Why It’s Impossible to Build a Crochet Machine

Video written by Amy Muller

[rosehipowl]

Can't believe something I learnt to do as a child is impossible for machines. Finally I feel some kind of superiority

[creamNsuga_]

as a crocheter, this is why i encourage ppl to at least be able to tell the difference between a knit stitch and a crochet stitch. fast fashion knit for $30 i know a machine made it. crochet for $30? i know that person who made that probably made less than 10 cents on that sweater and that is disgusting.

[black_forest_]

Fun fact: Knitting machines were the first machines to use what is essentially code and programmes, run on binary input. To tell the machines what pattern to knit, they invented punch cards with holes for the 1s. This way you could essentially "program" a pattern by creating these cards that the machine could read. Essentially, an early form of an analogue computer. One woman, Ada Lovelace was inspired by these knitting machines and wrote the first machine algorithm which at the time only existed on paper. You should read more about Ada Lovelace, she was a brilliant mathematician.
Edit: Replace knitting machine with weaving machine. I guess I heard too much about knitting in the video and got confused ':D

[sage]

As a crocheter and knitter who sells their work I’m always asked why do I charge more for crochet, this video is exactly why. It takes longer, cost more yarn as the stitches call for more yarn than the common pearl or knit stitch, and it’s way more tiring on the hand.. glad this video was able to explain that even more!

[goldpapillon]

I’m a knitter that really appreciates videos on topics like this, especially since not many people know that a lack of “crocheting machine” means that all fast fashion crochet pieces are done by hand by underpaid folks, usually under poor working conditions. With that said, Harry Style’s sweater look knitted 😂

[LambentLark]

My grandma lived to be over 100. She started crocheting when she was 3 and did it all her life. She was really good and fast. She finished a sweater for her care givers new born baby the day before she passed.
When she was in her 80 she started to doze off while she was crocheting and watching tv. She would keep going till she would wake up,
"dang it! I dropped a stitch." And tear it out. Usually to the spot where she dozed off at.
There at the end one of us would take the project away when she would doze off. But her empty right hand would still dart in and out. And her stringless left index finger sticking up in the air.
Come to think of it. I don't remember her hands ever being idle.

[lorenstribling]

I am 68 and have crocheted since I was 10. The hardest thing I ever did was teach a left-handed friend to crochet. I finally had her sit facing me and copy my movements in reverse. One of the things I enjoy most is designing a new pattern. When I gift something to family or friends they know exactly how much time and love went into it. You can't put a price on that.

[stephanieferguson]

I learned crochet during lockdown using YouTube tutorials because it's always seemed magical to me that someone can take a ball of yarn and turn it into a hat or scarf or whatever. 3 years later and I'm addicted. The variety of things I can make, the accomplishment that what I made can't be done any other way, it's all so rewarding and fun!

[eskvar]

On the fast fashion front I feel it should be noted that just because something says it's crocheted doesn't mean it actually is. I saw a few "crochet" pieces in stores last year when this topic first blew up, and some were definitely knit stitches trying to mimic crochet, and at least one "granny square" outfit I saw looked like it was a single chain of knit stitches that had been folded back and forth and stitched down to look like the posts of crochet stitches. From a few feet away they passed, but up close someone who knows both knit and crochet stitches could see the shape of the stitches was all wrong for actual hand done crochet.

[zhazhagabr]

I've never seen someone who doesn't knit/crochet actuallt explain the differences competently. Well done!

[eliseosterbrink]

Crochet is so incredibly complicated... if you want to see exactly how complex it can get, look at Irish lace. It has hundreds of skipped stitches, increases, decreases, different stitch types, it jumps around a ton... you won't know where it started or ended, but each piece is absolutely beautiful. A machine definitely couldn't do that.

[singerofsongs]

Oh, this was a surprise! I’m a materials engineer and a pretty adept crocheter. I talk to my friends about this ALL THE TIME. One thing that really fascinates me is that many fast fashion clothes attempt to evoke the look of crochet with clever machine patterns. This is especially true for things like lace, but I’ve even seen colorful granny square-esque panels that, upon closer inspection, turned out to be machine-knit. Some designs have crocheted edges, or small crochet motifs that get sewn onto knitted fabric. But evidently, small crocheted items, no larger than a hat or purse, are still cost-effective for these companies when made by hand in a sweatshop 🙃

[GojiMet]

The one thing that will be impossible for AI to love

[Curiouscrazy]

As a crocheter and a lover of HAI, this was the most unexpected crossover, but I love it! All hail crocheting, the machines will never replace us!! YAY

[kadielynn]

as a crocheter, the inclusion of cool math games in the traits of crocheting cannot be understated

[cowboypuppy]

i love this video as someone who does both, but the original 'harry styles sweater' is knitted! the designer released the original pattern and a youtube tutorial in response to how popular it got, which i think is super cool. i knit one myself!

[ExistentialNathan]

Love when I see valuable crochet info in the wild. Crocheters, always remember that your work is worth it, and if someone wants to lowball you, remind them that crochet cant't be machine made.

[holthogan]

So I've recently been introduced to the world of crochet. I work a camera for a minor league hockey team and there's a lady who sits next to our camera who everyone calls the Crochet Lady. She's come to nearly every game for the last 30 years and always tells whoever is working that camera about what she works on and it's honestly so sweet.

[decaytale]

currently crochetting while listening to random youtube videos and this actually made me feel kind of special. it feels good to know that the blanket i'm slaving over using a front post double crochet cluster stitch can't just be cranked out in a few hours on a machine

[adamthethird]

As a rare person who works in robotics and automation, but also knows thread craft, this video is spot on.