Historical Tapestry Crochet

Tapestry crochet combines the finesse of tapestry with the joy of crochet to achieve stunning results

Tapestry crochet is an ancient art form that allows you to put any image you want into woven material for any number of purposes. It uses a single stitch, a single hook and any type of yarn available, making it easily transportable and widely accessible. According to Carol Ventura, the leading expert on pattern crochet, this technique has been used by people throughout Northern Europe, West Africa, the Middle East and in Guatemala as a means of decoration, affiliation and commemoration.

What is Tapestry Crochet?

Tapestry crochet can be used for a variety of purposes - from everyday tools such as bags and hats to more decorative or meaningful items like religious wall hangings.

With tapestry crochet, the artist can weave any design she wants into a piece of fabric for whatever purpose desired. Traditional uses of this art form include hats, bags of various shapes and sizes, gloves and clothing. This is done using a single crochet stitch and two or more yarn colors. Each stitch is made using a single color while the other color is carried along the back of the work within the stitches made.

Ancient History

The art of tapestry crochet can be traced back thousands of years in the form of looping. This involved pulling the entire length of yarn needed for a project through each stitch as it was made to create a repetitive pattern. Tapestry crochet enables the artist to carry the yarn through the project within each stitch, making it both easier and more available for complicated designs with greater color variety. As many as six different colors can be carried.

Northern Europe

The designs of Northern Europe are traditionally more focused on decoration over meaning

In Northern Europe, the technique is traditionally used to make bags and sweaters. These designs are usually seen in two colors, most often blue and white or red and white. They typically feature a motif, such as a basic shape or the outline of an animal, surrounded by a pattern--stripes, checks, zigzags, triangles. In most cases, tapestry crochet in these countries is used primarily as a means of decoration.

West Africa and the Middle East

Patterns in the Middle East and West Africa can designate tribal or religious affiliation

In the Middle East and West Africa, tapestry crochet traditionally has a deeper meaning. Here, it is mostly used to create hats and bags, but the designs used have greater significance and much wider color variety. Colors and patterns used can help the wearer to identify the individual's family, tribal or religious affiliations or commemorate a special event. While animals may be incorporated into these designs, it is more common to see patterns and even words.

Guatamala

Guatamalan people will often sell their tapestry crochet creations as a primary source of income

According to Ventura, Guatemalans may have first learned about tapestry crochet from Spanish explorers; however, the art has long been a part of the culture. Like the West Africans and Middle Easterners, Guatemalan designs typically have regional and cultural significance, but they incorporate more animal imagery. Also like West Africa and the Middle East, modern day people in this region create tapestry crocheted products for sale on the retail market.

References

• "Tapestry Crochet": Carol Ventura Teaches Tapestry Crochet

Resources

• "Tapestry Crochet": Carol Ventura Teaches Tapestry Crochet