2023 Experience Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage with Smart Lady: Crochet

By Junye Zhang and Wang Jinhong

Tune in to today's live show, sponsored by Beijing Women’s Federation, which is a part of our livestream series entitled Experience Chinese Culture with Smart Lady.

Today, our journey brings us to No. 11 Langjia Hutong Alley, where the Beijing Dongcheng District Association of Smart Ladies has a workshop here. We'll delve into the history and culture of traditional crochet.

Crochet refers to weaving a whole piece of cloth using a special hooked needle and a thread, which can then be weaved into clothes and home decorations. The English word “crochet” originates from the French words with the meaning of “hook.”

For today's show, we are privileged to have invited Zhao Xueyan, who’s well-versed in crochet. Since her childhood, Zhao has had a flair for needlework and is a self-taught crochet expert. She has been practicing crochet as a hobby for some fifty years. Let's check out her story with the art of crochet.