A Very Serious (Not at All Serious) History of Crochet

Crochet has long been misunderstood.

Mostly because it doesn’t have a single, clean origin story like knitting does. Knitting has receipts. Crochet has vibes.

Ask ten historians where crochet came from and you’ll get twelve answers, three arguments, and one person insisting it was definitely invented by sailors with too much time and not enough supervision.

But one thing is clear: crochet has been around just long enough to be unfairly labeled “old-fashioned,” while quietly surviving every trend cycle, economic collapse, and questionable home décor era known to humanity.

Crochet: Born of Necessity, Pettiness, or Boredom (Historians Unsure)

Crochet as we know it likely emerged in Europe in the 19th century, though versions of looped-yarn magic existed much earlier across cultures. Some say it evolved from lace-making. Others say it was a faster, cheaper way to imitate lace when people wanted fancy things but had rent to pay.

So yes, crochet may have been born from:

• Economic hardship

• Class rebellion

• Or someone saying, “I can do that, but cheaper.”

Honestly? Iconic.

The Irish Famine Era: Crochet Gets Dark (But Important)

During the Irish Potato Famine (1840s), crochet became a literal lifeline. Irish women created intricate lace to sell abroad, feeding families with nothing but thread, hooks, and pure rage against circumstance.

This is when crochet said:

“I am not a hobby. I am survival.”

And frankly, it’s been carrying that energy ever since.

Victorian Times: Crochet Learns Manners (Briefly)

The Victorians loved crochet. LOVED it. Doilies. Lace collars. Table covers for tables that already had table covers.

Crochet was expected to be:

• Delicate

• Decorative

• Proper

It complied… outwardly.

But underneath? Still rebellious. Still practical. Still absolutely willing to make a bedspread heavy enough to qualify as light armor.

The 1970s: Crochet Goes Completely Off the Rails

Enter the granny square era.

Crochet exploded into color, chaos, and questionable fashion choices. Vests. Bell bottoms. Afghans that could double as visual tests for migraines.

Was it beautiful? Sometimes.
Was it confident? Always.
Was it apologizing? Absolutely not.

Crochet in the ’70s said:

“I will use every scrap of yarn I own, and I will make it your problem.”

Respect.

The Modern Era: Crochet Refuses to Die (Again)

Every few years, someone declares crochet “back.”

It never left.

It just:

• Waited quietly

• Judged trends

• And sharpened its hooks

Now crochet lives everywhere:

• High fashion runways

• Political protest art

• Therapy offices

• TikTok rage spirals at 2 a.m.

It’s soft and feral. Cozy and confrontational. A fiber art that looks harmless until you realize the person holding the hook could absolutely stab you with it if provoked.

Crochet Today: Still Unbothered, Still Underrated

Crochet has survived:

• Industrialization

• Fast fashion

• AI-generated “patterns” (we’re not okay)

• And people saying, “Oh, my grandma did that.”

Yes.
And your grandma was a badass.

Crochet is slow. It’s intentional. It requires patience, counting, and the ability to unravel hours of work without screaming (or while screaming…both valid).

It teaches resilience. And math. And humility.

Mostly humility.

In Conclusion: Crochet Will Outlive Us All

Empires fall. Trends fade. Yarn gets discontinued (RIP forever).

But crochet?
Crochet remains.

Waiting.
Looping.
Judging.

And honestly? That’s the kind of legacy I want.