History of Crochet As more as you read and as more you try to find out about crochet and it’s origin as more confusing it becomes. Even it is said, that crochet cause of it’s simplicity must be very old, going back to times before Christ, written evidence is found the first time in the early 1800’s. Theories say, that crochet evolved from needlecrafts in Arabia, South America or China, but there is no conclusive evidence of crocheting being performed before it became popular in Europe around 1800. The first published crochet patterns have been found in a Dutch magazine in the early 1820’s. Some writings pointing at French nuns introducing crochet to Ireland, others say it where four Irish nuns trained in France. Various other writings and facts are pointing towards Ireland as one of the main developers of crochet. Many Irish crochet designs from the 19th century are very similar to Flemish needle lace designs from the 17th century. However, it is said, that Irish woman, even young girls stayed home to crochet to make money out of a growing demand from the emerging middle class and Irish crochet was shipped as far as America cause of it’s beauty. Another theory is saying, crochet and crocheted items where only for wealthy people to show their class. The middle class and the poor people should stay with knitting. Our days hand crafts becoming quite costly and lot of designs being produced by machines. It also looks like, that in our fast moving industrial world is no more space for beauty. I start realizing cause it get’s more and more difficult to find steady suppliers for fine cotton thread which is being used in filet crochetings.   Here you go back to my homepage