Crochet is a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a textured fabric by means of a hooked needle, creating various garments or toys. Crochet uses a single hook to interlock loops of yarn, thread, or other strands of material directly onto the piece. It is this major difference that makes crochet theoretically easier than knitting. The word crochet means "hook" and is derived from the French word "crochet," which is a diminutive of "croche."

History of Crochet

Crochet's early history comes from Ireland. The first crochet pattern was written by Mademoiselle Riego de la Branchardiere, now known as the mother of crochet and credited as being the creator of the Irish crochet style. The first known instance of the word crochet being used was in an 1837 book called "The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book" for a purse pattern.

The precursor to crochet was called shepherd's knitting and was practiced in Denmark. Shepherds knitters used what is known as the slip stitch technique to make purses, small rugs, vests, and leggings and used a distinctive flat hook, which could be thinner or wider as a way to control the stitch tension.

There are a lot of different types of crochet stitches, but here are five of the most common ones:

Marguerite Stitch

The Marguerite stitch consists of loops to create a starburst like pattern. Each row consists of multiple stars lined up, with the points in each star varying with the number of loops done.

Cable Stitch

Traditionally a Celtic style of crochet, the cable stitch with its interlocking cables is frequently used to make chunky clothing such as hats, sweaters, scarves and blankets that are designed to keep you warm in the colder climate.

Bavarian Stitch

The Bavarian stitch is a crochet technique that creates a textured diamond-shaped design and is usually worked in the round, creating a square from the center outwards, but with a few adjustments, you can also apply this technique to work in rows as well.

Harlequin Stitch

A classic crochet stitch consisting of diamond shaped rows allowing for interesting colour changes throughout.

Broomstick Crochet

Broomstick crochet is a vintage crochet stitch sometimes referred to as jiffy lace. Broomstick crochet is made using a traditional crochet hook; however, the stitches are worked around something long and wide, like a broomstick handle. Modern crochet uses larger hooks or a thick wooden dowel instead of a broomstick.