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CALLING ALL CROCHET GEEKS AND GRANNIES -- Crochet a mathematical granny square for an art exhibit
Crochet granny square motifs determined by algorithms
We invite you to create unique granny squares that will be combined in the community artwork Vie de grand-mère, which will appear in the exhibit Création, entre arts et mathematiques at Maison Poincaré in Paris, France.
To be part of the project, choose your own granny square motif using our interactive app at www.mathgrrl.com/granny-life, then follow the crochet pattern and project instructions below.
We welcome all crafters, artists, and mathematicians, from beginners to experts! :)
Instructions
Step 1: Choose a motif
Use the Granny Life app to choose a "Paris" motif, and submit your choice in the Contact Form.
Step 2: Crochet a square
Choose your own color of Malabrigo Rios yarn and crochet a granny square in your motif using our free Pixie Square pattern.
Step 3: Be part of the art!
Your square could be in an art exhibit in Paris! Submit completed work in the Contact Form.
VIDEO TUTORIALS
Getting Started video
Learn how to stitch the first two rounds of the Pixie Stitch granny square. For full instructions and details, see the Pixie Square pattern page.
Edges & Corners video
Learn to stitch edges and corners and how to manage color changes and tension. For details and close-up photos, see the Pixie Square pattern page.
COMMUNITY
Find us in person
Aug-Dec 2025, James Madison University
Dec 3-5, George Mason University
Jan 4-7, Joint Math Meetings in DC
Contact Form
Ask questions
Claim motifs to crochet
Submit completed squares
We would love to hear from you!
Art Project
This project combines traditional artistic crafting with modern scientific and mathematical methods, and invites community members from the crafting and mathematical communities to participate together. The artwork explores rule-based pattern generators in the fiber arts, with a modified classical crochet technique that accommodates detailed, pixellated motifs generated from two-dimensional cellular automata. The finished work will be comprised of more than one hundred crocheted 6-inch granny squares created by crafters, artists, and mathematicians.
The purpose of this artwork is not to illustrate cellular automata; rather, it is to leverage mathematics as a design tool, in a partnership between human creativity and algorithmic structures that creates a beautiful and cohesive artistic work.
The motivation for using totalistic cellular automata to create granny square motifs is to create a set of motifs that naturally work together. Naively, we could make completely random choices to make a grid of granny squares, each with traditional crochet symmetries. But by using motifs that are generated from cellular automata rules, it is possible to obtain a much more interesting and structured set of designs. Even better, if we restrict our attention to just one totalistic rule (in this project we will use "Rule 6"), then we can obtain a set of designs that share various pattern similarities and form a more cohesive final artwork. The final artwork will consist of multicolored squares contributed from community members, and attached together in a pleasing arrangement to make a wall hanging for exhibition.
This project has been ACCEPTED(!) to the Création, entre arts et mathématiques exhibition at Maison Poincaré which will be on display in Paris, France from April-July 2026.
MATHEMATICS
The motifs used in this project are all generated from a modified 2D totalistic cellular automaton that we call "Rule 6". To read more about the mathematics behind these patterns and how they are generated, see our page on The Math Behind the Motifs.
FAQ
Do I have to use a specific type of yarn?
Yes, to have a square included in the artwork you do have to use a specific brand and color of yarn (Malabrigo Rios -- variegated preferred if possible -- with Ivory as the light color); see the Pixie Square Crochet Pattern for more specific details. Of course, you can also use the free motif generator and free crochet pattern for your own projects with yarn of your choosing.
Can I crochet more than one square for the project?
Yes! You can claim up to five motifs at a time, and submit as many completed squares as you like. If you purchase the yarn for the project then you should be able to make five or six squares.
Is it okay if I crochet left-handed?
Yes! We welcome left-handed crocheters to this project. The stitches and the pattern are very symmetric, so it should not make a difference if you "crochet the other way".
Should I "block" my crocheted square when it is done?
No. Please do not block your square before submitting. "Blocking" is the name for wetting/steaming your square and then pinning it into shape; please don't do that. We will block the squares in a consistent way when they are recieved.
What if my finished square doesn't look perfect?
It takes some practice to get the stitches, tension, carried yarn, and square shape to all come out right. If your square isn't perfect then it can be a "learning square"; please hold on to it, because part of the exhibition has to do with the process of creating art. All practice/learning squares -- and any that are too small/large or have other issues -- will also be part of the exhibition.
What is the deadline for submitting a crocheted square?
I need to have all completed squares by December 25, 2025. Any squares received after that date will be used in the "process" part of the exhibition.
Have a question not covered here? Ask us in the Contact Form.
Completed Squares
The squares below are finished and will be included* in the community art project submitted to an exibit at Maison Poincaré in Paris, France! You can notify us that you have completed a square, and obtain instructions for mailing it to us for inclusion in the artwork, by filling out the Contact Form.
* Some of the completed squares may be the wrong size or have other issues that could preclude them from being in the main artwork. Those squares will be included in the creation/process part of the exhibit.
These completed squares were made all over the world, including: Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, the UK, and the US :)
generation 9
mathgrrl
generation 12
Elkie
generation 13
Pokygirl
generation 18
maths_kath
generation 24
AbbeyPerini
generation 27
Elkie
generation 34
Yarnlord
generation 37
Jar
generation 45
wildstrom
generation 51
hawksley
generation 53
Nutella
generation 56
AbbeyPerini
generation 60
AbbeyPerini
generation 65
Reka
generation 66
AbbeyPerini
generation 74
LisaSnailBear
generation 75
Routl
generation 77
AbbeyPerini
generation 79
natabat
generation 84
natabat
generation 90
asabest
generation 94
cri-kee
generation 96
Lise
generation 100
Emibee
generation 105
Malou
generation 107
Emza
generation 111
amethyst
generation 114
AbbeyPerini
generation 117
Emza
generation 128
Malou
generation 131
virtualcourtney
generation 133
AbbeyPerini
generation 139
rachwhatsit
generation 140
Reka
generation 142
gottaotter
generation 143
euleun
generation 144
Malou
generation 149
Flave
generation 158
AbbeyPerini
generation 166
Routl
generation 167
sadesf
generation 168
sadesf
generation 175
Flave
generation 179
asabest
generation 182
mathgrrl
generation 183
Soperlein
generation 187
RacheyO
generation 191
Frey
generation 194
Lise
generation 198
Fleur
generation 200
pir
generation 210
Nutella
generation 218
AbbeyPerini
generation 228
brainofdane
generation 233
mathgrrl
generation 241
asabest
generation 242
mathgrrl
generation 244
mathgrrl
generation 248
Reka
generation 250
mathgrrl
generation 251
kwb
generation 253
AbbeyPerini
generation 259
Bee
generation 261
mathgrrl
generation 268
AbbeyPerini
generation 270
mathgrrl
generation 271
Yarnlord
generation 274
Reka
generation 279
Reka
generation 281
Jar
generation 282
AbbeyPerini
generation 285
tangentqueen
generation 289
Marritme
generation 294
AbbeyPerini
generation 300
mathgrrl
generation 304
Flave
generation 308
clairem
generation 311
Bee
generation 313
cri-kee
generation 316
RacheyO
generation 318
Morphybeans
generation 321
AbbeyPerini
generation 323
AbbeyPerini
generation 327
AbbeyPerini
generation 335
AbbeyPerini
generation 346
Yann-Situ
generation 348
cri-kee
generation 353
natabat
generation 359
AbbeyPerini
generation 365
RacheyO
generation 376
gottaotter
generation 391
Lise
generation 401
cejones8
generation 405
JessG
generation 406
asabest
generation 412
ToGreg
generation 413
WhiteTheDragon
generation 417
AbbeyPerini
generation 418
rachwhatsit
generation 428
mathgrrl
generation 430
natabat
generation 432
AbbeyPerini
generation 439
AbbeyPerini
generation 442
Pinn
generation 444
colettalillian
generation 458
Emibee
generation 469
jax
generation 476
franherr
generation 479
euleun
generation 482
AbbeyPerini
generation 488
AbbeyPerini
generation 493
Lise
generation 501
Reka
generation 506
JeffA
generation 521
Routl
generation 516
Geometrygirl
generation 523
Routl
generation 525
Mae
generation 533
Routl
generation 536
AbbeyPerini
generation 538
cay
generation 550
AbbeyPerini
generation 558
Reka
generation 566
spoiani
generation 571
AbbeyPerini
generation 577
Reka
generation 580
euleun
generation 597
RacheyO
generation 599
mathgrrl
generation 600
Lise
generation 602
Flave
generation 609
Anne-Sophie
generation 618
Nedmonds
generation 619
Veronica
generation 623
mathgrrl
generation 629
Emibee
generation 639
Frey
generation 649
Soperlein
generation 666
Malou
generation 679
taby13
generation 706
Flave
generation 711
coucabinda
generation 725
Emza
generation 746
Fleur
generation 755
euleun
generation 770
euleun
generation 782
Flave
generation 802
Ann
generation 892
mathgrrl
generation 901
Emza
generation 940
mathgrrl
generation 958
Flave
generation 967
Emza
generation 980
Emza
generation 1000
Malou
generation 1001
Flave
generation 1007
Yann-Situ
generation 1038
cay
generation 1045
rosstate
generation 1050
Emza
generation 1146
Veronica
generation 1157
Frey
generation 1201
brainofdane
generation 1208
asabest
generation 1217
Flave
generation 1308
asabest
generation 1352
WhiteTheDragon
generation 1402
amethyst
CLAIMED SQUARES IN PROGRESS
These motifs have been claimed, and community members are already working on crocheting them for the project. Please check both the "Claimed Squares" and the "Completed Squares" sections before claiming or crocheting a motif, so that none are repeated. You can claim a motif by filling out the Contact Form.
Note: To be accepted, motifs must be Rule 6, 35-50% alive, Generation between 9 and 1407, and not already claimed or completed.
generation 16
PnPfluff
generation 29
MissMissy613
generation 39
mflouze
generation 40
juneb
generation 42
neil
generation 67
AFG
generation 69
LouisY
generation 76
heather628318
generation 80
Merriweather
generation 97
JHTorres
generation 101
Soperlein
generation 118
KnotUnknot
generation 127
amandabee
generation 130
OPaRo
generation 135
virtualcourtney
generation 160
Trollure
generation 163
heather628318
generation 172
kathrynve
generation 173
hollymmath103
generation 186
corvocrochet
generation 189
Polecat
generation 193
MamaGando
generation 212
beelzebarb
generation 222
curiosity
generation 264
Trollure
generation 293
MamaGando
generation 298
TwoPi
generation 302
sinsonte
generation 306
Kim
generation 309
CrochetFun
generation 333
JHTorres
generation 358
uknitcorn
generation 368
polygonart6777
generation 389
curiosity
generation 395
curiosity
generation 402
kwb
generation 406
asabest
generation 419
curiosity
generation 420
NancyPants
generation 426
curiosity
generation 445
JeannieB
generation 452
JeannieB
generation 454
KathiewW
generation 456
BN
generation 473
Rym
generation 495
Linda
generation 496
ameenah
generation 514
JulieB
generation 535
Clairem
generation 539
npace
generation 543
TheMadTink
generation 547
motorproteins
generation 552
MoonXT
generation 556
cay
generation 561
babyspearwa
generation 564
albamath
generation 586
Moss
generation 617
Miki
generation 625
smosher
generation 634
Lisa
generation 636
Fiber_fisch
generation 638
mariabon
generation 644
Claire
generation 658
HotKoKoTime
generation 674
Fiber_fisch
generation 693
claireguley
generation 710
smosher
generation 731
gdawg
generation 738
jillt
generation 747
Annecaro
generation 758
Morphybeans
generation 778
Alix
generation 785
mathgrrl
generation 793
hydrangeafern
generation 797
ghamerly
generation 825
mathgrrl
generation 842
mathgrrl
generation 865
Veronica
generation 871
mathgrrl
generation 894
pir
generation 899
pir
generation 911
MoumouMama
generation 950
tulip
generation 952
Sarah
generation 1019
CrocheteurBlond
generation 1106
Jessica
generation 1111
nataliechristine
generation 1124
noussa
generation 1126
lorelei
generation 1130
noussa
generation 1171
Jessica
generation 1130
noussa
generation 1232
Jessica
generation 1263
Jessica
generation 1341
TriflersNeedNotApply
generation 1375
MamaGando
generation 1407*
mathgrrl
PROGRESS REPORT :)
Well over 100 squares have already been mailed to us! Thank you to everyone who is participating in this project :)
We need to recieve all squares by December 25. Squares received after that date -- and any that are too small or large, or that have other issues -- will be used in the "process" part of the exhibition. The final artwork will be a 13x13 grid of 169 crocheted granny squares, measuring approximately 7 feet across.
Early squares and testing connection method
Working on finding pleasing arrangements
This is nice but I'm going to take this apart and start over so I can a bit more structure to the layout... stay tuned...
Working on a rainbow cascade idea...
And we've taken it apart again to try new ideas...
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