Not Your Grandma's Granny Square

Nope, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

Yes, that's The Lord of the Rings star, Cate Blanchett, rocking a crocheted granny-square dress on the Hollywood red carpet.  

It's official--Grandma's beloved squares have hit celebrity wardrobes, jewelry boxes, beaches, restaurants, and even your garage.

Never in my wildest dreams would there have been a granny-square cocktail dress. It simply never entered my evening-wear checklist. And even a yarn diva like me never thought of wading in a swimsuit designed like the one below or dining in a restaurant outfitted with granny squares. But that doesn't mean we crafty types aren't open to fresh ideas. I can now see myself crocheting a two-piece, high-neck halter dress.

So just what is a granny square? Back in the day, these adorable creations found their way into afghans, pillows, skirts and vests, among other things. Almost every person on the planet has seen them but doesn't necessarily know how they're made.

According to Wikipedia, "A granny square is a piece of square fabric produced in crochet by working in rounds from the center outward. Granny squares are traditionally handmade. They resemble coarse lace."

Before and After the New Millennium

Granny squares may not have graced the Hollywood red carpet before the new millennium, but they're not new to the hippie-chick fashion scene. Skirts, vests and coats such as the garment seen below were popular in the 1970s.

We all know what goes around in the fashion world always comes around again with a new flavor. And "sassy" is often the word to describe these new takes on old favorites.

Shepherd's Pie and Lemonade, Please

Imagine stepping into a restaurant to get a bite to eat and being greeted by granny squares from wall to wall and floor to ceiling!

I hope shepherd's pie and lemonade made from scratch are on the menu. They would definitely complement the homey feeling evoked by the decor. 

New Uses for Granny Squares

Have a seat on my granny-square chair.

Such a chair is not so extraordinary when one recognizes that the granny square epitomizes homespun warmth and comfort (as a bonus, it also leads to thoughts of apple pie). When you think about it, it makes a kind of sense to integrate this traditional pattern into the household landscape. The crocheted curtain below would make a great room divider, to give another example.

But let's not be afraid to color outside the lines as well, into a brave new world of creative possibilities. Fasten your seat belts, because this new home for the famous granny square has four wheels! The most eye-grabbing vehicle on the highway possesses unquestionable style and spunk. Not exactly your grandpop's Chevy!

Since we're sporting around in our hip new ride, we might as well visit some art exhibits. Can you picture the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art in New York City or Museum of Fine Arts in Boston covered with colorful fabric squares? Perhaps not, but just behold the Craft and Folk Art Museum, located smack in the heart of the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles. We can't miss the only gallery known to be decked out with granny squares!

Courtesy of Park Labrea News Beverly Press

The original exterior--red brick walls and white chimneys--always afforded a design contrast to the Miracle Mile's otherwise modern architecture. The contrast widened by way of the fifteen thousand granny squares then used to cover the edifice, the influences of Paul Klee and Andy Warhol flaunted proudly. Very innovative (and time-consuming, no doubt)!

The CAFAM's granny-square makeover is the result of a call for crocheted squares that went from local to global. The handmade pieces were contributed by Yarn Bombing Los Angeles (YBLA), an organization devoted to assimilating fiber arts into public spaces, as well as 49 other individuals from across the United States and 25 more internationally. Be sure to check out the web page for the project. And here you can see some of the hard-working participants striking a pose for the camera.

Finally, let's take our favorite traditional pattern to the oven and enjoy delicious granny-square cookies with a glass of milk.

In what innovative ways have you used the celebrated granny square?