Lavish crochet emerged alongside other forms of elaborateneedlework in the nineteenth century. When printed materialsbegan to be mass-produced in the mid-nineteenth century, thepopularity of crochet increased vastly.

Patterns for silk thread purses were the first to have beenpublished, from about 1824 in Holland. Prior to this date,crochet was passed to future generations without writtenpatterns but rather duplicated from small crocheted samples.

Victorian crochet hooks were made of materials such as ivory,brass, various woods, and other bone material. They were oftenornately carved, the most impressive often being given aswedding gifts. Crocheted bags, clothing and décor were allpopular. Crochet was considered a suitable activity for wealthywomen, along with other forms of needlework. Bead crochet beganto appear on the market in the 1830s. Knitting with beads wasalready in fashion at this time.

Crochet became a cottage industry in Ireland with a lace calledIrish crochet or guipure lace. In the mid-nineteenth century, itbecame a large industry owing to a need for people to supplementtheir income due to the great potato famine of that time. It isstill a cottage industry in some countries such as India,Greece, Italy, and some Asian countries.

Crochet samplers dating from the nineteenth century are shown inmany museums. A variety of crochet and knitting books werepublished from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1920s.Filet crochet became very popular from the 1850s.

Crochet continued to be popular into the early twentiethcentury. The 1920s brought a flood of bead crocheted bags withpiles of bead loops to complete the flapper look. From 1937through 1940's there were crochet contests for workmanshipdesign and speed. The onset of World War II saw the craft halt,owing to shortages in available materials. Bead crochet bagswere popular throughout the 1950's. Crochet became an acceptedart form in the 1960s and more experimentation in textile arttook place including international fiber shows. Crochet began toregain its popularity in the 1970s, when it became popular towear crocheted items.

The 1980s and 1990s brought a renaissance of bead and threadcrochet. In the early 1990s bead knitted bags gained popularity,which increased the demand for bead crocheted bags.

In 1994 thirty four million American women crocheted or knitted,in 2002 this figure had increased to thirty eight million.

Crochet today is mainly created by using soft yarns to producegarments and blankets. Although the crochet stitch can be madeby machine, it continues to be a home craft.

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About the author:Providing Tips and Help with Crochet for the beginner and moreexperienced. The Earliest info on Crochet:http://www.officialguidetocrochet.com/crochet-history-part1.html

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