ravelry, the knitting, crochet and fiber arts forum, is created. Crochet and social media merge, becoming very popular and causing the creation of crochet blogs and communities.
The crochet hook
The modern crochet hook is closely related to a drum needle and the shepherd's hook.
When was the crochet hook invented?
Some crochet hooks have survived since the 19th century. In 1917 America, the Boye Needle Co. manufactured the first set of American crochet hooks. In 1923, the first aluminum hooks appeared.
What are crochet hooks made of?
Past crochet hooks have been made from many materials. Ivory, bone, porcupine quill and other unique materials.
Modern crochet hooks are made of bamboo, aluminum, plastic and glass. In addition, handcrafted hooks are made from materials such as particular types of wood.
Some also have grips to make it easier to crochet longer, and generally for comfort. When did Crochet Become Popular?
First in the late 1800s when Queen Victoria gave Irish crochet a boost during the great Irish famine.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the public decided that crochet was not just a way to make pretty decorations, but a way to make clothing and accessories.
Crochet flourished in the 1940s when it became a significant part of the British and American war effort.
The granny square and crochet household items are becoming increasingly fashionable today. What is crochet made of?
Crochet is made of yarn, which is knotted and stitched in unpredictable ways to create a crocheted piece of fabric.
The stitches or knots are made with a single hook. The yarn can be made from all sorts of different fibers, from acrylic to wool to bamboo.
What are the different types of crochet?
There are many types of crochet, but here is a list of some of the most common or popular ones.
Tunisia Crochet - One of the most well-known and popular subset types of crochet. It uses a very long crochet needle called a Tunisian crochet needle. It is very similar to knitting. You have many working loops at once instead of just one. You also work your loops on and off the hook. It produces a result that resembles knitting but is still unique.
Amigurumi Crochet - Created in Japan, this is an art form of creating stuffed creatures or toys with crochet or knitting. The word comes from two Japanese words. Ami means crochet or knitting, and nuigurumi means stuffed doll or toy.
Micro Crochet - Developed in modern times, it's true of the name when they say micro! Small, intricate designs, often lacy, uses very fine crochet thread, and the hooks used are some of the thinnest available. It is very delicate, time consuming and requires a steady hand and lots of patience, but the results are stunning.
Finger Crochet -The crochet form of finger crochet. You crochet, but instead of using a hook, you use your fingers. It boils down to a hand knitting method, but the knitting is done crochet stitch style. It's fun, but not suitable for complicated projects or projects that need tight tension.
Tapestry crochet - Essentially an umbrella term for almost crochet colorwork technique. Also known as intarsia crochet, and a variety of other different names.
There are many different ways and styles of doing colorwork, and each produces a different look. However, many other different colorwork methods do not fall into this category.
Aran Crochet - Aran in crochet means two different things. A crochet method and yarn weight. The technique is of Celtic origin and is made up of interlocking wires.
Also known as cabled or ribbed crochet. The resulting project is very bulky or chunky, making it perfect for winter garments and blankets.
Crochet Symbol - It can be any type or method of crochet. Still, instead of the written pattern, it is presented in a chart with symbols.
It is used to communicate complex or complicated designs, or sometimes so you don't have to understand a certain language to use it. Knowing how to read these is a useful skill.
Broomstick Crochet - Developed a long time ago and very popular during its time, it has since gained some popularity in modern times after having elapsed for many decades. It is a method of lace making, sometimes called broomstick lace or jiffy lace. It uses a regular crochet hook, but you hold the stitches on something like a broom handle.
Cro-hook Crochet - Using a single hook called a cro hook, it has a hook on both ends, creating double-sided crochet.
You can work stitches with either end, and there is no right or wrong side of the crochet piece. It creates a result similar to knitting and Tunisian crochet.
What is Tambouring?
Tambouring is French and is closely related to embroidery. The background fabric is stretched over, usually a wooden frame, and a needle with a hooked end is used to embroider on the background fabric.
Shepherd's weave generally requires a thicker, coarser yarn. By the 1800s, shepherd's weave was growing increasingly popular.
The following is a paragraph mentioning Shepherd's knitting from The Memoirs Of A Highland Lady by Elizabeth Grant written in 1812 and published in 1912:
What is Shepherd's Knitting?
Shepherd's knitting or slip stitch crochet came into being in the 1800s.
It uses a shepherd's hook, which has a strong tapered shape, and a hook on the thinner side. It looks like a shepherd's crook.
"Sometimes, when he was not well, he wore a plaid cloak and an evening cap, red or white, made by his hardworking wife in a stitch he called shepherd's knitting.
It was made with a little hook she fashioned for herself out of the tooth of an old tortoiseshell comb.
She used to go looping her home-spun wool as fast as her fingers could move, making not only caps, but drawers and vests for winter wear for the old husband she cared for."
There is evidence of shepherd's knitting was practiced in Estonia, the Balkans, Sweden, Iceland, Scotland and Romania.
There you have it, the history of crochet. Hopefully, this post satisfied your curiosity, and you discovered something interesting about this wonderful hobby.
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