Exploration Crochet

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe explores the fear of the first chain and why many beginner crocheters feel anxious before they ever pick up a hook. Through humor, research, and Roman’s Skinny Scarf™ story, the episode looks at fear of failure, perfectionism, avoidance, cognitive load, and the emotional pressure of learning something new. ReRe explains why beginner crochet mistakes ar...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet, ReRe uncovers the fascinating history of the American Red Cross, Florence Marshall, and the World War I "Knit Your Bit" campaign. Learn how ARC-400 helped standardize patterns, yarn, and production methods decades before modern craft standards existed. Discover how millions of volunteers created more than four million sweaters and millions of other garments...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe decodes the world of crochet symbols and crochet charts , exploring why international crochet symbols are helpful but not always universal. Inspired by a German crochet pattern question, the episode explains how charts help crocheters move beyond written language and bridge differences in crochet terminology. Listeners will learn how common crochet cha...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe explores why crochet has historically been viewed as controversial, overly decorative, too feminine, too homemade, and even “hostile to feet.” Comparing crochet to knitting across multiple historical eras, the episode examines how knitting was often associated with practicality and utility while crochet became entangled in debates about labor, class, d...

Yarn Bombing is a global fiber art movement that transforms public spaces through knitted and crocheted installations. While the term emerged in 2005 with Magda Sayeg and Knitta Please, the act itself predates the name, with earlier artists using fiber in public and environmental contexts. Over time, yarn bombing evolved from small “micro-tagging” interventions to large-scale installations, includ...

Did crochet almost get standardized in 1911? Discover the “Council of Brussels” and why U.S. vs U.K. stitch terms split and confuse crocheters to this day. In this episode of Exploration Crochet , we dive into the forgotten story of a 1911 international effort to standardize crochet terminology. Known as the Council of Brussels, this gathering of pattern writers, teachers, and textile thinkers set...

Who made the rules that help modern crochet make sense? In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe explores the history of the Craft Yarn Council of America and its role in shaping modern crochet. Founded in 1981, the CYC was created by the yarn industry to standardize communication, improve education, and support the growing yarn-craft market. The episode explains how the Council influenced cr...

Explore the fascinating history, craft, cultural significance, and technical brilliance of Irish Crochet Lace - one of the most beautiful and misunderstood traditions in crochet history. Host ReRe breaks down the unique construction method of separate motifs joined by intricate mesh. The episode traces how Irish crochet spread through organized teaching, print culture, women’s labor, and regional...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe examines the long and influential relationship between crochet and cotton, showing how cotton helped define the craft’s visual identity, accessibility, and historical reach. The episode explores why cotton worked so well for crochet, especially in lace, thread work, and household textiles. ReRe also highlights the importance of Irish crochet, and the c...

In March Magic: The History of National Crochet Month , ReRe explores the origins and meaning of National Crochet Month through the lens of crochet history, community, and cultural visibility. The episode explains how National Crochet Month developed from National Crochet Week and why March became an important time for crochet education, advocacy, and public celebration. ReRe breaks down what Nati...

Explore the cultural and economic history of the Local Yarn Shop (LYS) in this episode of Exploration Crochet . Host ReRe traces the evolution of yarn retail from 19th-century general stores to modern-day community "sanctuaries." Learn about historical landmarks like Heindselman’s and School Products NYC while discovering how the 1970s craft revival reshaped our hobby. Today, the crochet-friendly...

It’s never "just a hook." In this episode, we dive deep into the material science and global chaos of the crochet hook’s evolution. We explore how a simple notched stick transformed into a $500 luxury item. Crochet hooks are design history in your hand, shaped by materials science, industrial manufacturing, and maker culture. In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe traces hook evolution to i...

Mosaic crochet is one of modern crochet’s most "how-is-that-possible" looks. Mosaic is a bold, graphic colorwork technique that seems impossibly complex, yet is built on a simple rule: one color per row. In this episode of Exploration Crochet, ReRe traces mosaic’s story from 1970s mosaic knitting into crochet’s evolving toolkit. We’ll highlight the contributions of crochet legend Lily Chin and mod...

Discover the hidden history of George Washington Carver’s life as a prolific fiber artist and crocheter. While famous for his agricultural breakthroughs at Tuskegee University, Carver was a master of domestic arts who dyed his own threads using local Alabama clay and plant life. This episode of Exploration Crochet explores how his artistic training at Simpson College informed his world-renowned sc...

In this kickoff episode of Crochet: A Chain of Events — The People , ReRe introduces the Victorian-era publisher and pattern powerhouse Mlle. Eleonore Riego de la Branchardière , one of the earliest figures to make crochet reproducible at scale. We explore how crochet spread globally not just because it was clever, but because it became standardized, teachable, publishable, and commercially distri...

In Exploration Crochet S2 Ep3, ReRe explores the technical and cultural history of the adjustable ring , also known as the magic ring or magic circle . This episode explains what the technique truly is—a starting method built from a controlled slip-loop foundation—and why it likely emerged organically rather than being invented by one person. ReRe traces the method from Japanese chart culture (inc...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe kicks off a new deep-dive series on crochet innovations by tackling the craft’s most universal—and frustrating—beginning. We’ll explore the "Achilles' Heel" of crochet: the starting chain. This episode of Exploration Crochet traces the evolution of the starting chain and the rise of chainless foundation stitches like FSC and FDC. Host ReRe explores why...

In the Season 2 premiere of Exploration Crochet , ReRe officially introduces herself with a crochet creator Q&A inspired by Rachel from The Faded Wildflower Crochet YouTube channel. ReRe shares how she learned to crochet at 8 or 9 years old—three stitches, one spirally hair tie, and a lifelong love of making. You’ll hear why ReRe refuses to pick a single “favorite thing” to crochet (because th...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , host ReRe takes a thoughtful look at the first four episodes of Game of Wool: Finding Britain’s Best Knitter , exploring what the show gets right and wrong about knitting, crochet, and craft culture on TV. Speaking as a crocheter-who-has-knit, a non-Brit, and a non–reality-show person, she unpacks the title, the “new generation of knitters” tagline, and the...

In “Twisted Sisters: S, Z, and Your Crochet Sanity,” ReRe unpacks the hidden world of S and Z twist and why it almost never appears on the label. You’ll learn how S and Z twist developed through industrial spinning, why most commercial yarns are still S-twist by default, and how that history accidentally left crocheters out of the design conversation. ReRe explains how twist direction interacts di...

“Weight a Minute: An Exploration of Yarn Weights and Whys” demystifies yarn weight systems for crocheters, connecting industrial terms like tex, denier, and Nm to everyday labels like DK, Worsted, and Bulky. ReRe explains why yarn labels differ across countries, how to use WPI and swatching for smart yarn substitution, and shares a simple five-step checklist so your projects keep their intended fi...

Episode 10 of Exploration Crochet asks: Acrylic yarn—superhero or super villain? ReRe traces acrylic’s origin from 1940s lab fiber (polyacrylonitrile/PAN) to 1950s brands like Orlon®, explaining how it’s spun, crimped, and dope-dyed for bright, colorfast, machine-washable results. You’ll learn where acrylic shines—afghans, granny-square throws, amigurumi, donation and outdoor projects—and where to...

Step into the flickering candlelight of Exploration Crochet for “The Ties That Bind — Fiber Arts, Folklore, and Magic.” In this Halloween special, host ReRe unravels the myths and mysteries spun through history’s threads — from Celtic knots and Slavic storm-binding to the Greek Fates, the Norse Norns, and the Navajo Spider Woman. Discover how cultures across centuries believed yarn, string, and fa...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet , ReRe takes listeners on a fiber-filled road trip through the world of Yarn Crawls — community-driven events where crafters visit multiple local yarn shops armed with hooks, passports, and plenty of enthusiasm. From the origins of the crawl tradition to the first official LYS tours in the late 2000s, we explore how these creative adventures connect makers an...

In Twisted Tales: Frogging Crochet Stereotypes , host ReRe unravels the myths that have long tangled around crochet and the people who practice it. From the outdated “grandma’s hobby” image to gender stereotypes, and undervaluing of handmade work - this episode challenges every threadbare assumption. Listeners will hear how crochet bridges generations, cultures, and creative disciplines while resi...