Sisters of the Cloth

Knit and crochet have something special in common. Each can be worked from the starting end of a ball, skein, cone, or other supply source until the supply runs out. To realize how important this idea is, think of how, when you sew, you must cut a length of thread, knot the end, and then pull the entire length through the first stitch until the knot catches. Each consecutive stitch requires that the remaining length be pulled up. Not so, when you knit or crochet!
I got excited while I was writing Contemplative Crochet and reading about the Turkish lace-making craft of oyasi. My author said that early oyas (edging lace on fabric) were needle-made but that after crochet was introduced, many were worked with a crochet hook. I remembered seeing a bit of what looked like knitted i cord from South America in a museum and noting that the label said it was made with a needle. I was incredulous. But it's true; the origins of stretchy fabrics come from, none other than, the original, primitive and simple, sewing needle. Recent understanding of and resurgence in the craft of nalbinding add another piece to the puzzle. With nalbinding, shorter lengths of thread or yarn were spiced in to create the looped fabric that was needled into ancient versions of socks, mittens and hats. The needle is the Mother-of-All and her work is recognizable by her short lengths.
Over the course of history, we have created many variations of: needle, shuttle, and bobbin. But with the invention of first knitting, and then crochet, there was literally no stopping us, especially no stopping to cut, splice, wind or thread and no pulling through, trying to avoid tangles until the end of the strand was snug.