Crocheting

Crocheting most likely originated in Europe in the 1800s. It probably developed as a off shoot from knitting. Both knitting and crocheting use one continuous piece of yarn, but knitting requires two straight needles, while crocheting uses one hook. Knitting itself developed in the middle east, and was introduced to Europe by Muslim servants and traders. There are claims that crocheting was also invented in Iran, Egypt, Turkey, India or other eastern areas, but items that appear to have been crocheted there before European crochet may have actually been made using other methods.

A person who knits or crochets essentially creates an extensive system of loops, and is basically always working with the middle of a piece of string or yarn. Sewing or weaving, by contrast, require the craftsman to use the end of a piece of thread or string. Working with the end of the filament necessitates passing it entirely through the fabric or warp threads in the case of weaving. This results in fabric that does not easily unravel. However if working with a long piece of yarn or thread, this may be time consuming. Working with the middle of the piece of yarn is faster, but if the end is pulled or the loops are dropped, the entire work could come unraveled. For example, when following modern crochet hat instructions, you have to be careful of dropping loops.

Before crocheting or knitting were developed people created garments using nalebinding, which resembled crochet very closely upon inspection. However, the method used to create nalebinding involves passing the yarn entirely through the material. Nalebinding was most likely done with shorter pieces of yarn, and garments were not made all in one peice.

Today, crocheting remains a popular hobby. From beginners crochet projects to complicated crocheted afghans, there's something for everyone.