On May 7, 2008, at 10:15 PM, Chris Laning wrote:
> As I've said, I'm quite willing to believe Bjarne's example may be
> chain stitches and attachments made with a hook; I'm not dead set
> against there being crochet in the 18th century.
> Really, I do understand why people keep trying to find crochet
> earlier.
18th Century costume reseachers have known about that example —
the book from the Met has been out for quite some time! Also fly
fringe bits are strung together either with a chain, a braid or a
woven tape. Rick Hill of Colonial Williamsburg researched and taught
fringe-making, showing examples of all.
Crochet had to develop somehow. Tambour work was in use
(although it really gained popularity in the 1780s) — it being a
chain of embroidery made with a hook. It's not surprising someone
would try it as a stand-alone chain.
Similarly, knotting in the 18thC was done with a shuttle that
resembled a tatting shuttle. Tatting as we know it developed later.
Generally when people ask about crochet or tatting in relation
to the 18thC, they mean the lace and have a specific example at
hand. That's why we often hear it did not exist at the time, it's
the answer to those questions.
-Carol
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