Crochet World Records

Crochet World Records

The Guinness Book of World Records holds some fascinating information about people all over the world who have beaten the odds and had the honor of holding a world record. Most of the ones we see or hear about are the athletic or odd world records, but there are in fact several crochet world records, held by people around the world from the USA to India. Read on to learn some facts about the fastest crocheter, the longest crochet chain, and the biggest crocheted blanket ever made.

#1 Fastest Crocheter – Lisa Gentry
In 2005, Lisa Gentry landed the world record as fastest crocheter when she showed up to a Michael’s Arts & Crafts Store in Louisiana and began hooking shell stitches. The number of stitches per minute? 170 – for a total of 5,113 stitches in just half an hour.

#2 Longest Crochet Chain – Anne Vanier-Drussel
In 2008, Anne Vanier-Drussel of France began working on what would become the longest crochet chain in the world, measuring a total of 130 kilometers (or just above 80 miles). Once completed, it was taken to Aniane, France to be measured and presented for the world record.

#3 Largest Display of Yarn Sculptures – Craft Club (UK)
In 2014, the Craft Club of Thundersley, Essex put together a display of 13,388 yarn sculptures. Craft Clubs are part of a national campaign to keep crafts and hobbies in schools and began in 2009. If you’d like to know more, visit their website: www.craftscouncil.org/uk

#4 Most People Crocheting Simultaneously – American University of Nigeria
In 2015, students attending the American University in Yola, Nigeria got together and crocheted for 20 minutes. They won the world record with a count of 485 people, beating the previous record of 426 people crocheting simultaneously for 15 minutes. If you’d like to read more of their story, you may do so at the following: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/195554-american-university-of-nigeria-enters-guinness-world-record.html

#5 Largest Crochet Blanket – 67 Blankets For Nelson Madela Day, The Department of Correctional Services and the Nelson Mandela Foundation
In 2016, the largest blanket ever crocheted was made by 1,500 inmates in 30 correctional centers around South Africa, measuring 185,016 square feet. Drakenstein Correctional Center, where the final assemblage took place, had housed Nelson Mandela for a short period prior to his release.

If you’d like to read more about crochet world records, The Guiness Book of World Records (online) has even more information here: Guiness World Records (search “Crochet”)

By Kaitlin Cone