There are so many things I want to show you guys, but I feel like I need to start from the very beginning. I hope this post will be enlightening for both the novice and the expert at crochet.
Is This Knitting or Crochet?
Some people confuse crochet with knitting. As a crocheter, I get asked a lot, “Are you knitting?” And I try not to cringe. Although both crafts involve yarn and implements to make the yarn into a fabric, knitting involves two pointed needles while crochet is done with one hook. A knit fabric is produced by transferring stitches between the two needles as more stitches are made while traditional crochet fabricates one stitch at a time. Both methods of making a fabric from yarn have advantages and disadvantages, and many people prefer a certain craft over the other in the making of a specific project. Continue reading this post to learn more about how crochet works and what projects are ideally made from a crocheted fabric (Hint: it’s more than you think!).
Origins
The beginnings of crochet at a bit ambiguous; no one is quite sure how this craft started. We know that the modern term as we know it comes from both the Middle French word for hook, croc or croche, and the Old Norse word, krokr. Our current understanding of the craft is most closely related to “crochet lace” or “chain lace” in 16th century Europe. However, it is truly impossible to know exactly how far back crochet originates. The most likely ancestor to crochet is “tambouring,” an ancient Chinese form of embroidering chain stitches into tight fabric. In the early 1800s, crochet patterns started to be produced and published, making the craft spread quickly. Since then, crochet has been used as a form of entertainment, a means of survival, and even expression of patriotism.
(Read more information about the history of crochet here)
What is Crochet Now?
In our day, crochet is a lot more than lace or embroidery. The first thing a lot of people think of when they think crochet is the classic granny square. You might remember an afghan someone made for you. You might also have received a potholder or dishcloth from a neighbor, or a scarf from a friend. There is a versatility in crochet that allows one to make almost anything with just a few simple techniques. Yes, you can make blankets, scarves, and dishcloths, but you can also make sweaters, jewelry, and stuffed animals. There are a ton of different stitches you can learn, but with knowledge of just a few basic stitches you can shape and form anything. Crochet fabric is less elastic than knit, and is often thicker than its knit companion.
Crochet Hooks
A crochet hook is commonly found in craft stores and even craft sections of discount stores like Walmart and Target. These mass-produced hooks are often aluminum or plastic, with some wood, steel, and resin versions also common. Handmade hooks can also be purchased at a higher price point. Crochet hooks have a thinner neck and throat under the head where the hooked yarn sits when picked up. Some heads are pointed while others are more rounded. Basic hooks have a shaft and handle of the same thickness with a thumb rest in the upper middle portion of the hook. Some hooks have ergonomic handles designed to be more comfortable to hold and use. Generally, all hooks do the same thing, but the different shaping and material of the hook can influence how the yarn moves when crocheted.
Crochet hooks come in different sizes as well, from very small steel hooks for lace and huge plastic hooks for projects with larger yarn. Yarns have different weights, or thicknesses, and the different sizes of hooks often work better with certain weights of yarn. A pattern or a yarn label will tell you which hook size is typically used for that project or yarn, but you can always use a different combination of yarn and hook to create a different fabric. As a general rule, using a hook smaller than typically recommended for the yarn will produce a stiffer fabric while using a larger hook that typical will yield a looser fabric.
Yarn
Yarn can be made from any number of fibers, both natural and synthetic. Natural fibers include animal fibers like wool, alpaca, and angora rabbit fur, or plant fibers such as cotton, bamboo, or linen. These types of fibers need to handled with greater care than synthetic fibers because they are more susceptible to moisture and heat. I will say this: do NOT put wool in the washer and dryer unless the tag specifically says that fiber has been treated and it is safe to do so. Some people may also be allergic to natural fibers. Synthetic fibers are often made from plastic materials such as acrylics and nylon. They tend to be more durable in a washer/dryer cleaning routine and hypoallergenic. Yarn comes in numerous weights, and usually has the yarn weight on the label when you purchase it. The standardized yarn weights, as determined by the Craft Yarn Council (you didn’t know that was a thing, did you?) run from 1 to 7, with 1 being superfine yarn and 7 being jumbo yarn. The most common category of yarn weight is 4, or worsted weight or Aran weight. Logically, a thicker yarn will create a thicker fabric and a lighter yarn will create a thinner fabric. With thicker yarn, a project can be worked up fairly quickly while a thinner yarn may take a lot more time to make the same square footage. Yarn weight is important when considering the type of project you do; I once made a super bulky category 6 crochet sweater and it is so warm and thick that I can never wear it.
Zany Crochet
If you want to try something totally different in crochet, you can! Although there are typical hooks and yarns you can find in stores, you can be more original. You can use your finger in a hooked shape. Ever heard of arm knitting? You can crochet with your whole arm too. As far as yarn goes, you can use less traditional materials like hemp or macrame. You can crochet something even more unique with metal wire or fishing line. My favorite part about crochet is how versatile it truly is, even for someone who does not know very many techniques. At any given moment, you can change the shape of the fabric based on your next stitch. You can design your own pattern or make simple variations on another pattern.
I would love to share more information about the wonderful craft of crochet, from more historical references to interpreting yarn labels to stitch tutorials. Let me know in the comments below what you would love to learn about this craft, or share with me on Instagram @crowchetcreations or the hashtag #crowchetcreations.
XO, Emily
