Crochet is Staging a Comeback - Hope 103.2

Crochet is Staging a Comeback

Maybe it's time to hark back to our childhoods and take up crochet again. Particularly during these cold months!

By Yvette McDonnellSaturday 27 Jul 2024WeekendsCultureReading Time: 3 minutes

Crocheting used to be something people did to clothe their families, but now it’s more about enjoyment and creativity.
Key points:
  • Crochet is making a comeback because of the fact that it can be relaxing and even therapeutic.
  • “Move on from those scarves really quickly and just have fun with it!” Rachel said.
  • Hear the full conversation in the listener above.

Sisters Rachel and Nicole own The House of Wool in the Blue Mountains and Rachel joined me to chat about why crochet is making a comeback.

“It’s the creativity of the craft,” Rachel said.

“It’s also quite a mindful activity that you can do just sitting on the lounge with your friends and your family just chatting.

“It’s kind of therapeutic.”

I remember crocheting as a young girl and it was always so good. But who are the main people taking up crocheting today?

“We’re actually seeing a variety of people,” Rachel said.

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Crochet is making a comeback because of the fact that it can be relaxing and even therapeutic.

“Retirees who want to get back into it now that they’ve got more time.

“We’ve got new grandparents who have babies on the way, and it’s just something that they remember their mother and their grandmother, giving them as new parents a nice blanket or something for their new baby.

“We’ve also got a lot of the younger generation coming in and starting up knitting or crocheting… They’re making their own garments or they’re making something for someone.”

In our household, knitting is very popular. My 23-year-old daughter is right into knitting at the moment.

But what if someone is completely new to crochet – how can they get started?

“Don’t be afraid and just have a go,” Rachel said.

Crochet toys, photo by CanvaPro

There are so many fun things to make with crochet! Photo by CanvaPro

“Move on from those scarves really quickly because it’s more adventurous that way, and you learn things and take classes and look on YouTube for how to do stitches and follow patterns and just have fun!”

And what about some of the more adventurous crochet designs we see around the place?

“There are so many out there now,” Rachel said.

“I like the colour work in crochet now too – it’s beyond just the normal, traditional granny square that people think of crochet as.

“You can do all sorts of things with crochet now.

“My first big crochet project… I made a huge blanket for a friend and I spun a lot of the wool and I learnt the 3D crochet where… you make a flower that’s sticking up out of the fabric, so there’s a lot in crocheting [and] nessian – I’m into that at the moment, it’s brilliant!”

“Move on from those scarves really quickly and just have fun with it!” Rachel said.

What is nessian, I hear you ask?

According to Rachel, it’s crochet that looks a bit like knitting.

“You’ve got your big, long crochet hook and you put the stitches on and then take them all off,” Rachel said.

“So it’s more than just one stitch, which is your normal crochet… It’s a bit like knitting. It looks like knitting, but it’s crochet. So much fun!”

This all takes me back to my childhood. I probably need to get back into it. In fact, I think it might be the time to give it a go, during Winter!

Hear the full conversation in the listener above.


Article provided with thanks to Yvette McDonnell. Catch Yvette on Hope 103.2 on weekends.

Feature image: all photos by CanvaPro