I am struggling to learn to crochet
It can be challenging using a crochet hook to interlock loops of yarn.
Yes I have struggled with it partly because I have  carpal tunnel and my fingers swell but its tough to learn to crochet!
Sorry to hear that.  It is amazing to think of the lace making in France in the 17th century.
That is amazing and some of the lace is so beautiful
, while knitting keeps a large number of stitches open at a time. (Variant forms such as Tunisian crochet and broomstick lace keep multiple crochet stitches open at a time.)
Etymology.
The word crochet is derived from the Old French "crochet", a diminutive of "croche", in turn from the Germanic "croc", both meaning "hook". It was used in 17th-century French lace making, "crochetage" designating a stitch used to join separate pieces of lace, and "
Crochet hook
A crochet hook (or crochet needle) is an implement used to make loops in thread or yarn and to interlock them into crochet stitches. It is basically a round shaft pointed on one end, with a lateral groove behind it. The point eases the insertion of the hook through the material being crocheted and the groove makes it possible to pull a loop back through the material. The shaft is then divided into a working area that determines the hook's nominal diameter and ensures the uniform sizing of the loops