Wrong forum for this question, but I think you may have a point. One author mentioned that the ladies of the house knitted while their maids crocheted. Still, why? And why does it persist?

It works that way with designs, too. I've seen wondrous patterns in thread crochet, mostly decor items, but the number of great crochet garment designs is much lower than great knit designs.

Personally I think people have taken statements such as 'crochet is too blocky for sweaters' as truth. Lately designers have been kicking anti-crochet stereotypes in the butt, and there are tons of designs for shaped flowing garments with new ones popping up every day. Unfortunately, a lot of people already have their minds made up about it and don't even bother to look around to see what's new, assuming we're all still 'only' making blankets.

http://gaugebeforebeauty.blogspot.com/

Seriously. Just check out the patterns on the site linked here. Not a blocky one in the bunch. It's art.
http://danceswithwool.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/amazing-and-beautiful-cro...

http://treblecrochet.blujay.com
There could be something to that. I'm middle class and I buy my yarn at WalMart!

I have a rant along the same vein.

Why are so many knitters violently against crocheting? Seriously, it's as though "crochet" is a four letter word.

I was so happy when I found Crochet Me last fall. I promptly made "Fat Kitty" for my niece. I'm still kicking myself for not taking a photo. I made it in yellow kitchen cotton, gave it vintage amber button eyes, and embroidered a spring green smiling face. It was gorgeous! I'm trying to work up the courage to make a garment... The patterns here are awesome! Not blocky or gaudy!

Their loss, I guess.

RedTartan

its definitely an issue. i also feel like theres more (at least from what i've seen as far as books, etc.) male patterns for knitters than crocheters. what if i want to make myself an awesome sweater, maybe even a hoodie?

as a guy who crochets i can't even BEGIN to tell you how many times i've had this conversation:

some guy "Dude, what are you doing? knitting?"
me "No, i'm crocheting, knitting is with 2 needles."
some guy "What does it matter? it's still gay."

now theres a possibility that going to an all-male high school played into that. because by-and-large females find it cool/interesting/sexy that i crochet. and all my female friends/exs LOVE/LOVED to get crocheted gifts. means WAY more than flowers and candy.

i love to buy my yarn at WalMart. and i get Red Heart Super Saver. it's cheap.

A guy, a hook, and some yarn.

Check out my website and blog,thepurldistrict.com
Relax and Unwind!

http://treblecrochet.blujay.com About all I buy is the Red Heart yarn...it's the best!!!

I know I have seen and admired the array of knitting patterns out there! Actually, I'm learning BOTH crocheting and knitting. But, I have to say, the patterns that have sprung up recently for crochet are DEFINATELY improving over what there used to be!

Marylou,

No doubt about it patterns for Crochet are geting better. Check out Interweave crochet it's fine!

What do people out there like to crochet and whaere do you get your patterns?

Celia

Check out my website and blog,thepurldistrict.com
Relax and Unwind!

Red,

I've see that site! It's a hoot.
Have you seen the new book out" Toilet Paper Roll Covers"? They put out a Tea Cozies one too. It's way cool if you're are a tea sipper.

It's a well done book but makes me squeemish! Totally hilarious.

Celia

Check out my website and blog,thepurldistrict.com
Relax and Unwind!

I'd never though about the relationship of knit/crochet and socioeconomic status but now that you mention it...

Crochet has passed down from my grandmother to my mother, and from my mother to me. My grandmother grew up during the great depression, didn't have any education past high school, and then raised two kids on her own as a single, working mother during the 50's/60's after my grandfather died. It goes without saying that she never had a lot of money.

It supports your theory.

BUT, regardless of the connection between class and method of stitching, you really can't deny that all of a sudden crochet is trendy. Knit... well... just isn't right now.

one of my friends knits. i can't seem to grasp the technique of knitting. and of course i've told him "hey, i don't know why, but i just am not very good at knitting."

the other day i was working on my beanie and he was just staring at me. finally he spoke and was like "how? i can't even understand how that works."

i realize that i'm off topic, but i swear i'll tie it into the current conversation.

we were also talking about class and the fiber arts. we both agree that socioeconomic status at least in some way affects the chosen form. he also buys 100% wool. whereas i use 100% acrylic yarn. he always tells me about how im "crocheting plastic"

so maybe theres a little holier than thou attitude with those knitters. maybe it's cause they use 2 tools, and we only use 1.

the oddest thing is that crochet seems to have more distinct stitches. knitting is just knit and purl. crochet has single, double, triple, half double, extended single, tunisian, and many others.

i love crochet and im sticking with it

:)

A guy, a hook, and some yarn.

The Adventures of Crafty Boy!

one of my friends knits. i can't seem to grasp the technique of knitting. and of course i've told him "hey, i don't know why, but i just am not very good at knitting."

the other day i was working on my beanie and he was just staring at me. finally he spoke and was like "how? i can't even understand how that works."

i realize that i'm off topic, but i swear i'll tie it into the current conversation.

we were also talking about class and the fiber arts. we both agree that socioeconomic status at least in some way affects the chosen form. he also buys 100% wool. whereas i use 100% acrylic yarn. he always tells me about how im "crocheting plastic"

so maybe theres a little holier than thou attitude with those knitters. maybe it's cause they use 2 tools, and we only use 1.

the oddest thing is that crochet seems to have more distinct stitches. knitting is just knit and purl. crochet has single, double, triple, half double, extended single, tunisian, and many others.

i love crochet and im sticking with it

:)

A guy, a hook, and some yarn.

The Adventures of Crafty Boy!

one of my friends knits. i can't seem to grasp the technique of knitting. and of course i've told him "hey, i don't know why, but i just am not very good at knitting."

the other day i was working on my beanie and he was just staring at me. finally he spoke and was like "how? i can't even understand how that works."

i realize that i'm off topic, but i swear i'll tie it into the current conversation.

we were also talking about class and the fiber arts. we both agree that socioeconomic status at least in some way affects the chosen form. he also buys 100% wool. whereas i use 100% acrylic yarn. he always tells me about how im "crocheting plastic"

so maybe theres a little holier than thou attitude with those knitters. maybe it's cause they use 2 tools, and we only use 1.

the oddest thing is that crochet seems to have more distinct stitches. knitting is just knit and purl. crochet has single, double, triple, half double, extended single, tunisian, and many others.

i love crochet and im sticking with it

:)

A guy, a hook, and some yarn.

The Adventures of Crafty Boy!

one of my friends knits. i can't seem to grasp the technique of knitting. and of course i've told him "hey, i don't know why, but i just am not very good at knitting."

the other day i was working on my beanie and he was just staring at me. finally he spoke and was like "how? i can't even understand how that works."

i realize that i'm off topic, but i swear i'll tie it into the current conversation.

we were also talking about class and the fiber arts. we both agree that socioeconomic status at least in some way affects the chosen form. he also buys 100% wool. whereas i use 100% acrylic yarn. he always tells me about how im "crocheting plastic"

so maybe theres a little holier than thou attitude with those knitters. maybe it's cause they use 2 tools, and we only use 1.

the oddest thing is that crochet seems to have more distinct stitches. knitting is just knit and purl. crochet has single, double, triple, half double, extended single, tunisian, and many others.

i love crochet and im sticking with it

:)

A guy, a hook, and some yarn.

The Adventures of Crafty Boy!

one of my friends knits. i can't seem to grasp the technique of knitting. and of course i've told him "hey, i don't know why, but i just am not very good at knitting."

the other day i was working on my beanie and he was just staring at me. finally he spoke and was like "how are you doing that? i can't even understand how that works." (of course i was listening to music, crocheting, and reading my favorite blog at the same time.)

i realize that i'm off topic, but i swear i'll tie it into the current conversation.

we were also talking about class and the fiber arts. we both agree that socioeconomic status at least in some way affects the chosen form. he also buys 100% wool. whereas i use 100% acrylic yarn. he always tells me about how im "crocheting plastic"

so maybe theres a little holier than thou attitude with those knitters. maybe it's cause they use 2 tools, and we only use 1.

the oddest thing is that crochet seems to have more distinct stitches. knitting is just knit and purl. crochet has single, double, triple, half double, extended single, tunisian, and many others.

i love crochet and im sticking with it

:)

A guy, a hook, and some yarn.

The Adventures of Crafty Boy!

Whoa Crafty Boy,

We've got 2 many of your posts of the same comment!

Crocheting is often seen in Hispanic communities also with lower economic status and incomes.Poor white Grandmas too. African and Muslims have a long history of crocheting. Notice the fab white skull caps that the men wear in Morrocco,etc.

I'm looking for why this crochet is "less than" attitude. it's mostly a thing to be slam dunked into the last century. Crochet has been breaking boundaries and I'm all for it.

I am not for plastic yarn, however.......... natural fibers for the most part or blends.

Celia

Check out my website and blog,thepurldistrict.com
Relax and Unwind!

I've always preferred crocheting to knitting because of the relaxed work process (not having to worry about dropping stitches). I do knit very occasionally - mostly socks, and I have a knitting machine for making yardage from wool yarn that I felt after knitting. I also weave a little. Crochet has some great attributes but also a few limitations (heresy - sorry), which can be worked around if you understand the medium. Maybe the knitting snobs haven't taken the time to explore.
I learned to crochet from my aunt who was widowed with 4 kids and no money during the Depression. Maybe it's a class issue - it sure doesn't take much investment to get started. I didn't grow up around the upper crust, so don't quite know where they're coming from.
As for patterns, there's some great, old vintage stuff out there, but crochet is so modular and easy to build shapes in an organic way that it's quite doable to skip the commercial patterns and just have at it.
As for materials - I use high quality, but inexpensive, natural fibers since my work is so time intensive (I'm also very environmentally motivated). I look at my work as an investment that I'll be wearing/using for many years. The workmanship is an important part of my work; durability and timelessness have become more important as I've gotten older. So I guess no more lime-green mini skirts for me. LOL

Maybe the class thing is because you can pick up and put down crochet, even halfway through a row. You can't do that with knitting without running the risk of it stretching or one of the needles falling out. Maybe the maids crocheted because when the mistress rang the bell for someone to retrieve her ball of knitting wool, they could stop what they were doing immediately, lol!

But maybe crocheters buy cheaper yarn because you can get away with it in crochet. For me, knitting is a lot about the yarn, but with crochet, I'm more interested in how the pattern was put together than what the yarn is.

Off on a tangent, I think crochet is perceived to be less popular than knitting because it looks difficult. Now, we all know that a really complex crochet pattern probably isn't, but take off your crochet head next time you see a piece of crocheted clothing in a shop. We'll stand there thinking, that's just linked granny squares with some shell patterns and clusters (or whatever), whereas the uneducated will think, wow! hugely complicated! Whenever I bring my crochet into work, somebody will always say "I didn't know you could do that with crochet". They assume it's all cushion covers and doilies.

"Seven days without crochet makes one weak"
http://yoursandi.blogspot.com

From what I've read of the history of crochet and knitting it is believed that knitting came first.
More modern history has it that in the 1800's and 1900's that crochet hooks were the steel hooks that are used with thread and it wasn't until about 1960 or so that crochet hooks were made larger and more comparable to the knitting needles. That is when crochet started to become more popular.

Modern day printing made patterns more available. Yarn choices started to expand our horizons for both knit and crochet.

The advent of the internet made it all the more readily available for the masses to learn crochet and knitting.

Can I say, "We've come a long way, baby?"