SUBMISSION PERIOD HAS ENDED -- Stay tuned for more information about the art exhibition in Paris

Granny Life

Crochet granny square motifs determined by algorithms

Over 240 unique granny squares 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.

Project participants chose their own granny square motif using our interactive app at www.mathgrrl.com/granny-life, then followed the crochet pattern and project instructions below.

We welcomed all crafters, artists, and mathematicians, from beginners to experts, and people from all over the world participated! Over the next year we will continue to to post updates and information about the artwork on this site.

Instructions

The community submission phase of this project has ended, but you can still use the motif generator and crochet pattern instructions for your own creations :)

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!

Squares that were submitted by January 2026 will be part of an art exhibit in Paris!

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

Feb 1-7, Royal Institute, London
Feb 8-28, Institute Henri Poincaré, Paris

Social media

Bluesky - @mathgrrl.com, #grannylifecrochet, #mathsky, #crochet 🧶
Ravelry - @mathgrrl, Pixie Square
Mastodon - mathstodon.xyz/@mathgrrl
Reddit - @i-am-mathgrrl, r/crocheting, r/geekycrochet

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 January 8, 2026. Squares received after that date will be used in the artwork if space permits, or displayed 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 16
colettalillian

generation 18
maths_kath

generation 19
Merryweather

generation 22
colettalillian

generation 24
AbbeyPerini

generation 27
Elkie

generation 29
MisMissy613

generation 32
motorproteins

generation 34
Yarnlord

generation 37
Jar

generation 39
mflouze

generation 45
wildstrom

generation 51
hawksley

generation 53
Nutella

generation 56
AbbeyPerini

generation 60
AbbeyPerini

generation 65
Reka

generation 66
AbbeyPerini

generation 67
colettalillian

generation 74
LisaSnailBear

generation 75
Routl

generation 76
heather628318

generation 77
AbbeyPerini

generation 79
natabat

generation 80
Merryweather

generation 84
natabat

generation 90
asabest

generation 94
cri-kee

generation 96
Lise

generation 105
Malou

generation 107
Emza

generation 108
rachwhatsit

generation 111
amethyst

generation 114
AbbeyPerini

generation 117
Emza

generation 120
virtualcourtney

generation 122
Reka

generation 128
Malou

generation 131
virtualcourtney

generation 133
AbbeyPerini

generation 135
virtualcourtney

generation 139
rachwhatsit

generation 140
Reka

generation 142
gottaotter

generation 143
euleun

generation 144
Malou

generation 149
Flave

generation 150
heather628318

generation 158
AbbeyPerini

generation 163
heather628318

generation 166
Routl

generation 167
sadesf

generation 168
sadesf

generation 175
Flave

generation 179
asabest

generation 182
mathgrrl

generation 183
Soperlein

generation 186
corvocrochet

generation 187
RacheyO

generation 191
Frey

generation 194
Lise

generation 198
Fleur

generation 200
pir

generation 206
tanvi

generation 210
Nutella

generation 214
virtualcourtney

generation 218
AbbeyPerini

generation 222
colettalillian

generation 228
brainofdane

generation 233
mathgrrl

generation 238
gottaotter

generation 241
asabest

generation 242
mathgrrl

generation 244
mathgrrl

generation 248
Reka

generation 250
mathgrrl

generation 251
kwb

generation 253
AbbeyPerini

generation 258
heather628318

generation 259
Bee

generation 261
mathgrrl

generation 262
labeurthen

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 302
sinsonte

generation 304
Flave

generation 306
KimRoth

generation 308
clairem

generation 309
CrochetFun

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 344
motorproteins

generation 346
Yann-Situ

generation 348
cri-kee

generation 353
natabat

generation 359
AbbeyPerini

generation 365
RacheyO

generation 368
Marritme

generation 369
virtualcourtney

generation 376
gottaotter

generation 383
funkyfungus

generation 391
Lise

generation 401
cejones8

generation 402
kwb

generation 405
JessG

generation 406
asabest

generation 412
ToGreg

generation 413
WhiteTheDragon

generation 417
AbbeyPerini

generation 418
rachwhatsit

generation 420
nancypants

generation 428
mathgrrl

generation 430
natabat

generation 432
AbbeyPerini

generation 439
AbbeyPerini

generation 442
Pinn

generation 444
colettalillian

generation 445
JeannieB

generation 452
JeannieB

generation 456
BN

generation 458
Emibee

generation 469
jax

generation 476*
franherr

generation 476*
Gabi

generation 479
euleun

generation 482
AbbeyPerini

generation 488
AbbeyPerini

generation 490
gottaotter

generation 493
Lise

generation 495
Linda

generation 496
ameenah

generation 498
morphybeans

generation 501
Reka

generation 506
JeffA

generation 514
JulieB

generation 516
Geometrygirl

generation 521
Routl

generation 523
Routl

generation 525
Mae

generation 533
Routl

generation 535
clairem

generation 536
AbbeyPerini

generation 538
cay

generation 541
Gabi

generation 547
motorproteins

generation 550
AbbeyPerini

generation 558
Reka

generation 566
spoiani

generation 571
AbbeyPerini

generation 574
colettelillian

generation 577
Reka

generation 580
euleun

generation 586
Moss

generation 597
RacheyO

generation 599
mathgrrl

generation 600
Lise

generation 602
Flave

generation 604
pythia_lclvt

generation 608
kraeuterling

generation 609
Anne-Sophie

generation 618
Nedmonds

generation 619
Veronica

generation 620
pythia_lclvt

generation 623
mathgrrl

generation 625
smosher

generation 629
Emibee

generation 632
desicrochets

generation 634
Lisa

generation 639
Frey

generation 642
motorproteins

generation 646
Reka

generation 649
Soperlein

generation 663
LeahG

generation 664
motorproteins

generation 666
Malou

generation 679
taby13

generation 706
Flave

generation 710
smosher

generation 711
coucabinda

generation 725
Emza

generation 746
Fleur

generation 749
Reka

generation 747
AnneCaro

generation 755
euleun

generation 758
morphybeans

generation 770
euleun

generation 777
colettalillian

generation 778
Alix

generation 782
Flave

generation 797
ghamerly

generation 802
Ann

generation 809
virtualcourtney

generation 820
MisMissy613

generation 842
mathgrrl

generation 871
mathgrrl

generation 892
mathgrrl

generation 894
pir

generation 899
pir

generation 901
Emza

generation 911
MoumouMama

generation 940
mathgrrl

generation 941
Reka

generation 952
Sarah

generation 958
Flave

generation 967
Emza

generation 972
Sarah

generation 980
Emza

generation 990
Sarah

generation 1000
Malou

generation 1001
Flave

generation 1007
Yann-Situ

generation 1009
parabolisa

generation 1019
CrocheteurBlond

generation 1033
MissMissy613

generation 1038
cay

generation 1045
rosstate

generation 1050
Emza

generation 1106
Jessica

generation 1126
lorelei

generation 1146
Veronica

generation 1157
Frey

generation 1171
Jessica

generation 1194
lorelei

generation 1201
brainofdane

generation 1208
asabest

generation 1217
Flave

generation 1232
Jessica

generation 1263
Jessica

generation 1307
heather628318

generation 1308
asabest

generation 1316
JessicaM

generation 1352
WhiteTheDragon

generation 1392
heather628318

generation 1402
amethyst

PROGRESS REPORT :)

Over w00 squares have already been mailed to us! Thank you to everyone who is participating in this project :)

We need to recieve all squares byJanuary 8, 2026. 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 two-sided 11x11 grid of 242 crocheted granny squares, measuring approximately 7 feet across.