Exploration Crochet is a storytelling podcast that dives deep into the art, history, and culture of crochet—exploring the craft itself as an evolving art form that connects stitches to stories, makers to math, and yarn to humanity. Hosted by ReRe of the Yarn Over Hook Network, each episode unravels fascinating threads—from folklore and fiber science to fairs, community and culture, and the future of handmade craft. It’s part history lesson, part maker’s circle, and all heart—celebrating crochet as both a creative act and a living tradition.
Exploration Crochet
Claim This Podcastby ReRe
5.0(10 reviews)
30 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Exploration Crochet is a storytelling podcast that dives deep into the art, history, and culture of crochet—exploring the craft itself as an evolving art form that connects stitches to stories, makers to math, and yarn to humanity. Hosted by ReRe of the Yarn Over Hook Network, each episode unravels fascinating threads—from folklore and fiber science to fairs, community and culture, and the future of handmade craft. It’s part history lesson, part maker’s circle, and all heart—celebrating crochet as both a creative act and a living tradition.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
9/2/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
Hooks for Humanity: The Red Cross and the Birth of the Crochet Corps | S2 EP17
<p>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 for soldiers during WWI. Explore the surprising connections between wartime knitting, crochet, and the development of organized fiber arts charity work. This episode reveals how the Red Cross helped create the blueprint for modern crochet volunteer organizations.</p><p></p><p><strong>LINKS</strong> |</p><p>Companion blog | <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/explorationcrochet/p/hooks-for-humanity-the-red-cross-7d2?r=4mgl69&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ExplorationCrochet.com</a></p><p>Library of Congress Blog | <a href="https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2026/04/knit-your-bit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2026/04/knit-your-bit/</a></p><p>American Red Cross: Instructions for Knitting | <a href="https://collections.theworldwar.org/argus/final/Portal/Default.aspx?component=AAAS&record=6eec2929-de90-427f-91aa-6911f1d1a1da" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://collections.theworldwar.org/argus/final/Portal/Default.aspx?component=AAAS&record=6eec2929-de90-427f-91aa-6911f1d1a1da</a></p><p>Knitting the Nation | <a href="https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/knitting-nation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/knitting-nation</a></p><p>Men’s Sleeveless Sweater for Navy Use | <a href="https://digital.centerforknitandcrochet.org/items/show/8892" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://digital.centerforknitandcrochet.org/items/show/8892</a></p><p>Bear Brand Yarns: Directions for Crocheted and Knitted Articles |<a href=" https://explorationcrochet.com/p/214dc9e1-3f9b-42c1-88dc-6a2560b059c7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://open.substack.com/pub/explorationcrochet/p/hooks-for-humanity-the-red-cross-7d2?r=4mgl69&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true</a></p><p>FREE Red Cross First Aid Kit Pattern | <a href="https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/red-heart-red-heart-cares-crochet-first-aid-kit?srsltid=AfmBOoqZexOoH3_D7KmPz2sQWFg9JeXKz_u7TZzcod9DKkmkW3XP1IEe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/red-heart-red-heart-cares-crochet-first-aid-kit?srsltid=AfmBOoqZexOoH3_D7KmPz2sQWFg9JeXKz_u7TZzcod9DKkmkW3XP1IEe</a></p><p>Read aloud: <strong>Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story</strong> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tg30gZi33E" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tg30gZi33E</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Sound Attribution</strong> |</p><p>YOH Tune | https://dova-s.jp/EN/_contents/author/profile162.html</p><p>""K-K-K-Katy" was a popular World War I-era song written by Geoffrey O'Hara in 1917</p>
June 4, 2026
Crochet Symbols Decoded: The Not-So-Universal Language of Crochet Charts | S2 Ep16
<p>In this episode of Exploration Crochet, ReRe decodes the world of <strong>crochet symbols and crochet charts</strong>, 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 chart symbols work and how Japanese crochet charts helped influence global chart literacy. The episode also explains why special stitches, amigurumi shorthand, designer preferences, and regional notation make the pattern key essential. Whether you are new to reading crochet charts or already chart-literate, this episode shows why crochet symbols are a shared visual language, and while they may not be universal law, they are a powerful visual tool that helps patterns travel across borders.</p><p><strong>🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned |</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Crochet Translation Project</strong> - Crochet Terms | <a href="https://oombawkadesigncrochet.com/category/crochet-translation-project/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://oombawkadesigncrochet.com/category/crochet-translation-project/</a></li><li><strong>How to Read Crochet Charts: Free Symbols Quiz & Printable Guide</strong> | Download your printable chart-reading cheat sheet and test your skills here: <a href="https://yarnoverhook.com/how-to-read-crochet-charts-quiz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://yarnoverhook.com/how-to-read-crochet-charts-quiz/</a></li></ul><br/><p>Thank you for listening to Exploration Crochet! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite yarn craft bestie.</p><p>Remember: <strong>Read the chart. Read the key. Respect the dialect!</strong></p><p><strong>🎶 Sound Attribution</strong> |</p><ul><li><strong>YOH Tune</strong> | <a href="https://dova-s.jp/EN/_contents/author/profile162.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dova-s.jp/EN/_contents/author/profile162.html</a></li><li><strong>theatticdude13</strong> | <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/attic13-35207983/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=164785" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://pixabay.com/users/attic13-35207983/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=164785</a></li></ul><br/>
May 21, 2026
Crochet’s Long History of Being Problematic — to Somebody | S2 Ep15
<p>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, domesticity, art, and taste. Topics include Irish crochet lace during the Great Famine, Victorian decorative culture, industrialization, gender expectations, modern fiber art, and online crochet discourse. ReRe also examines how crochet continues to face assumptions about acrylic yarn use, granny squares, crochet garments, and crochet socks in both yarn shops and internet culture. Ultimately, the episode argues that crochet itself was rarely the true controversy — crochet simply became a visible site where larger social anxieties played out. This week we’re exploring why crochet has spent so long being ‘problematic’ — to somebody.</p><p>LINKS |</p><p>Join the conversation for FREE | <a href="https://YarnOverHook.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YarnOverHook.com</a></p><p>Subscribe for FREE | <a href="https://ExplorationCrochet.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ExplorationCrochet.com</a></p><p>Suggest a Crochet friendly yarn Shop | <a href="https://CrochetYarnCrawl.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CrochetYarnCrawl.com</a></p><p></p><p>SOUND ATRRIBUTION |</p><p>YOH Tune | https://dova-s.jp/EN/_contents/author/profile162.html</p><p>Piano Synth Loop by EEE3333E -- https://freesound.org/s/854558/ -- License: Creative Commons 0</p>
30 total episodes available
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- What is Exploration Crochet?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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