The History and Mystery of the origins of crochet

Although no one is certain where crochet got it’s start,there are clues in archeological findings and historical references.
First, the word “crochet” is derived from the middle French word “croc” or “croche” meaning “hook” or “crooked”. The earliest solid evidence of what we understand as the fiber art crochet can be traced to 16th century nuns in Europe. This art form was refered to in France as “crochet lace” and in England”chain lace”.There are many sources that state that as far back as the 1500’s, crochet in Italy was known as “nun’s work” or “nun’s lace” where it was created by the sisters for church textiles.
However,interestingly research does demonstrate that the ancient Chinese and Persian form of embroidery called “tambour” (which in French means”drum”) probably is the most direct “parent” of crochet. Tambouring reached Europe in the 1700’s and is a technique in which a background fabric is held taut on a frame. This involved an underneath thread, the working stitch which was then pulled up through the fabric on a hook and drawn into another loop of the working thread that would create a chain stitch. By the completion of the 18th century,these very fine,thin hooks evolved into what the French called “crochet in the air”, wherein the background fabric was discarded and the stitch was worked on it’s own. And then evolved the separation of the classes where the well-to-do would work needlpoint,crochet and other such delicacies, as they has the time and the materials were expensive.
Today crochet continues to evolve although for awhile it was becoming a “lost art”, and remains a versatile art form that is both useful and ornamental with subspecialties forming like: broomstick lace, crochetknit, or crochnit,freeform,bead crochet and much more..More on these subspecialties another time.
Sources for this work come from “A Living Mystery the International Art and istory of Crochet” by Annie Loiuse Potter, and “Crochet History and Technique” by Lis Paludan.