Crochet Trivia

Hope you'll find this section interesting as I do!

Antimacassars?

These small doilies were a practical and fashionable accent in Victorian homes. They were named after a famous French draper, Mr. D'Oyley, who encouraged their use to protect fine upholstery from the greasy hair oil sported by Victorian dandies. These small doiles were also called, antimacassars, named after Macassar Oil.

Granny Squares?

The Granny Square was originally published in 1897 by the Weldon Company, London, as a pattern with which to use up leftover lengths of yarn. This pattern has the distinction of being one of the few crochet patterns continuously in print for over a hundred years.
Contributed by: B. J. Licko-Keel of IL.

A Trunk Full of Grannies . . .

For lots of ideas, you have to check this page out! A Trunk Full of Grannies

How Old is Crochet?

It seems shepherds were the first to crochet by using bits of wool shed by the sheep to make a "thread" (or yarn). Twigs and small branches were fashioned into "hooks" so they could make things to keep themselves warm while out in the fields. Could crochet be well over 2000 years old?

Contributed by: Panda Man - James

Who Crocheted?

• Carol Lynley

On the Johnny Carson show! Contributed by Maureen Blair

• Rosie Greer

The famous football player and also Lyle Alzado! Contributed by squigit2@aol.com

• Anne Bancroft / Patty Duke

In the movie "The Miracle Worker," Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) is teaching the young Helen Keller (Patty Duke) to crochet. She then spells the word into Helen's hand but Annie cannot spell "crochet". She stumbles on it, corrects herself, corrects herself again and finally, in exasperation, spells "sewing" into Helen's hand. It's a great scene. Contributed by Kathleen S.

• James Buchanan

Our 15th President, (1791-1868, served 1857-1861)

• Bette Davis

In several of her movies she is seen with a hook and thread - and appears to be doing the actual thing - either crocheting or tatting. Contributed by Shanna W.

• Queen Victoria of England (reigned 1837-1901)

She learned to crochet around the time of the Potato Famine in Ireland, when many Irish were crocheting to eke out a living. There is at least one photograh in existence of Victoria crocheting. (She also encouraged the growth of the Irish crochet industry by buying some of the lace, which prompted members of her court and fashionable people to do the same). Contributed by Kathryn

• Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957)

Her "Little House" books contain several references to crochet.

• Rose Wilder Lane (Laura Ingall's daughter)

Crocheted and wrote about crochet in "The Women's Day Book of American Needlework."

• Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune)

Contributed by Lee Ann

• Joan Crawford (Actor)

She loved making facecloths for all of her friends. Several years ago one of the magazines did an article about her crocheting for all of her friends on the set. Contributed by: Joyce

If you know other prominent people from our past or famous people who currently crochet, please use our Email form and I'll add their name to our growing list!