History of Crochet
As one of the most widely practiced pastimes, crochet has a history as elaborate as the patterns of the beautiful afghans and baby afghans it produces. Though there are no exact dates on the beginnings of this art, it has been passed down through generations creating an entire legacy of crocheted afghans, custom afghan blankets, afghan throws, clothing, accessories and more. With every crocheted afghan spread across a bed and every child tucked in at night with a crochet baby afghan, there is a legacy of patience, hard work and history.
Some researchers believe that crochet originated in China as a type of needlework called “tambouring.” Though this was not used to create custom afghan blankets and afghan throws, as crochet is used today, its interlocking weaving of yarn could possibly have led the way for modern crochet. Instead of a hook, this craft used a thin needle that produced a tight weave. This may have been the origin of afghans, with the delicate fabric leading the way for women to create baby afghans to warm their children
Other research suggestions that crochet began in the 16 th century in England and France. At that time crochet was not used to make the crocheted afghans and afghan throws that we use, but rather to make chains of delicate lace. Instead of the thicker yarn used to make today's afghans, thinner homespun thread was used to make the intricate patterns that were highly prized.
Even though these precursors to crochet afghans and afghan throws were thought to begin in these early years, the first tangible evidence of modern crochet was not found until the 19 th century. This pre-dated the crochet hook and creating a crochet afghan or afghan throw at that time was done entirely by hand, using fingers to loop the thread together. It took many hours and nimble fingers to make a crocheted afghan without the use of a hook.
Once crochet was learned to make beautiful baby afghans and custom afghan blankets, it eventually became a common hobby throughout the world, eventually spreading to North America. Sometime later, it was discovered that making a crocheted afghan was easier with the use of a small hook. Now made of steel, plastic or aluminum, the hooks were originally made of ivory, wood or bone. Modern crochet hooks also come in a variety of sizes to achieve different types of patterns often seen in crochet afghans. With these small hooks, making a custom afghan blanket is faster, easier and more precise.
As an alternative to knitting, this entertaining craft allowed people to create custom afghan blankets for everything from putting on their bed to soft baby afghans to give as gifts for newborns. The popularity grew even more with the availability of printed material, which allowed people access to patterns for their own custom afghan blanket or afghan throw. Magazines and books also provided instructions, therefore allowing people without access to a teacher to learn to make their own crocheted afghans.
Crochet continued to rise in popularity until World War II. With resources and manpower needed for the war effort, yarn and printed material came in short supply. Women who worked in their home were no longer making crochet baby afghans and keeping house, but were being recruited to factories. During those years of hard work, it was hard to find the time to make afghans and baby afghans. As the war ended and the nation recovered, but the demand for custom afghan blankets remained low.
It was not until the 1970's that crochet regained it's popularity. The new relaxed styles of clothing made crocheted vests, sweaters and accessories extremely popular. Both men and women were learning to make everything from a crochet baby afghans and custom afghan blankets to belts and scarves. New, vibrant colors of yarn were now available and magazines on how to crochet were prolific. With this new era, crochet was more than just a way to make baby afghans and afghans bedspreads, it was a way for people to express themselves with new colors, patterns and designs.
At that time, interest in psychology was just beginning to peak and it was found that making crocheted afghans and crochet baby afghans, like many hobbies, helped relieve stress. Not only could people created a crocheted afghan for every room of their house, but they could relax while doing it. Just an afternoon of making a crochet baby afghan could relieve the tensions of an entire week with a beautiful end result.
Crocheting afghans is relatively simple to learn with more complex styles and patterns that can be picked up with practice. It can be self taught or learned at classes and many craft stores offer instruction for both beginners and the advanced. These books and magazines feature ideas for new crochet afghans patterns and delicate crochet baby afghans.
The basic skill involves holding the hook in one hand while manipulating the yarn with the other. This creates interlocking loops of yarn that make a chain. The chain is then looped back around, using yarn from the first chain to make a second chain and then a third until the specific design is created for baby afghans, clothing, or even teddy bears. There are a variety of stitches for afghans, but the most common are the single crochet, double crochet, or triple crochet. The intricate patterns achieved in crochet afghans and afghan throws stems from varying the type of stitch while working. The greater the variety of stitches in crochet afghans, the more detailed and interesting the pattern.
The simplest articles to weave are afghans and scarves. To make a crocheted afghan or scarf, a beginner could use a single thread color and stitch to practice their craft. Once comfortable with crochet, a novice could easily make a crochet baby afghan or afghan throw in just a few hours.
The only items needed to create afghans, baby afghans, custom afghan blankets or any crocheted craft are yarn and a hook, making it a craft easily done anywhere. With the ease of learning and the popularity of crochet afghans and baby afghans as homemade gifts, crochet will most likely be passed down through generations yet to come. For every crochet baby afghan that is made, the art will be taught to another and it will continue to evolve for others to learn, and to love.
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