The granny square, reconsidered
Out of the seventies, into the gallery. Why the most maligned motif in crochet is having its quiet renaissance.
by margot yi
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may 4 · 2026
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6 min
For a long time the granny square was a joke. A relic. Something you found in a thrift shop afghan and wrinkled your nose at. Now it is on runways. It is on tote bags. It is, briefly, cool.
I think this is good. The granny square is the most forgiving motif in crochet. It is also one of the most arithmetic — three doubles, chain, three doubles, chain, around and around. It teaches you, in a small way, how patterns build.
— margot yi, for the gallery