History of crochet 1500 BC – 1820

Little is known of the early history of crochet. It seems likely that the earliest hook was made with fingers, rather than the hooks used today. There are theories that crochet could have existed as early as 1500 B.C. C., as part of the work of the nuns, which included needle lace and bobbin lace.

There are three main theories about the origin of the crochet. Some believe that it originated in Arabia and spread east to Tibet and then west to Spain, eventually following Arab trade routes to other Mediterranean countries. Alternatively, it is believed to have originated in South America, where a primitive tribe used crocheted ornaments in puberty rites. Another alternative stems from the fact that early examples of crocheted dolls were known in China.

However, there is no strong evidence of the age of crochet or where it originated from. Evidence of its appearance in the 16th century is scant and highly disputed. There are references to a type of “chained trimmings” made around 1580. However, this seems to have been a type of cord, sewn into the fabric as an ornamental braid.

During the Renaissance, women wove several strands of thread into fabrics similar to lace.

The earliest evidence of crochet, as we know it, is commonly first seen in the second half of the 18th century. Crochet may have developed from Chinese needlework, an ancient form of embroidery known from Turkey, India, Persia, and North Africa, which reached Europe in the 18th century and was known as drumming. The main theory behind the origin of the crochet seems to be that it began when it was realized that the chains worked in a pattern would be joined without a background fabric. In the late 18th century, the drum evolved into what the French called air crochet, when the background fabric was discarded and the stitch worked itself. Drum hooks were as fine as sewing needles, so the work had to be done with very fine thread.

Crochet began to emerge in Europe in the early 19th century, spurred on by Mlle Riego de la Branchardiere, known for her ability to take needlepoint and bobbin lace designs and turn them into crochet patterns that could be duplicated. She published numerous patterns and also claimed to have invented the lace-like crochet, today called Irish crochet.

A type of lace called cheyne lace was made on a hook from the late 18th century and a primitive form of crochet called pjonting can be found around 1820.

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