The Thrifty Six in Crochet Revival

Jane chose this month’s thrifty theme and it was like a sweet song for my bohemian soul. A crochet revival! Yes, please.

I love the inherently relaxed vibe created by crocheted items, flashing us back to the antiestablishment countercultures of the 1960s and 1970s. It was a time of modern bohemianism, a rise in hippie mentality and an increase in openly alternative lifestyles. Crochet became an iconic fashion trend that represented the generation which gave birth to Xers like myself. In traditional Gen X style, we do like to revive old things and make them new, creating a sustainable way to remain fashionable on a budget. Because we have lived long enough to know the damage that is caused by the overabundance of fast fashion, this group has made it our mission to inspire others to find their own creative style in preloved and thrifted fashion.

Did you know that crochet predates the Generation X trend by approximately 8,500 years? Yes, this method of creating textiles by using techniques of interlocking loops of fibers with a hook dates as far back as 6500 BC. Similar techniques of looping were emerging at the same time in ancient China, Egypt, and South America, but this crocheting was slightly different from the crocheting we know today. (Check out this article.)

As ancient cultures began trading with one another, crocheting techniques made their way around the globe and began taking on different forms depending on the culture. Modern crocheting as we know it today began to emerge in 16th century Europe as Italian nuns started crocheting intricate Venetian laces for European royalty and nobility. By the 19th century, crochet had become so popular worldwide that books were printed with patterns, making what was once a fashion trend available only to the rich and elite accessible to anyone with the patience to learn the craft of crochet. I am not one of those people. I can do a lot of things but crocheting is not one of them.

So when I want to add crochet into my wardrobe, I have to purchase it. And I have purchased quite a bit of crochet in my life…like these crocheted sunflower earrings, this crocheted poncho, this mint green crocheted dress, this blue and pink crocheted mini dress, this tan and pink crocheted mini dress, this long dark purple crocheted cardigan, my colorful granny square cardigan, this crocheted lace vest, this olive green crocheted sweater and white crocheted skirt, and various crocheted hats and other things.

But not a single one of those items was purchased secondhand. Oh no! That means I had to take myself on a thrifting adventure! With crochet on the brain, I had high hopes of finding some really good stuff in my local thrift shop. And I did. In fact, I found three really fun crocheted sweaters that came home with me. I actually created outfits for all three sweaters with the intention of sharing three different crochet looks in this post, but it will not stop raining here. I managed to get one crocheted outfit photographed in between showers and storm clouds.

The first outfit for my crochet revival pairs this newly thrifted olive green crocheted sweater with my super colorful patchwork skirt that was preloved and passed onto me by sweet Daenel. My thrifted suede moccasins suited the hippie feel of the boho skirt and sweater combination. Because it was so rainy and cold and crochet does not do very much by way of keeping me warm, I needed an extra layer to shield my back from the chill in the air. I tried a few different denim toppers but this preloved long denim vest that I wore for last month’s double denim challenge looked the best.

These was a lot going on with this outfit so I kept my accessories minimal with my olive green floppy felt hat, a new pair of flea market earrings, and a big tassel necklace.

I was really pleased with how well this outfit came together in a way that represents my personality. If you want to try a trend without investing a lot of money, thrifting is the way to go!

So how did my thrifty friends illustrate their crochet revivals? Click on the links or images below for details about each outfit.

• Emma of Style Splash
• Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
• Jodie of Jodie’s Touch of Style
• Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
• Sally of Within a World of My Own
• Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six is a group of international fashion lovers who meet once a month in our little space on the internet to share our thrifty outfits. On the third Monday of every month, we will all share an outfit based on a theme that features preloved wardrobe pieces. Shopping and reselling preloved clothing is so much better for the environment and you can find some of the best fashions in thrift or charity shops. The Thrifty Six are here not only to inspire you to shop second hand but to also get creative in your closets.

Emma of Style Splash

Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade

Jodie of Jodie’s Touch of Style

Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style

Sally of Within a World of My Own

Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge

If you enjoyed our sartorial interpretations of the crochet revival, please be sure to stop by on June 16, 2025, to see how we style Sally’s next thrifty theme. Until then, wear what you love and make every day a special occasion worthy of a fabulous outfit! 

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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