National Crochet Month is celebrated in March every year. This is a month to interlock loops of yarn or wool and make beautiful pieces to use yourself or give to friends and family members. Crocheting is often confused with knitting, but the differences between the two crafts are quite clear. In crocheting, you complete every stitch before moving on to the next one.
The earliest remains of knitted clothing date back to the 11th century A.D., but it is thought that the skill of making clothes out of cotton and yarn dates back to the earliest of times. The first details of crocheting emerged in the Dutch magazine “Penelope” in 1823, with an exhibit of then-stylish purses crocheted with silk thread. By the 1840s, many books were discussing crochet. The Scottish were among the first in the English Isles to adopt this new method of knitting, and soon local people’s preference changed from conventional stitching to crocheting.
Crochet needles were given the name ‘shepherds’ hooks’ and different materials — such as steel, ivory, and boxwood — were used to make them. Today’s crochet hooks are generally either aluminium or plastic, and you can get a wide variety of styles. Acrylic yarn is hard-wearing and easy care for garments, but nothing beats pure wool for feel and look, as long as you don’t shrink it in the wash!
The big yarn manufacturers often have free patterns to download, so take a look at some of these links and make yourself something nice.
What Kate Made Today 