So many ways to use granny squares: readers share their most creative ideas
Granny squares are a crochet classic that can be used in so many ways. These small, square-shaped pieces are surprisingly versatile: Sari made a spring outfit for her dog, Laura-Kaisa cleverly patterned a blanket, Raili crocheted colorful pants, and Maarit transformed a fire blanket into something stylish.
1. Seija the dog’s May Day outfit
A textile teacher and broad-based special education teacher Sari Riskala crocheted a festive May Day outfit for her dog, Seija, using leftover yarn.
“I do a variety of crafts: I knit, crochet, sew, and upcycle furniture. I always have a project in the works. My school dog is a French bulldog named Seija, who will be two years old in August and comes with me to work a few times a week,” Sari says.
The idea for Seija’s crocheted outfit emerged when Sari had made herself a cardigan from granny squares earlier in the spring, using leftover yarn.
“I still had some wonderfully colorful yarn left and decided to see if I could make an outfit for Seija as well. May Day was coming up, and our school was dressing up to celebrate. I finished just in time, and the students thought Seija had the best costume! I made it without a pattern, using measurements from Seija’s winter outfit and fitting as I went,” Sari says.
Sari explains that she often works without patterns or instructions, repurposing thrift store finds.
“Inspiration can come from a fabric’s pattern or color. Creative problem-solving and challenging myself are important to me. I also draw ideas from Pinterest, magazines, and books.”
2. Super Mario blanket
Laura-Kaisa Kivelä crocheted a Mario blanket inspired by the familiar Nintendo character.
“I started by crocheting traditional blankets from granny squares, until my brother asked me to make a slightly different version. After that, I’ve made blankets as gifts for relatives, and others have asked if I’d make them for a fee.”
The idea for the Mario blanket came from Laura-Kaisa’s desire to try something new.
“Granny square blankets are easy to work on wherever and whenever. Often, my mother and I watch old Finnish movies while working on crafts. I find inspiration on Pinterest or elsewhere online. Sometimes I’ll have multiple blankets in progress at once if I find a great idea.”
3. Raili’s colorful pants
Raili Aarrekorpi has always loved crafts, but crochet only truly captured her interest last fall. She learned to crochet last summer and at that time made a couple of summer bags.
“In the fall, I got carried away with crocheting and made all sorts of small pieces before tackling these pants. I used to focus on sewing, but a few years ago I caught the knitting bug, followed by a crochet craze.”
Raili got the idea to crochet pants out of granny squares after seeing similar ones on Instagram.
“I mulled it over for a few months before I started. I didn’t have a pattern, so I first estimated how many squares I’d need. I ended up making a few extra. Designing the crotch pieces took some trial and error.”
“The most challenging part was attaching the squares and weaving in all the ends. I loved the idea of wearing them to summer gigs, but the wool made them quite heavy and warm. Now they’re waiting for fall—maybe I’ll make a lighter pair for next summer,” Raili says.
4. Covering a fire blanket
Crafter Maarit Göös had long been considering buying a fabric cover for her fire blanket so she could keep it in its proper place at home.
“As shallow and insufficient as the reason might be, I hadn’t wanted to mount a bright red fire blanket on the wall. While considering whether to buy a cover, I realized it would be incredibly easy to make one myself. I chose granny squares because I love crocheting them.”
Maarit designed the cover herself, and she says it was quite simple to implement.
“First, I crocheted six granny squares and attached them into a rectangle. Next, I crocheted double crochet stitches and bobbles at the top, leaving a small gap for the mounting screw. Then I worked single crochet stitches and double crochet stitches on the edges and bottom, adjusting to get the right width and height. The back is made of fabric, which you can attach by hand-basting or with a sewing machine. You could also crochet the back, but I went with the easiest approach since it faces the wall. I cut a small hole for the screw and sewed a tight zigzag around it.”
“I get excited easily as a craft enthusiast! If I come up with an idea, I want to start right away and see it through. I love trying different things, often adapting or refining the pattern and concept as I go. I tend to prefer fairly straightforward projects. Nowadays, I’m always working on something—crafting is a fantastic hobby!” Maarit says.
Maarit says she follows several crafting accounts on Instagram, because seeing other people's work sparks a lot of inspiration and ideas. Sometimes inspiration arises out of a practical need, like with this fire blanket cover.
“I also regularly share photos of my own projects on my @nosinnepain account to inspire others. Different craft-related groups and media outlets provide plenty of ideas and inspiration for my work. Often, the final concept takes shape as I’m working.”
