why is gen-z so obsessed with crochet? (crochet-tok & quiet activism)

timestamps!
00:00 intro
01:06 history crash course
03:53 politicisation of crochet?
08:08 from craft to art
11:47 the pandemic & crochet-tok
13:36 crochet & the trad-wife trend
17:53 anti-fast fashion
references:
Crochet & The Victorian Era: www.wardrobeshop.com/blogs/vi...
Quiet Activism & The New Amateur: www.mariannhardey.com/uploads...
MAD Museum Grooves With Craft-Inspired, 1970s Crochet and Beyond Fashion Exhibition observer.com/2017/03/mad-muse...
Crocheted Strategies: Women Crafting their Own Communities www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...
Su Richardson: Soft Power www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/s...
Su Richarson: Interview www.studiointernational.com/i...
Crocheted Environment www.icaboston.org/art/faith-w...
The Resurgence of Trad Wives • the resurgence of trad...
Why is Fast Fashion Failing • Why is Fast Fashion Fa...
🔗 business enquiries only
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[@charlichats]

omg thank u for the love ❤ I love the crochet community you’re all so wholesome 😊

[@wiktoriadomanowska8677]

I think what bothers me most about crochet in fast fashion is that there's not even a good opportunity for crocheters to sell their crochet. A lot of people don't sell their completed pieces and instead sell the pattern because the price they'd have to sell the piece at to account for yarn + time + effort would be too expensive for anyone interested.

[@gamespc-zi6zo]

exactly, if my top took me 3 hours and 10 dollars of materials and i was paying myself minimum wage (10 Dollars) an hour thats 30 in hours already, plus materials thats 40, if im selling on etsy i need to also add in fees, around 3 dollars so thats 43, and i also need to add in the shipping fee thats around 6 dollars depending where, its gonna be around 50 dollars for one top and thats already underpaying

[@Danielle-zq7kb]

Passioknit Kelsie has made selling her stuff work by incorporating KZbin revenue into it. This isn’t an option for most fiber artists. Fast fashion is killing the planet; we’ve got to change.

[@froggiepie]

Exactly, the simple top i made would be $90 paying myself minimum wage

[@irregularstuff5290]

​@@gamespc-zi6zo3 hours?! You're a very fast crocheter. I'm slowly making a vest out of flowers and it's still taking me about a month as of now.

[@Madiiiiiiiii316]

Fr even me that has been crocheting for 6 years to sell someone a sweater will cost over 100 dollars because it takes hours to make a sweater especially if you want to be paid by the hour. I have also noticed that some brands are selling items that look crochet but actually are knit with machines but either way someone has to tweak it to make it look nice to sell

[@frogdrug8282]

I’m obsessed with crochet because I feel like I have more control over my wardrobe and it feels unique.

[@Catladycatherine]

Same it's been a while since I've actually bought any new clothes!

[@jacklyntree7752]

Thrifting and wearing lingerie with my outer wear does this, but adding crochet and embroidery to this has been a game changer

[@rontanamo_bae]

as a gen z male, I got into crochet during 2020 because I needed a hobby during lockdown and knitting was harder 😭

[@charlichats]

saaaame knitting is so tricky!

[@coolchameleon21]

i agree! i never really got into knitting because i found so difficult and finicky. plus i hated that if you dropped a stitch by accident, you basically had to start the project all over again

[@rontanamo_bae]

@@coolchameleon21literally my worst nightmare when I tried it 💀

[@sant_vauls]

@@coolchameleon21that's not completely true, as a crocheter and knitter, there are ways to pick up dropped stitches and it's not hard at all!

[@loveliestwilde]

​@@coolchameleon21 you can pick up dropped stitches in knitting rows and rows later using a crochet hook just fyi don't despair

[@brittany16950]

I know why!! It’s fun!! It’s challenging!! You get a cute stuffed toy or a cuddly blanket as a reward at the end!

[@Ashaasmith2]

I have been crocheting for years. My grandma and mom taught me how. Honestly because I know crochet can’t be machine made, I often think “I love this but there’s no way someone got paid well enough at that price” or “I could make that myself” or “that is the correct price but I don’t have nearly that much money” whenever I pass crochet work in stores

[@mariaalejandracastillaberd6103]

As a med student who crochets, I receive so many comments like how do I get the time and stuff like that. And now that I think about it, it started in the pandemic, but now it's also about no dedicating every second of the Day to medicine. Which May be a way to reject the expectations of the med student that only studies, and doesn't have time for their friends or actually anything.

[@tomilola12]

I'm a med student too and I only have time for things like a bucket hat, scrunchie and shoulder bags. I find time to crochet and those are the best times.

[@abby-xo7kf]

Entering med schooo this year! I crochet during MS too for stress relief. It also helps avoid nicotine addiction for me. I quit abd it helped

[@kirradactyl]

^^ absolutely yes. Crochet is one of the ways that I take care of my humanity and reject the idea that if I'm not suffering enough I'm not doing med school right.

[@sitad6271]

I’m a med student too. I started crocheting before pandemic and went to med school when pandemic started. When ppl knew that I could crochet, they thought that I had more time than they imagined. Noooo😭 It makes me sad when they asked me to "crochet mine too". They asked me to crochet such a bag, bucket hat, things that takes a lot of time. I can reject them but I don’t have any idea why they could ask me like that as if crocheting theirs wasn’t a big deal for a med student. If you know what I mean.

[@abby-xo7kf]

@@sitad6271 yes haha like as if you just whip out these huge projects, meanwhile it takes like 30 min a night a bunch of nights a week for one thing to be done. It’s a leisure

[@blueca]

i've been seeing more and more machine knit objects being labeled as crochet in big stores as crochet has become more trendy. it's really sad to me that these corporations are trying to profit off of a craft that's impossible to mass produce by lying about their products and intentionally mislabeling their products in order to be "trendier"

[@kathyoneill4011]

And selling AI made paterns to uninformed buyers

[@marlasinger8274]

i feel like a lot of times crochet isnt rlly "slow fashion" because ppl make projects just for fun or boredom and then never wear them

[@cyncyn778]

i feel like it’s very subjective bc everyone has their individual relationships with crochet and what they make as well

[@froggiepie]

i feel like you might have assumed that and i’m not sure why ?? I personally wear my crocheted things all the time because i made them to fit my tastes and be comfy

[@oliviaormsby7114]

I feel like this argument is very one sided though. We wouldn’t argue that a hobby painter and sketch artist is wasting paper and killing the environment. I feel like criticism of crochet fast fashion is rooted in classism because crochet is less refined than knitting and very female dominated

[@differentperspective7336]

@@oliviaormsby7114what do you mean by „less refined“? Genuine question^^

[@chainsawmay]

​@@differentperspective7336 knit is seen as being more put together/neat because its weaved instead of knots, it takes more precision and more time to make than crochet, and its also more practical because of knitting machines and the fact that knitwear can more easily fit different bodies, although i personally prefer crochet pieces over knitwear

[@savannah4439]

I crochet, and love that I have something tangible to show for my hard work at the end. I originally started in 2022 bc I was recovering from a surgery and wanted to learn a less physically-based hobby, and I fell in love! I like the creativity of personalizing something (a garment, blanket, toy, whatever) any way I want, and I love the challenge of learning how to make my creative vision into a reality. Mentally, depending on what you’re making there can be a fair amount of math and problem-solving involved, which I also find fun. Plus, I like how easy it is to undo your work when you mess up (this was the big reason I learned crochet over knitting). My only drawbacks are that it’s time-consuming and yarn can get expensive! Like, if I make a sweater it’ll be like $50 of materials plus like a month of labor. But the trade off is that I can make it fit and look exactly how I want, and I know I’ll end up with a truly unique garment

[@CarleyRoseStudio]

literwally crocheting while i watch this 🤪this was so insightful, i hadn't thought about the actual reasons for the resurgence and/or disappearance of crochet as a trend and hobby. Love it!

[@charlichats]

thanks so much! xx

[@nnn7886]

Im a teen and started crochet about 2 years ago. Its the best hobby i ever learned and feel awesome that i have a whole skill.

[@marabanara]

I’m a 40 year old (so an older millennial). I learned crochet basics at a school club at age 11. My grandmother and mum taught me to knit a bit but I never loved it. Then at age 20 my very crafty future MIL refreshed my crochet knowledge and taught me more stitches. Most of her projects were embroidered items just bordered in crochet with cotton. Which was fine, but I started to search for videos as I was and still am obsessed with KZbin. Of course it was much harder back then to find content but I knew enough to start figuring things out on my own. The problem I see now is very inexperienced/new crocheters jumping in making content or selling patterns that are unfortunately of terrible quality. These days when paying for pattern, it’s not always possible to figure out if it will be well graded and have been properly tested. Of course the use of crochet in fast fashion is a big problem. And not even always actual crochet! Oftentimes, it’s machine-knit fabric made to imitate crochet. Yes, any crocheter can spot it easily, but your average fashion consumer wouldn’t necessarily know. This further devalues handmade items. As others have noted, the difficulty with making and selling crocheted items means that instead, creators turn to selling patterns, and as I said before, these aren’t great quality most of the time. Similar things happen with knitting but it’s often impossible to tell if something has been totally hand knit or has had matching knitting incorporated too. Even smaller sellers crank out machine knitted garments, and this is kind of becoming a craft all of its own, but still sold as “handmade” just not “hand knit”. It’s crazy that when something is done by women, it’s often not even considered a craft but purely a hobby, or just what women did in the past to help clothe their families or make items for their homes. Yet men’s handicraft’s mean their makers are “craftsmen”, a well regarded term, and when men engage in fibre crafts, their work is art, and they’re considered artists. I’m making generalisations, but you get the picture. I even see this in crochet, and KZbin crochet content. Out of all crocheters, men make up very, very few. And while there are fewer male than female crochet content creators, I get surprisingly many of them suggested to me, sometimes daily! I also will say most are also white. So I have to go hunting sometimes to find crochet inspiration from women around the world- because it’s a worldwide craft. As I was born in Chile and still can speak Spanish, I seek out Latin American crochet content (such as Majovel Crochet- she has an English Channel too) as the designs are great and quite different to the designs from English speaking channels. Black American women crocheters also have some great stuff too, with a well known favourite being TL Yarn Crafts. I even speak just enough Italian to admire Il Filo Rosso’s stunning designs that I still haven’t found an English standard equivalent for, particularly for fingering or laceweight yarn. As much as I do also enjoy young mainstream crochet KZbinrs (such as Jenna Phipps), I don’t love the reliance on granny stitch/granny squares, lack of garment shaping (the boxy sweaters) and chunky or DK yarn (I’m loving the drape of fingering weight and sock yarn).

[@Niquenique-uv6gv]

I agree with you about the lack of shaping! I've often seen a crochet cardigan or sweater on social media that I consider purchasing the pattern for, but I take a look at the shoulder/armhole area and I change my mind. The piece is either falling off the shoulders or bunching up at the underarm.

[@andheregoesmyname]

Hola! También soy de Chile. ¿Ha revisado el canal de Petus Ochoa? tiene patrones muy buenos!

[@homestylealchemy]

Well done video! I've been into crochet well before the pandemic, but it is so exciting to see it become so popular in today's crafting space. I hope it is here to stay.

[@joyatodd]

Crochet for me is an art form. I happen to get wearable items at the end of each project which is better than trying to find space on the wall for another painting. I love wearing unique garments. I love mixing colours in individual ways. I like not using patterns but making it up as I go. Making is where it's at.

[@caroline7420]

As someone who despises fast fashion and has made a lot of effort to not buy from any fast fashion brands new as much as possible for years now (I still slip up occasionally but that’s okay) ive nearly either thrifted or made my entire wardrobe. I find it a lot of fun to plan an outfit for an event 6 months in advance and thrift what supplies I can and make it thoughtfully in ways I know I’ll be able to wear for years instead of running out and buying a cheap dress for an event. It’s more work but worth it for sure.

[@ameretbudihas6770]

I started crocheting again a few years ago and was excited my 25 yo daughter wanted me to make her some stuff. I’m gonna keep going till no one wants what I make anymore…except me. I am very grateful to those that make tutorial videos on KZbin. I’ve learned so much and made so many things I would not have been able to even attempt without the more knowledgeable crocheters teaching me. Thank you.

[@javi_jpg]

I have been interested in knitting and crochet since I was very very young, like I remember I was aprox 8 years old when I saw my grandma and mom knitting sweaters and curtains and said "I AM GONNA KNIT A SCARF FOR MY MOM!"... And then I didn't, I was a child with zero capacity to stay quiet for more than 4 hours (I was very good at sitting doing something entertaining enough like drawing or painting but never lasted more than a day doing the same project or piece) and a scarf would've taken at least 4 days to make. Since then, I just never tried it again, always loved it from afar, but never gave it a chance until very recently, as a 22 year old with a great boyfriend that, in celebration of our first anniversary, provided me with materials, a LOT of yarn and a set of crochet hooks and utensils so that I could FINALLY give it a try~ Now that I have adult patience and that there are a lot of very beginner friendly tutorials everywhere on the internet, I couldn't just let the opportunity pass. That was on may 14th, I've been crocheting mini amigurumis with a passion since then~ I've made two little cats, a small chicken, a bunny and now, the hardest one yet, a little Yoshi amigurumi. I really can't wait to start making accessories and clothes! like I really wanna make a shrug, some leg warmers, gloves and cute mushroom or strawberry bags!

[@TheHarryKnit]

I'm on the knitting side of TikTok and Instagram most of the time but the rise of crochet as both a hobby and an art form is incredible to see - I wonder about how these crochet works will compare over time and if it become a staple like knitwear or be considered a trend of the 2020s

[@charlichats]

I'm super interested in this too! thanks for watching xx

[@lilrootroot8692]

I love that you researched the background history of this craft! It's really good to hear that "crochetivism" is (and was) always a thing that a lot of us hold onto in this community

[@toniantiporda9024]

Dropping this comment before starting the video just to say: I’m actually quite happy that crocheting made a resurgence. Elder millennial here, and I’ve been crocheting since the 3rd grade, but never have I seen so much variety in available yarns and hooks, it’s insane.

[@looseleaflyra]

i know i sound like a gatekeeper but i stand by the fact that you do not deserve to wear crocheted garments if you are not making it yourself or buying it from an independent artist.

[@marthfador]

I'm crocheting as I listen to this lol. I started crocheting at least 15 years ago. I focused more on stuffed animals and such- I just enjoyed having a hobby that gave me something cute and tangible at the end! I actually started off with knitting and learned that crochet was easier for the types of projects I wanted to do.

[@caroline7420]

I’ve know the basics of how to crochet since before I can remember but only in the past few months have I actually started learning how to read patterns and make unique things that I love. I’m big on minimizing my footprint and being more mindful of what I buy so taking the time to make a unique sweater and dress and add embroidery details and things like that has opened up my world to make unique high quality items that actually fit me and that I cant possibly afford to buy from ethical places. I also love giving thoughtful gifts and learning how to make something that is specific to that persons interests and then spend 30+ hours making it for them over the course of a few months is a way I can portray my love to someone. So yeah I really like crochet.

[@Anonymousweirdo2000]

Dude this video is so well made! I’m a guy and got into crochet like a year ago? I’ve done markets where I sell my crochet plushies. To me why I love crochet is because I enjoy working with my hands, counting/math, and making silly little creatures. Also if i can make extra income off of that that’s a win.

[@YourDarlingZoe]

great video :) Been crocheting for 15ish years I'm very much enjoying this crochet resurgence. I've always found it frustrating that "craft work" is deemed lesser than other arts or skills when it's so rich in history. I feel so connected to the world and generations of women and artisans before me when I crochet. If you're new to crochet please don't be intimidated by reading crochet chart patterns, I promise once you understand them (it won't take you along) they are much easier to follow than a video. The 2000's also saw a huge push in amigurumi in the western crochet scene as well. Patterns, pictures, and video tutorials that broke down language barriers were able to spread easily around the world via the internet, and lots of Japanese kawaii aesthetics were being borrowed by alt kids in the west. Amigurumis were also much easier to sell on emerging marketplaces like Etsy.

[@charlichats]

love this! I haven't heard of amigurumi I'll have to learn more :) xx

[@marabanara]

@@charlichatsbasically crocheted stuffed toys! Very cute, and based on the Japanese art form, amigurumi.

[@chaoticwhoopsie203]

I started crocheting 2 years ago during my sophomore year in college. I was so stressed with everything that I needed a hobby to just sit down and relax to while listening to music, so i picked up crocheting. Now I have a shelf full of blankets, scarves, and some wonky amigurumi plushes 😅

[@JessicaTaylorIO]

Great job! I just started crocheting this year. My mom had bought crotchet supplies probably about 10 years ago and hasn't really used them because it was hard to learn how to back then, like you said it was basically a book or old videos that weren't zoomed in. I was looking for something to do that would keep me off my phone. So basically I've replaced doom scrolling with crotcheting because it feels more productive and it shuts my mind off.

[@chandrikai8319]

I used to crochet when I was a teenager, back in the late 70s and 80s and found it again after retiring from work. It's the ability to create something which I can touch and feel, rather than writing (I am a writer). The joy of creating something tangible with your hands is irreplaceable. I'm also learning new things everyday, thanks to the very generous crochet community who post tutorials online from all over the world. It's something to learn and do. Don't know much about selling, so right now, just happy to learn and create. Lovely video. Enjoyed watching this and would love to learn more about history and how crochet is prevalent and where in the world. A video on latest trends in crochet would also be very welcome. I keep thinking, why bolero sleeves are so popular...Thank you charli!

[@theferger]

I got into crochet again in 2020, I initially learned from my grandma when I was a kid. It was so rewarding to make projects and gift them to people I love!

[@jocelynflores000]

I learned how to knit when i was 13 and didn't pick it up again till lock down and now I've made most of my winter wardrobe!

[@emilybowne6043]

I got into crocheting because I saw my mom doing it. I like your use of the phrase "quiet activism" because while attending college, I crochet out in public only to harassed for doing something that was anti feminist. Those of us who liked crocheting, knitting, and embroidery had to do in the college library otherwise we got verbally shamed for doing something that we enjoyed. This was before the pandemic, and I'm very glad that anything craft related is gaining popularity

[@madisonsteffel6084]

I started crocheting in Jan of 2023 because I saw videos of adorable amigurumi and decided I wanted to learn a new hobby. Still going strong 18 months later and I love being able to make gifts for my friends and family. Most importantly, I enjoy the satisfaction from creating something with my hands. Especially at the end of a long corporate day 😅

[@nocerebrums682]

I started crocheting in June last year after my Nanna passed away, I have always been drawn to ‘turn your brain off’ hobbies and it helped me to crawl out of my grief at the time, now a year on I have crocheted almost every day since I started and I never see myself stopping, it has brought me so much creative release and also education on fast fashion, and a surprisingly amazing community in my city and online. I’m so happy that my generation have revived this beautiful craft

[@Aa1iyx]

I’m 21 and I love crocheting. I started back in late 2023. After getting into it I learned so much about fast fashion v slow fashion. Now my wardrobe only consists of my crochet pieces and second hand clothes from Depop and thrifts

[@johan8676]

i dont want it to just be a dumb trend that you forget about and go back to fast fashion when you feel like its not trendy anymore. everyone needs to uplift and keep pushing for handmade and smallscale business for clothing for the rest of your lives and never, ever go back to thinking fast fashion is okay

[@fernandaabreu6835]

Loved the video! I haven't learned how to crochet yet but I started sewing recently and I would add that one of the things that really makes me love these kinds of hobbies is simply being able to immerse your attention in something other than a screen... also, I feel like even if you start crafts with no political intentions, it's kind of impossible not to think about it. I mean, I have been reading about fast fashion and the environment for years now but *actually* making something with your own hands just hits different because now you're face to face with all the labor involved and how little *you* would be payed considering the cost of the materials alone.

[@moonstar9559]

I didn't realize that crochet was trending until I randomly decided to engage in crochet. One day I needed a new beanie and I just had the idea to make one instead of buying one. I had dabbled in crochet in the past but never got into a community until I made my beanie and enjoyed it so much i wanted to try other patterns. I sort of fell into the crochet algorithm and found there was a very active community. Now it's everywhere and I just assumed it only cause I interact with it.

[@elodiepollock7326]

For me it is just very emotionally regulating, it's like stimming, and the fact that I can have nice stuff after as a result is just the cherry on top!

[@knitsnloops]

crochet is an antidote to depression and anxiety - no drugs needed ❤

[@MoonlitBookworm73]

I’m a cosplayer and crochet has been SO USEFUL when doing my cosplays! My most recent cosplay featured a crocheted shrug, potion bottle amigurumi, and glass jar cover! The potion bottle and glass jar also got last minute attachments so they could slip onto my belt!

[@irregularstuff5290]

I started crocheting after 2020 because i saw tutorial of hyperbolic plain crochet from mathematician. I thought that if he can do it without any training whatsoever - then I can too. Then I saw a pattern of horseshoe crab and decided it'll be cool to make it, then a lot of other amigurumi, and now I can read graphic patterns (and honestly I prefer them in a doilies, they're very convinient as in you don't have to crawl through wall of text, plus usually you don't even have to remember a lot of symbols unless you go out of your way to find complicated piece) and am slowly doing my own clothes.

[@emmao6578]

yay I'm glad to find a fellow pattern diagram enjoyer, they are so much more convenient than having to read through text patterns which gives very little indication what the finished shape of the pattern is and finding your place in a text pattern is way more awkward too. Often if a pattern doesn't have a diagram and it's got a lot of repeats or I'm going to make it a few times I'll draw up my own quick diagram as it's just so much easier for me to glance at. I feel like reading them came pretty naturally to me for whatever reason so I've always been baffled that so many people seem to view them as indecipherable squiggles

[@irregularstuff5290]

@@emmao6578 I. Honestly haven't thought of making sketch diagrams myself. Thanks, in highsight that was obvious!

[@alandoodles]

Personally, I just started crocheting when I was 11 because I saw my best friend's mom crochet really cool hats and loved. She gave me two balls of yarn, two crochet hooks, and an instruction book for my birthday. I was hooked since and made my own blankets. Nowadays I make more stuffed toys, coasters, and now I'm starting to lean into switching colors more for small tapestries. Making images. This video was interesting to watch to be sure. I always joked as a kid that I was like a grandma for crocheting as a preteen and later teenager in the 2010s. It was a surprise to me to later find out more people my age crocheting recently after the pandemic.

[@KingSugarbear]

I got recommended this since I’ve been looking into crochet videos. I tried to get into it during lockdown, but I didn’t understand it and gave up until a couple weeks ago, when I decided to get back into it as a new hobby, inspired by a video by Made in the Moment about MCY. What appeals to me about it is how I can create things like blankets out of what seems like a simple resource, yarn, as well as how I can do something that’ll satisfy the part of my brain that constantly wants be productive while giving myself a quiet, fun time. Plus, it’s another excuse to listen to long-form KZbin videos.

[@emmao6578]

yes there is no better pairing than crochet and long-form youtube videos

[@bemysugarcookie]

I’ve been crocheting since I was 8 because this lovely old lady taught me because I was curious. I love that crochet got popular because that meant I could now bond over a hobby with people my age🥺

[@idkeitherwasntavailable]

I love how educational this video was. It's been about 4 years since I took crocheting as a serious hobby, and even before the pandemic, I was introduced to it through a friend, though, I wasn't very good at it then. I was really happy to see more and more people on social media learning how to crochet and really pushing pass the limit of creativity when it comes to what you can make and design with it.

[@Margot_Lazarus]

32 year old millennial here. I started crocheting when I was 12 simply because during the months of January and February grades 5-8 would have half days on Mondays and the second half of the day was spent doing activities. Most people chose skiing/snowboarding, but I'm not good or that into that. Crocheting was an option and as someone who always like crafting it sounded cool to me. I never stopped doing it. It was so interesting to learn the history behind it. Thank you for you!

[@cozygoblin]

I am millennial and I've been knitting since 2009 and have been wanting to pick up crochet to supplement what I can do...started crocheting this year and I've loved it. I had no idea it was a huge trend 🤣 I'm appreciating all the cool patterns from gen z tho!!

[@aureyd2515]

I don't remember exactly when I started working with yarn. An aunt provided a hook, yarn, and showed me the basic stitches. I didn't have patterns, I just free formed it, making doll clothes. Later, as a preteen, a neighbor's daughter taught me how to do granny squares when I couldn't follow the pattern. With that, I was able to learn to decipher the written patterns. Half a century later, I still crochet fairly regularly. Not a lot and mostly gifts. I hope to be able to focus more on my handcrafts when I'm retired.

[@zabacinjsh]

I wish 90's and early 00's crochet/knitwork boom could have also been mentioned. There is so much there that could be used as comparison also showing some darker aspects of activist fashion becoming a trend with how the grunge aesthetic eventually resurfaced too with a capitalist tint

[@annavanderwal990]

i started crocheting right after the pandemic and what i love most about crochet is when i finish a piece and put all those hours of work in it i just feel so proud to wear something or use something that i made myself. i also get compliments from strangers when they see it and its the greatest thing ever😊

[@hello_again9149]

Personally I’ve wanted to start crocheting since I was little because we always bought those crochet kits from Costco to make these dolls for all types of shows such as star wars but nobody in the house could figure it out. Not even my mom who could knit or my grandma who used to crochet a bit. Then last year we went to an art shop with a bunch of crochet pattern books and kits and we bought one amigurumi book and a crochet kit for me and my sister to learn together because it was our dream since we were little. I ended up learning it alone near the end of the school year and now at this point I make anything crochet for any reason but mostly for gifts.

[@sophielopez8176]

I always joke that I have old ppl hobbies 😂 been crocheting for forever. I even bring my projects to my welding job and work on them during my breaks. Now I’m thinking about your point about free time. Sometimes I just get so excited for the end result.

[@harukazeeh]

I learned how to crochet when I was a kid in early 2000s. I learned from my sister and we had a book of patterns. People often know it is something only grandmas do. It was so hard to learn before because I only learned with a 3 ply yarn/thread and thin hook 😂. The only time I started to see same aged people do crochet is when we had a project in high school. My schoolmate also got interested in crochet and I thought her how to read the symbol patterns and lend her our book, that was nice to see someone interested in the craft. Fast forward to today it's already a trend to youngsters. Just this year I started to crochet again as an alternative to sewing.

[@SupehPingu]

Great video ! I crochet because it reduces my anxiety, it occupies my mind because it requires concentration and it keeps my hands busy. What's more, it challenges me and gives me a healthy and pleasant little dopamine hit :)

[@visbiss]

I feel like crochet became popular because sustainability is also being pushed. Our generation is becoming more crafty. Reusing certain items until it cant be used anymore to hopefully save rhw dieing environment 😭 So being able to make our own clothes, decor, and household goods is perfectly in line with that mindset. Its also super good for your mental health. Crochet kept me from commiting (slip and slide) a few years ago. Sorry for rhe long comment. Im a professional yapper 🤓☝

[@LeineyX3]

I'm so glad you used clips of Jenna Phipps because she was all I would listen to when I would crochet! I showed my friend a picture of her and she said that she was ugly. And I was like 'thats no the point.' 😕Lets just say Im not her friend anymore. Anyway, great video!

[@dejahdanger]

I started crochet when I was 18, which was 22 years ago now. It’s been wild watching it go from rarely seen to mainstream. I have found that most brands claiming to sell crochet are selling a knitted facsimile, created by machine. Even Taylor Swift’s dress and the viral Miu Miu scrap purse are fake crochet posing as the real thing. I wish brands would be clear that it LOOKS like crochet. It’s not actually.

[@liquid_computer]

I got into crochet last summer after being influenced by a good friend of mine who has been crocheting for ten years! I actually had no idea that the crochet boom online had started in 2020, and thought it was much more recent, but maybe it's just because I started tuning into it more recently.

[@nemiatarot497]

Very interesting deep-dive into crochet. I learnt to crochet from my grandmother back in the 70s and have never stopped, even when it was uncool. One aspect that adds to crochet's popularity right now may be the influx of different esthetics: Japanese amigurumi cuteness, the intricate and nostalgic look of Irish crochet (that is anything but uniform - you can make freeform lace in any crazy shape you like). There are also excellent Turkish, Russian and South American crochet designer, and their styles are distinct and also influenced by folk crafts from their culture. Using an easy-to-learn technique with readily available tools, you can dip your feet into different styles. It's eclectic, it's individual, and as opposed to techniques like embroidery, crochet lives well with wonkiness and less-than-perfect execution. Crochet is inviting, forgives mistakes and imperfections, and it's a beautiful way to express your own creativity - and of course love. Giving something hand-made as a present, expressing love with every stitch, makes crochet presents cherished by the recipient (at least I hope so!!). And of course - in a world where machines, computers and AI can do anything, taking up a hook and some yarn is an act of resistance. I crochet, so I am.

[@pantamews]

Genz kiddo here i just learned how to crochet yesterday, i wanted to learn something cool during my summer break and maybe who knows make my own plushie no way am i going to use my phone the whole summer 😭

[@beckylovesyou]

Because people are soooo over fast fashion. We’re all wanting cute clothes that actually fit and aren’t made with toxic plastic and slave labor

[@haileygirl9589]

The main reason I crochet is being able to make stuffed animals, decor, or clothing from shows or games I really like. It’s like throwing my personality into my everyday things.❤

[@Luna-ej4mi]

I crochet since November 2019, when times were simpler than now. As with most things I make (and crochet) these days: nobody can do it better than yourself

[@lifewithkhenny2603]

I loved how you said “ hooked “ I love our crochet terminology ❤

[@grtlg0rl]

I feel as though after 2020 more and more people are taking time for themselves to be able to complete or start projects. I always loved crocheting but during and after the pandemic I started to make things I actually like and now I crochet practical things such as clothing

[@marii9640]

loved this video! you brought so many aspects from the world of crochet, things i didnt even think abt, so that was awesome to learn. just one reason i personally think, as a crochet lover, that made crochet still so interesting, is the fact that it encourages individuality. its so nice to make something from scratch and receive praise from others, like yes, i made that! and you can truly show your personality throught it, also confronting fast fashion like you said.

[@marii9640]

i think an example of this is the fact that even though tiktok changes aesthetics every week, you can fit crochet into every single one of them, from grunge all the way to coquette, so its very flexible!

[@saintsaens1992]

omg gucci resently released the laziest fish net crochet shopping bag and they are charging 1800 usd. its outrageous if you know the workers are prolly not seeing more than 20.-for their work.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

I’d wanted to try crochet for a while before I began because some of my family members did it, I was given a crochet blanket as a baby 🥺 But I don’t live close enough to learn from them. I began seeing it on social media and the channel ikoxun is who actually got me to start!!! She has a great video for beginners and I find the mindset she approaches it with helpful I have chronic fatigue but also hyperactive presenting adhd (it’s so conflicting) and it’s very useful to have a hobby that still involves some movement but that I’m actually capable of doing most of the time! And it’s given me more appreciation for the work that goes into clothes

[@youllbemytourniquet]

I love crochet (and knitting) because it’s really cool that I can create things with my hands! I’ve always wanted a hobby and I’m so happy that I finally do! It’s really upsetting that it’s trickled into fast fashion, but I hope people make the right choice when it comes to these items.

[@FamilyThreads-m9z]

This video was super well written, and you are absolutely gorgeous!!

[@Shalale]

i love to make my own stuff I like to make everything from scratch from my own food to bricks of my house crochet feels amazing it's a freeing experience .. like i can manifest my true self in clothing items and furniture and express myself

[@helenlayley]

That's an excellent discussion of crochet history! Thank you. I learned from my gran, 35 plus years ago, and it was the fun of creating as well as a way to occupy me.

[@sarapardo8980]

I started crochet also in the pandemic but the main reason was that I couldn’t find cute clothes in my size where I live so I found a way to make them myself. Now it is my main hobby, it turns my brain off and I can forget about my job, stress and anxiety while crocheting. It is rewarding and you can always challenge your brain a little bit more each project💕

[@srgtbarnxs1831]

when the only memory I got from my grandma was her calling me over to check the size of the cardigan she was making for me, of course i freaking love crochet 💖

[@salviaexpedition]

Crochet is definetily form of art and expression, slow fashion and accessible hobby to me. Costs a lot less than many other hobbies. Sure yarn costs money, but compared to supplies, classes, outfits or travel costs of other hobbies, not that much. But I also do small things and I don’t use expensive yarns.

[@effiea.7692]

My friend tried to get me into crochet when we were little (maybe 9 or 10) and I didn't get it. Then years later, on my most recent birthday, I saw yarn and hooks in a store and went for it on an impulse, and I don't regret it at all! I'm obsessed with crochet now; I was working on some pants while watching this video. Thanks for doing the research, it's really fascinating! Subscribed :)

[@TEEHEE-10]

i just decided to do it cause my mom bought a kit and never used it, now im making clothes, plushies and learning to knit 💀

[@elzilrac]

Excellent video, well researched, and I learned a lot! Love to see more of these commentary style videos from you.

[@crow_creek]

as a gen z crocheter, i actually got into it from a young age as i got yarn and hooks from my aunt for a birthday along with being gifted some old crochet books from my moms boss. i lost the hooks for a couple yrs but then my aunt gifted me a new hook set last year and ive picked it up permanently as one of my favourite hobbies❤

[@dragonrhapsody]

I learned how to crochet when I was a child, from my grandma, but I wasn't really interest in doilies at the time. 😂 I relearnef in my 20s & have been crocheting ever since! I'm 40 now and still crochet, usually amigurumi for my kids, or blankets for friends' babies, etc. I want to get into fashion crochet, but a plus size woman in her 40s it's hard to find anything that I would feel comfortable in. 🥲

[@CasualKnitter]

Less time on social media - more time to crochet - more dopamine from completed garments ❤

[@roual.b]

Perfect video to watch while crocheting

[@kalenreichert]

I started crocheting in the mid-90s as a way to relieve stress and keep warm in my drafty dorm room in college, and fill a hole I’d felt since my Grandma Tillie passed just before my 7th birthday. She crocheted an afghan for my parents that was proudly displayed in our living room for as long as I could remember and I’d always wanted to learn how to crochet but my Mom’s craft was cross-stitch so that’s what she taught my sisters and me. After we moved out of my childhood home, the afghan was put away in storage in my parents’ new home and when I was home one weekend working on a still life painting for college, I found the afghan and included it in my painting which I titled, “Memories Tucked Away”. After I’d finished the painting, I visited my favorite craft store, bought the “Learn to Crochet in Just One Day” booklet, a hook, and a skein of rainbow variegated yarn, and it worked. I was hooked. 29 years later, I still feel the same connection with my Grandma and the love that goes into every handmade item.

[@feline_spo0ky]

Great vid, really enjoyed and I learned a few things. Looking forward to more content

[@darcystone8768]

In my experience, COVID gave me the opportunity to learn how to do it, and now that I'm decent at it, it is easy to pick up and put down. It also provides a doomscroll alternative 😅

[@paulafox30]

Thanks for the history lesson. Found it quite intriguing.😊❤

[@paddy404]

I got into crochet cause of amigurumi, I was deprived of toys growing up, my mom thought I played too hard so she never got me a toy again... Ive been tryna make my own toys for years using paper, and rags i find around in the house but it was always too messy for me and if its messy my mom threw it out lol Now while I was waching I was making a catnap plushie :>

[@adeleela]

I learned how to crochet around 2011-2012 when I was a kid. Back there I wouldn’t tell anyone because it was a cringe hobby only old women did, so I kept it to myself. Now everyone is so obsessed about it because its cool and trendy.

[@BlazeTheDemidragon]

i was actually crocheting a blanket for my friend the entire time while watching this video lmao. i got into crochet during late 2021 because i wanted a yellow blanket to throw over the back of a couch for a future apartment someday :) said blanket looks terrible (im a painter and digital artist so i already know the drill of not expecting your first work to be amazing) but ive kept with it because i like the process of making things with my hands and its very useful for my ADHD to have something to fidget with, especially during work because i functionally have nothing else to do there and there's no one around to stop me. i also recently picked up knitting, which is very fun. i think in a way, having the ability to just make things that you might need or want (scarves, hats, sweaters, socks, blankets etc) makes you feel like you have more control over what you own because you have to be really committed to having that thing. plus, when a lot of things end up looking the same because That's How Capitalism Works, you will never find the same crocheted object, even if the people are using the same pattern or yarn. it allows people to have the power to make choices and the ability to exist more as an individual rather than just another "cog" in this hellscape of a fictitious machine

[@crochetmezaddy]

This was such a fascinating deep dive into crochet lore - thanks for making this video, really enjoyed it!

[@jozefien1702]

I just started crochet a week ago and i am hooked. I have tried it before but i just did not get it and would insert my hook in the wrong places and got frustrated and threw it to the side. Last week i thought lets just try it again and this time it just clicked. I am making a blanket with single crochet with 2 colors. And i a making a amigurumi penguin from a kit a bought on temu. I think it’s a good mental health tool i have a racing mind alot. And withr crochet i can just start counting stiches and focus on something else

[@maddyearhart]

I started crocheting but switched to knitting just for personal preference. Regardless, it’s been interesting watching people around me notice my slow change in wardrobe towards things I made. They fit better, they’re more unique, they’re more comfortable, and they’re way more towards my style - but they also often take me 50-100 hours to make. People often tell me they want to have the clothes I have, and I’m kind of torn because I’m just aware that not everyone can have them - they’re too labor-intensive for me to make for other people, even if I sold them. And the care, especially if you’re using an animal fiber like wool/silk is higher. So while on one hand it feels like a rebellion against fast fashion, I also don’t feel comfortable telling other people that this is the right solution for everyone, because it requires time and energy in both producing and maintaining the clothes that I just know isn’t accessible to all people everywhere. And I still struggle to hold both sides of this coin in my head as true. It’s the right thing for me, but I can’t fault other people for not adopting it because I know it’s not the right thing for everyone. Regardless, really loved your thoughtful deep dive into this topic!! Made me think about this craft from a new angle!

[@memethemastermonarch9459]

I actually got into crochet AFTER the pandemic. My friend taught me after she said she was going to make dolls of our favorite video game characters but never finished them. So to try and take up the task myself, I asked her to teach me. But I totally see the appeal it has to activist and rebellious types, as my friend is the most punk person I have ever seen, and how that style is also tied into political statements it's incredibly funny.

[@JB-el6le]

I’m not gen z I’m millennial but I’m obsessed with crochet because usually crochet pieces for example like the taylor swift dress are always out of stock. I can just make my own 😊 and it will fit me better because I’m making it for me!

[@Altsquidy]

I found out about crochet when I was younger, same with knitting then I stopped doing both and picked them back up during the pandemic and well now I make things to wear. Personally I am addicted to creating things no matter what it is so that’s also a point as to why I like it. Also the fact of it’s cute and you get the rush of wow I done that me 😊

[@abby-xo7kf]

I’ve been crocheting since I was like 9. My grandma taught me. She made blankets for the children’s hospital.

[@manasa4696]

Hmm fascinating content - thanks Charli!

[@adore.eclipze]

watching while crocheting

[@justnothing890]

Me personally I got into crocheting since it was something that I saw both my mom and grandma doing and i got curious. In fact a lot of the older women in my family crocheted and so I began doing it as well when I was 11.