Crochet Madness
Despite its current popularity, crochet has been around for centuries. Beginning in the 1820s and continuing throughout the 1900s as a popular homemaking hobby (eg. 70s chevron throws and colorful shaws), crochet still makes its way into the age of technology. It’s easy to assume that modern-day individuals wouldn’t care for the craft, but it’s been the opposite.
Revisiting the homebound life of 2020, TikTok allowed people to find ways to distract themselves, and many found themselves starting new hobby journeys with crochet. “I hop from arts and crafts and crochet was on my list and saw people with cute clothes and said I want to make that,” said Nathan Jones, former CSULB student. “TikTok has blown it up, but I jumped on that bandwagon because I find the cutest patterns on TikTok.”
TikTok has helped the rise of crochet but has not been the only way crochet has been put on the map. In 2020, high fashion also incorporated the texture on the runway. Stella McCartney featured crochet pieces in her Spring 2020 Ready-to-Wear collection, showcasing its delicacy via cream colors, flower appliques, and black yarn outlines.
Stella McCartney RTW Spring 2020, by Giovanni Giannoni of Women’s Wear Daily.
Mccartney's recent Summer 2024 line features a cream crochet dress once again using different patterns such as granny squares, crochet stars and crochet circles all in one dress with added mirrors in between the stitches.
However, where does this lead to crochet in the future? Will more designers feel a pull towards crochet, or is it just another trend we’ll see fall? “I see crochet tops and a designer on TikTok that makes crochet dresses that are very avant-garde garments, now it's trendy and cool. It’s definitely a trend and I don’t think it's a fad,” said David Bonilla, a fashion major at CSULB. Fashion has had its fair amount of trends but as of now crochet doesn’t seem to be going anywhere in the industry.
The fashion brand Diotīma, founded and led by Rachel Scott, has not shied away from crochet. In her collections since 2021 each crochet piece has had intricate designs. From dresses and skirts to appliqués on pants, the collections have crochet in them with a variety of colors, ruffles and patterns. Diotīma melds the medium with the importance of representation.
Dress from Diotīma’s Spring 2023 collection.
“All our crochet —the foundation of the collection— is made in Jamaica” reads the Diotīmas website.
Here in Long Beach there continue to be many homemade businesses popping up selling crochet items such as cat hats, keychains, flowers and amigurumi.
One of those crochet businesses is Loved By The Gals, run by CSULB alumni Amanda Garcia CSULB and current CSULB student Maritza Gluntz. Gluntz began their crochet journey in 2020 whereas Garcia had been crocheting since elementary. Their small business began when Garcia was motivated by Gluntz to find a passion for crochet once again.
“Small businesses have been flourishing in the past year and making it so that their stuff is very fashionable and makes everyone want crochet stuff,” says Gluntz.
Accessories have been among their favorite things to make. “I’ve been liking making the sprouts because it's so detailed and pretty,” says Garcia.
Loved By The Gals booth at the Long Beach Nyte Market.
It’s clear many people enjoy these accessories. People are not shying away from either starting or purchasing from small business crochet.
“I didn’t see anybody do anything crochet until recently— it's super popular right now,” says Garcia.
“Everyday at school I see at least one person that has a sprout or cat beanie or something. It's super cute to see, and peaking recently,” says Gluntz.
Starting the hobby itself isn’t as expensive as people may assume. A hook can cost as low as three to four dollars and one skein of yarn can also cost as low as two dollars. Crochet can be accessible to the majority and help with reducing stress. “More serotonin is released with repetitive movement, which improves mood and sense of calmness. After you’ve learned knitting or crochet, it can also reduce blood levels of cortisol— the stress hormone” says the Anxiety Resource Center at CSULB.
During these midterms and finals find a moment of peace to yourself and distress by letting a little yarn into your life and enter the crochet madness that seems to be here to stay.