Well hello there my lovely stitchers and weavers and welcome to my first crochet blog..

I'm hoping that if you are here, you are either embarking on an adventure into the world of crochet or are simply interested to hear about all things crochet. I'd first like to start by adressing what i believe to be one of the most common thoughts when you tell people you crochet: 'isn't that a granny hobby'? Just like knitting, our craft seems to be perceived as an art of the older generation. Now that is not to cause any offence to those of an older age because i'm sure most of them will tell you that they have been crocheting and/or knitting since they were young. Why then is there this misconception that our craft is a grandma's hobby and less popular with the youth of today?

Well first of all, let me start by saying it just isn't true. Yet no matter where you are, you will inevitably come across someone or people who think like this.

The answer is actually down to our evolving cultural history. Not to sound stereotypical but back in the day, the likes of crochet, knitting, sewing, cross stitch. embroidery and other needle works were considered 'women's work'. If we go back to Victorian times, an era when men and women were hugely segregated in their 'roles' of society, then we can gain a good perspective or where this outdated synopsis comes from.

During this time, crochet was taught to girls in school as part of the national curriculum, alongside other subjects such as, reading, writing and arithemetic. It was considered an important skill for women and young girls to have. as it formed a large part of their identity and education. Being able to crochet, made a girl or young women appear domesticated, which was an integral and appealing trait needed to be considered a good wife and mother to their breadwinning husbands and families. Not only that, being able to crochet meant that a lady had a considerable amount or patience, precision and great attention to detail, all of which were fundamental attributes expected of women at that time. It was if you like considered the norm, just as being tech savvy and social media aware amongst the youth is the norm today..

If you think about it as well, there wasn't much available back then to keep people entertained. Many families would, read together, sing around the piano or play games. If you could afford it you would perhaps attend a concert or go to the theatre. Crochet provided a hobby to keep girls busy. Although, Crochet was taught in schools, it was also widely taught at home too, a skill passed down from generation to generation and was popular amongst both the poor and the wealthy. Whilst the rich used crochet to embellish their garments, the poorer families relied on the skill to create their own clothes and in many cases as a form of income, especially in the times of the irish famine for example.

 As time went on, the need for crochet to be taught in schools became less and less and although in some educational settings, it continued to be relevant until after the second world war, as we became a more integrated society, it eventually got abandoned from the curriculum altogether. From then on, the craft was only accessible if it was passed down from the elder generations. As the need for crochet skills dwindled, it was often considered more of a nostalgic tradition, linked to the family and home in the form of cherished heirlooms such as, afghans and blankets, thus the notion of it being a 'grandma hobby' and reinforcing its connection with the older generation. It doesn't help that one of the most popular and well known crochet stitches is called ' the granny square' It is undoubtedly the most recognised crochet stitch and is always my go to stitch to teach beginners for its easy work up, repetition and fast growing pace. However, the name 'granny square' most likely came from the grandmother's that made the heirlooms. It was and still is probably the most practical stich for all purposes and motifs and was very commonly used amongst the older generation, thus cementing the notion of a 'grandma's hobby.

In today's society, we have created what is known as 'A Grandma's core aesthetic'. This is where the younger generation embrace the lifestyle skills of the elder generation, taking on their traditions such as, gardening, baking, crochet and other crafts. The idea of this is to indulge in slower living and focus on the authenticity of handmade items. Of course, this doesn't really help with the idea of crochet being a granny hobby but it does demonstrate how we are evolving as a society again by not discriminating these skills but embracing them. The advancement of technology, social media platforms and online tutorials have allowed us to be more exposed to crochet and all that it has to offer. With crochet being far more accessible now than it has been in decades, it has resulted in a surge in popularity with our younger generations and not just with females but equally with males alike. More than that being able to crochet is a recognised and respected skill to have, therefore challenging the stereotype of it being the craft of an older generation. Don't you think that is amazing?

Rightly or wrongly, In my opinion, anyone who believes or thinks that crochet is a 'grandma's hobby' is displaying nothing but ignorance and that is ok. It is not our job to judge those as they judge us but rather our duty to educate them and what better way to do that than to continue with our crocheting.. After all, being able to crochet is not only productive, fun and a great sense of achievement, it can provide all sorts of health benefits and life skills (which i will delve into another time) but more than that, it is an amazing talent to have. Don't you agree?

Lets squash the stereotype and continue to create crochet magic one stitch at a time....

Much love to you all.

The Crochet Witch xx