The History of Crochet Needles
The name crochet is derived from the French word for hook. The crochet needle, or hook, for which the skill is named, is the only tool necessary for craftsmen to create intricate textile pieces. The first documented uses of crochet did not surface until the 1800s, and the skill has evolved and expanded since its beginning. As the skills and textiles created by crochet have changed and expanded, so have the needles used to create it. Today, several distinct types of needles exist, each used to perform a specific and specialized task.
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Origin
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The art of crochet originated with tamboring. Tambor was a form of needle work in which a very fine sewing needle with a hook on the end was pushed through the fabric of a garment, and a trim pattern was created of loops pulled up on the needle and worked off. The needles were just like sewing needles in size and material, but had a small hook on the end with which to manipulate the loops of fine thread.
Leisure Crafting
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In the 1800s, when crochet enjoyed its official beginnings, it was considered a leisure craft, which was only produced by the affluent. Basic hooks were made of ivory, brass, wood and bone, and were often ornately carved with decorative handles. More ornate hooks were often given as wedding gifts, and were made of made of mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, abalone, horn, agate or sterling silver. These more expensive hooks were equally decorative, with artistically designed handles, and in some cases were inlaid with precious gems.
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Industrial Use
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When the potato famine struck Ireland, crochet was, for the first time, used as a means of financial support. Irish women began making crocheted lace, now known as "Irish Lace," and selling it to rich women in order to support their families. They used very crude hooks made of bent wire. The wire was, in some cases, stabbed into a piece of cork, which served as a handle.
Interchangable Sets
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In the early 1900s, crochet had progressed as a craft, and multiple thread weights were used to create different styles or looks of crocheted products. Hook manufacturers responded to this development by creating interchangeable hook sets. Hooks, made of steel, were made in a variety of sizes with threaded ends. These ends all screwed into a single handle. The handles were made from a variety of materials; the more elaborate the handle design and the more ornate the material it was constructed from, the more expensive the set of hooks.
Types
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The Boye needle company produced its first full set of needles, made of steel and numbered 1 to 14, in 1917. The needles could be purchased as a full set or individually and cost a nickel apiece. In the early to mid 20th century it became popular to use larger hooks to make garments and blankets out of heavy woolen yarn. A second set of larger hooks, made of aluminum, were created for this purpose and labeled with letters. The first set of aluminum hooks was made in 1923. The first specialized hooks were made for hairpin lace, and hit the market for the first time in 1935. Today, in addition to thread hooks and yarn hooks, there are a number of specialized hooks on the market. These hooks include afghan hooks, double ended hooks, travel hooks, crochet forks, circular crochet needles and cro-tat hooks.
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References
- Photo Credit crochet serviettes image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
