crochet patterns

There are 3 theories as to where it originated:

1) In Arabia, then spread to Tibet and Spain and followed the Arab trade routes to other Mediterranean countries.

2) In South America among a primitive tribe which used crochet adornments in rites of puberty.

3) In China early examples of crochet were known of dolls worked in crochet.

There is no evidence to back these theories, or any other theories as to when crochet originated. Some say it existed in the 1500's known as nun's work or nun's lace, and included needle point lace and bobbin lace for Catholic churches. Others believe it dates back to Before Christ.

There is another theory that lace from Egyptian tombs were crocheted by twisting pieces of cotton between the fingers and making the loops by hand. Thread from Egyptian tombs is also thought to be similar to crochet.

However the earliest evidence of crochet as we know it today goes back no further than the 1800's when it became popular in Europe. "Shepherd's Knitting" from "The Memoirs of a Highland Lady," by Elizabeth Grant in 1812 is the earliest written reference to crochet. The first patterns were published in 1824.

In France it was known as "Crochet Lace," and in England it was "Chain Lace." Today the French, Belgians, Italians, and Spanish-speaking people call it crochet. In Holland they call it haken, in Denmark its haekling, in Norway its called hekling and in Sweden it's called virkning. Crochet comes from the word croc, or croche, the Middle French word for hook. The Old Norse word for hook is krokr.

In the early cultures they crocheted with a bent forefinger, instead of using a hook. The early hooks ranged from bent needles in a cork handle to beautiful crafted silver, brass, steel, ivory and bone hooks with a variety of handles.

At one point in time crochet was considered only for the wealthy; to make beautiful home décor and dress. The poor were expected to knit the basic needs such as socks and simple clothing. The wealthy did not want them to experiment with crochet because they feared the poor would fall behind in their work when working for the wealthy.

In the 1800's in Britain, America and France, crochet was used as a less costly substitute for other lace.

Crochet remained popular through the mid 1970, then began to decline, but has made its way back into popularity in the 21th century.

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