What were you doing at 18? Finishing up high school, starting college, getting your first full time job, hanging out at the mall? If you are anything like me (Theresa), you were more concerned with your education, social life and future than with crochet or the history of crochet.
Now that I’m
older, if not wiser, I find I am much more interested in exploring the history
of the things I love. At the top of that
list is crochet. If you’re interested
in learning more about the history of crochet, I’ve included just a few of my
favorite resources a the end of the blog.
Crochet Twin
Cities welcomes and celebrates crocheters of all shapes, sizes, genders,
colors, and ages. We believe that
crochet is for everyone. That said, the
history of crochet often gives us a glimpse into the history of women, not found
in other areas of historical research.
Our member,
Barb Skoglund, wrote the following blog post to share some of her knowledge of
crochet history. It starts with the “Mother
of Modern Crochet”, Mademoiselle Eleonore Riego de la Branchardiere.
At the age of
18, Mlle. Riego was busy publishing her first book, “Knitting, Crochet, and
Netting.” Published in 1846, it was the first book of its kind. Mlle. Riego was
the English daughter of an Irish mother and French-Spanish aristocratic father.
The title page of her first book refers to her as a “Teacher of Fancy Works”
and the preface includes the offer that, “Should any further instructions be required,
she will wait upon and Lady, who will apply” at the publisher’s address.
Mlle. Riego’s
impact on multiple crafts is astounding. She crocheted, knitted, tatted and
published 72 books, including a 17-book series on crochet. She is credited with
inventing Irish Crochet, although like most inventors she may have given
herself the title. Her techniques allowed crocheters to make items that looked
like traditional handmade Venetian lace, but were accomplished much easier,
faster, cheaper and with just a hook.
During the
great Irish famine, caused by crop failures, some families turned to Irish
Crochet to earn money. Once Queen Victoria began wearing the beautiful crochet
lace work from Ireland, it became a fashion trend among the poor and rich
alike. Before that, crochet was seen as something middle class people wore.
Once the Queen started a trend, the wealthy aristocracy began buying and
wearing it. Queen Victoria even learned to crochet herself. Many historians
claim that the Irish crochet lace cottage industry saved Ireland. Irish crochet
lace was the original freeform crochet. Crochet artists make separate motifs
that are joined together with chain stitches. That first book not only
described the different stitches, but included patterns for separate shapes,
fringes, cuffs, collars, pillows, tablecloths, hats, bell pulls, shawls, shoes,
beaded bags and even cigar cases. While not as popular as it once was, you can
still glimpse Irish crochet lace wedding dresses and formal gowns and many an
end table is covered with an Irish crochet doily, (spelled D’Oyleys in Mlle. Riego’s
time.)
Are you
interested in giving Irish crochet a try? Some of Mlle. Riego’s patterns are on
Ravelry. Project Gutenberg has free copies of her first book, “Knitting,
Crochet and Netting” and five other books by Mlle. Riego. There are several
other websites where you can access long out of print books and patterns. The
Antique Pattern Library has a sizable list of Irish crochet patterns and books.
There are also many modern books and patterns available.
I wonder what Mlle.
Riego, the mother of modern crochet, would think if she could see how the art
form has expanded over the last 178 years. Given her role as an innovator and
influencer in the1800’s, I suspect she’d embrace meeting crocheters online
instead of her publisher’s office. Sláinte!
Center for Knit and Crochet – To
Preserve and Promote Art, Craft, History and Scholarship
