Crochet – The New Fiber Culture

I wrote the below in 2006 much has changed but still make sure crochet continues to have a full seat at the table.

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It has been whispered for several years, a slow low reverberation, of “crocheters” taking their hooks to task, to the forbidden fibers.

Challenging the yarn shop owners to “teach me” to put your fibers on hooks. Crocheters saying to yarn shop owners, “I will teach you” an art form I not only love but am obsessed with – and will spend at your emporium. 

Infiltrating the fiber artist’s community with hooks, yarns, beads, and baubles believing they are doing souls work too.

Taxing the designers to unravel the knitted shroud and reconstructing it in crochet stitches.

Seek out to emulate fashion designers styles that are found in fashion magazines such as, Vogue, Elle, and W. 

They are learning to use the illicit fibers and are questioning manufacturers. 

Crocheters are now voicing to the yarn manufactures – do not make us change. They contend; modify the yarns to suit my hook. Articulating to them to become skilled at dying their fibers to make crochet stitches have pleasing color flow. 

Crochet and color has always been a challenge because yarn manufactures have chosen not acknowledged that crochet stitches work differently and a saddening undercurrent of belief that crocheters will “just use” what is available. Local yarn shop owners can help by asking their yarn companies to bring about this change. 

As crocheters educate or re-educate themselves with the crochet tools, like broomstick lace, hairpin lace, afghan hooks, amazing needles, locker hooks, and ShiRReT™ needle they are mixing and matching different crochet techniques to make wildly fabulous and fashionable garments. In addition, through the varied crochet stitch combinations now being used provide interest and dispel the “old” crochet look. 

Software is now also beginning to listen to the new fiber culturists by working up computer design tools to include crocheting. Self-expression through crochet software will allow better designing.

A great fiber equalizer in crocheting is – felting (which is in fact called fulling). Making stitch definition disappear between the two forms, one has to ask; was it crocheted or knitted? Even though felting/fulling, so I have heard, from knitters is passé. Crocheters have taken it to their hearts and now knitters are reawakening their “passé” knitted felting/fulling. It seems crocheting is now thrusting knitters into an uncomfortable position. It brings to mind the singsong, “Anything you can do, and I can do better. I can do anything better than you”. 

So crocheters, continue to challenge yourselves, explore your local yarn shops, educate yourself and all that want to learn, and most of all expect the best from yourself because you are; the new fiber culturist. Crochet on!