Hooked on crochet! Jani made a granny-square moss blanket in forest shades: “If I remember correctly, it has 234 squares”
Four years ago, Jani Kylmälä picked up a crochet hook and yarn just to try it out. And it was well worth it; he turned out to be a natural at crocheting. He has already made many different kinds of crocheted blankets.
About four years ago, crocheting was something that only evoked distant childhood memories for Jani Kylmälä. His only experience with crocheting was in elementary school crafts class, where he had to crochet a potholder for his mother. He wasn’t familiar with other forms of needlework either: he’s never touched knitting needles in his life.
“A few years ago at the office, two coworkers and I began doing chain stitches from memory using yarn I inherited from my grandmother. I started wondering if I could actually make something out of it.”
Once he became interested, Jani’s first step was to learn how to make granny squares.
“I learned nearly all my crochet techniques from YouTube and Instagram,” Jani says.
The squares started coming together, and Jani decided to use them to make his very first throw blanket.
After that, he wanted to practice a new pattern. He made his next blanket from African flowers [in Finnish], and gave it as a christening gift to his godson in fall 2021.
However, his biggest project was still ahead: next, Jani decided to crochet a blanket to use at his cottage, designed to go on top of the regular bedspread. Also used as a blanket for napping, he calls this work the moss blanket, due to its colors that were inspired by his cottage surroundings.
“I crocheted granny squares in moss and lichen colors. If I remember correctly, there are 234 squares that form plus signs or crosses, however you want to call them. The basic structure of the blanket comprises five squares of each color, and I filled the empty spaces along the edges using the same logic. I also added a single-color border and crocheted bobble fringe on the ends,” Jani explains.
The blanket has a playfully rippling texture reminiscent of mossy forest terrain. Jani says he hasn’t blocked the squares in any way.
“When you crochet them together, the edges tighten nicely and lift each square into a slight curve. That’s how I achieved the mossy look. I found the pattern in some picture online, but the colors and attaching them unblocked were my own ideas. I also came up with the border design myself.”
They cottage is planned to feature the same greenish shade in other ways as well.
“We’re planning on renovating the cottage bedroom in green, but the renovation hasn’t started yet.”
Jani crocheted the blanket bit by bit, whenever he had time, so he doesn’t know exactly how many hours he spent on it.
“I started toward the end of September when I didn’t have work to do in the garden anymore, and it was finished by Christmas.”
“I listen to audiobooks while I crochet”
Jani says that crocheting is a fun pastime that can be done alongside other activities.
“I’ll listen to an audiobook or watch some Nordic noir while I crochet.”
He especially enjoys crocheting at the cottage in Väärinmaja, Ruovesi.
“We spend nearly all our free time there whenever possible. It’s a bit of a drive from Helsinki, so it’s not worth going for just one day.”
“I’ve finished about a hundred squares for the sunflower blanket.”
All of Jani’s yarns are also at the cottage. He’s currently working on his fourth blanket, a yellow-toned one for the cottage’s guest room.
“I’m making it from yet another type of square: sunflowers. That’s the name on the instructions I found, at least, so I’m calling it the sunflower blanket.”
Jani found the pattern for the sunflower square on the Hooked by Robin YouTube channel.
“But there are patterns and instructions for it by others as well. I’ve only finished about a hundred squares for the blanket so far, but I think it’ll also be done in time for Christmas.”
