A Brief History of Crochet as a Textile-Making Technique

From survival skill to artistic expression, the story of a craft shaped by time, resistance, and creativity.

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When reading or hearing this title, it is possible that an image comes to your mind: a sweet grandma sitting comfortably in her rocking chair, while her skillful hands swiftly crochet sweaters, hats, socks, and toys.

 You would likely see two pointing needles instead of a hook in your mind’s eye. So let me introduce you to crochet—another textile creation technique that deserves a space in your imagination. The star of this article! 

Crochet is a method of textile creation where the crafter uses a hook made of various materials —such as steel, plastic, or wood —depending on the fiber used. The technique involves forming a series of interconnected knots.

You can think of it as crafting chains of yarn that, depending on their configuration, can alter the fabric’s strength, density, and design.

It’s believed that crochet may have evolved from tambour embroidery or Aari embroidery, which is popular in the Middle East, India, and Asia. These techniques use a hook and luxurious fibers—often threads covered in gold or silk—along with a frame and base fabric to create three-dimensional embroidery by passing the hook through the stretched fabric.

Early 19th-century French texts suggest this connection between Aari embroidery and crochet, referring to the modern crochet technique as “hook in the air”

The exact origins of crochet remain unknown. However, references to it appear in English literature as early as the 1800s. The earliest known crochet pattern dates back to 1836 and includes detailed instructions on how to hold the hook, basic stitches, and their applications.

In Europe, crochet became a means of survival for many families during severe economic crises. Its low material cost, the ability to create delicate and intricate designs, the variety of fibers, and the durability of the final products made crochet a highly sought-after art form. Nobles desired it, while lower-income communities produced it through cooperatives.

This technique became so widespread in countries like Ireland that, during the Victorian era in Europe, it became known as “Irish lace.” Legend has it that this cottage industry helped many Irish families migrate from Europe to North America.

With the rise of the Industrial Revolution, textiles became an industry. Factories replaced small cooperatives of weavers and crocheters with harsh conditions and massive machinery. While these machines couldn’t replicate crochet, they could mass-produce knitted, woven, and bobbin lace fabrics in less time.

Because crochet could not be mechanized, the industry deemed it dispensable. During the era of “everything fast,” crochet became a contemplative pastime, losing its status as a “useful” craft and falling out of favor as a sustainable activity within the capitalist-industrial system.

Crochet experienced a revival in North America during the 1960s and 70s, aligning with the slow-living mindset, peace movements, hippie culture, and rejection of industrialism.

Since then, it has made several comebacks thanks to using acrylic fibers and modernized tools (steel or plastic hooks, which in some cases outperform wooden ones due to their ergonomic and lightweight designs). Notable trends include the rise of “granny square” blankets and mesh-style crochet: openwork patterns resembling nets, still used today in fashion and accessories.

Over time, many textile artists from the 60s, 70s, and 80s entered the new millennium as older adults. These women continued creating baby clothes, blankets, and toys for their grandchildren, fueling the myth of crochet as a “grandma’s hobby.”

Interestingly, the knowledge of these generations seems to have skipped over their children. Today, it’s millennials and zillennials (born between 1981 and 2002) who are reviving this art form under the banners of DIY (Do It Yourself), sustainable fashion, and as a protest against industrialization and the environmental and social effects of fast fashion.

In recent years, crochet has sparked a full-blown artistic revolution. Through knots and lots of patience, incredibly talented crafters are designing and bringing to life genuine sculptures.

On social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky, and X, creations are being shared from all over the world, each post fueling greater interest in textile art and crochet techniques.

One noteworthy artist for her creativity and skill is the person behind @tataykatelyn on Instagram. She creates everything from bento box-style headphone cases to full suits of armor—with helmets!—using nothing but yarn and a crochet hook.

Now that you know all this, you might be wondering how to get started in the world of crochet. Fortunately, there are endless resources available today!!

Here are a few free and paid recommendations to help you learn crochet from anywhere:

In Spanish, I recommend the Liliana Milka YouTube channel. She has a playlist titled Curso Crochet para Principiantes with 37 videos. It covers everything from making a chain stitch and a magic ring to creating full garments like winter hats.

If you have a bit of a budget, Domestika’s courses are absolutely worth it. The platform focuses on project-based learning, helping you build a strong foundation in the art of crochet. The prices are affordable, and there’s an active community perfect for solving doubts and digging deeper into the craft.

As a personal recommendation, my favorite so far is Estefa González’s course: Top down, prendas a crochet de una sola pieza. It’s perfect if you want to enter the world of slow fashion or create garments for children.

Another bonus point for Domestika courses is their subtitles for various languages! The language would not be a barrier to learn your craft!! 

With these resources, you’re more than ready to begin your journey into the art of crochet.
Chances are, you’ll get hooked and dive headfirst—no turning back—into this wonderful world.

Let yourself be amazed at every step by all the things you can create—one knot at a time!

Written with love by Sol M. Castillo
May 2025