Material Folklore

Material Folklore includes those forms of folklore that are concrete and tangible. This can include art, crafts, tools, food, architecture, and more. While most of these objects are created by hand, even technologically produced materials can be considered folklore if it is used for "expressive" purposes. (Sims and Stephens. 2011. 13.)

As Expression : Text

Symbiotic Uses of Folk Art

Craft objects have many uses and intersect with most realms of life. While not all people sell their handicrafts, most practitioners use their skills to help express their beliefs, thoughts, and values, even as they create for others. This can be seen clearly in the ways people have used crochet to express emotion about the Covid-19 Pandemic.

(Photo of gnomes courtesy of Geneva Preble)

As Expression : Text

Using Crochet to Model Behavior

When a person designs something personal for another person it allows a flexibility in the lessons or values the maker wishes to communicate. This is important as people learn best when they are able to identify with the object or story.

Another aspect of personalization is when these objects are used to model behavior, especially for children.

Ho & Funk state, "Using puppets to demonstrate children’s appropriate behaviors helps children learn social and emotional skills meaningfully." (2018. naeyc.org)

(Photo courtesy of Dianne Snyder)

As Expression : Image

Using Time to help Others

Some people used this extra (isolated) time to focus on helping others that may have been in worse circumstances. In this specific case, these hats were made for the homeless population.

(Photo courtesy of Susie Bishop)

As Expression : Image

Killing Time During Isolation

There is a section of the population that is medically vulnerable, so during the pandemic they had to isolate to protect their health. Many crocheters used this extra downtime to practice their craft.

(Photo courtesy of Terri McManis Williams)

As Expression : Image

Using Crochet to Express Feelings

Some people used their craft to express the way they were feeling about Covid-19. It has had a large impact on all areas of life.

(Photo courtesy of Linda Moniz-Tetrault)

As Expression : Image

As an expression of Identity

People use crochet as a way to express identities they claim as their own, which can be multilayered. Some common ways of sharing ideology is through physical representation of race, religion, political affiliation, and so much more.

(Photo courtesy of Brenda Hogan MacHarrie, from pattern at TobieTimeCrochet.com)

As Expression : Image