I'm always interested in how crafts develop.
When you see great old lace and tapestry collections in museums, it makes you realize the wealth of history behind some of the activities we consider our hobbies.
Crochet has an interesting history that probably predates its popularization in Europe in the 1800s.
Wikipedia has a longer article on what we know of crochet's history, if you're a curious crocheter like me.
Various versions of crochet probably existed before the 1800s, countries such as Arabia and China have similar handicrafts that predate the nineteenth century.
An 1847 publication detailed different crochet stitches.
Part of the difficulty in establishing the history of crochet relates to the fact that a hooked finger was likely used in place of the crochet hooks we use today.
Part of the popularization of crochet may be related to the invention of the cotton gin.
When machine spun cotton replaced the more time-consuming hand spinning, more thread was available for crafts.
This probably contributed to the reputation of crocheted works as being a poor substitute for lace.
When famine struck Ireland in the mid-1800s, many of the local Irish people began to produce crochet to export for money.
Women and children were taught to crochet by Ursuline nuns, and Ireland, to this day has a reputation for its beautiful crochet.
Whether you're interested in the history behind how handicrafts have developed, or would just like to learn some stitches for an afghan or a baby blanket, crochet appeals to a lot of people.
The different yarns available now, and the variety of patterns for crochet have opened up a world of possibility for the crochet hobbyist.