Exploration Crochet

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 the answer is basically… yes), what yarn she’d choose if “forever” means a zombie-apocalypse-level forever, and the one project she can’t see herself ever starting, let alone finishing.

ReRe also talks about where...

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 way crochet is folded under “knitting.” ReRe walks listeners through each challenge—highlighting where crochet shines and where the format distorts how these crafts actually work. She also looks at the production side: extreme time limits, y...

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 differently with right-handed and left-handed crochet, why some yarns split, fuzz, and “fight back,” and how different fibers—wool, cotton, acrylic, and shiny plant-based yarns—behave under each twist. The episode also explores why m...

“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 fit and drape. Listeners also get access to a free Yarn Weight

Conversion Sheet PDF to make shopping and stash-diving easier.

Yarn Weight Conv...

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 rethink (high-heat kitchen use, hot-climate garments). The episode balances benefits (affordable, warmth without weight, reliable dye lots) with tradeoffs (pilling in budget grades, thermoplastic heat sensitivity, microfiber shedding) plus practical blocking and laundry tips. Verdict: acrylic isn’t hero or villain—it’s a fit-for-purpose...

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 fabric could shape fate, summon protection, or seal a promise. Then watch that legacy come alive in modern crochet, where each loop becomes an act of creativity, connection, and quiet courage. With stories of witch’s ladders, red-string lovers, and...

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 and strengthen the fiber community.

Along the way, ReRe highlights global yarn crawls from the U.S. to South

America, where shop-hopping and sk...

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 resisting labels that try to box it in. Warm, witty, and enlightening, this episode redefines what it means to be part of the global crochet community.

Sound Attribution:

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Funny...

Step right up friends, ReRe is taking you on a stroll through the exhibition halls where crochet has shined for more than 170 years. From the lace collars of the 1850s to the amigurumi dragons of today, fairs have showcased crochet’s blend of precision, creativity, and heart.

Along the way, you’ll hear how 4-H and Girl Scouts kept the craft alive for young makers, how yarn companies and magazines turned everyday crocheters into national prizewinners, and how modern fairs celebrate originality as much as skill.

With stops at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the 20...

At just over 200 years old crochet, the “new kid” of thread crafts, learned from its elders—especially the rustic bridge of Shepherd’s Knitting—and stepped into its own in the early 1800s. It leapt from tambour embroidery’s on-fabric chains to free-loop fabric you could build anywhere with just a hook and yarn. In famine-era Ireland, lacework became both livelihood and art, then traveled with immigrants to homes across the Americas and beyond.

Over time it settled beside quilting and knitting, shaping heirlooms, wardrobes, and community projects across classes and cultures. The 1960s–70s revived it in riotous col...

The Granny Square is more than just a crochet motif—it’s a cultural icon. In this episode of Exploration Crochet, ReRe takes us on a journey through the history, evolution, and surprising staying power of the Granny Square. This humble motif has proven itself timeless-- reinvented across decades of fashion, home decor, and fiber art. From its early appearances in Victorian pattern books to its explosion on the runways of the 1960s and 70s, the Granny Square has always found a way to stay fresh.

We’ll explore its global revival fueled by the internet, its modern...

Welcome to The Codex of HOOKSPEAK: Crochet's Secret Language

In this episode, ReRe opens the great folklore glossary of crochet—a living lexicon stitched together by humor, frustration, triumph, and mischief. We’ll travel from WIPs to TOADs, face the peril of yarn chicken, and meet the heroes and tricksters who embody these tales: Knights sworn to single quests, Bards who sing stitch by stitch, Dragons hoarding glittering stashes, and Tricksters who yarn-bomb the village square. This is more than slang—it’s myth-making, a language born from circles of friends and amplified by guilds, forums, and hashtags...

In this episode of Exploration Crochet, host ReRe takes listeners on a fun and surprising journey into the hidden world of math woven through every stitch of crochet. From the geometry of flat circles and ruffles, to Fibonacci spirals, symmetry, fractals, and even hyperbolic planes, discover how crochet patterns are living algorithms and wearable math.

Whether you’re a yarn enthusiast, a math nerd, or just curious, you’ll see how numbers and stitches team up to create beauty, rhythm, and cozy comfort you can wrap around your shoulders.

Crafters Autonomous | The Math Behind a Croc...

Join ReRe in Episode 1 of Exploration Crochet as she asks “Why crochet?” and uncovers the joy, creativity, and community behind the craft.

In this very first episode of Exploration Crochet, host ReRe shares her personal journey with crochet and explores the deeper question: Why crochet? From sparking creativity to building community, crochet is more than just yarn and stitches... It’s a way of life.

Whether you are just picking up your first hook or have been crocheting for years, this episode will remind you why we keep coming back to the craft we love.

T...