Not Your Average Granny Square: 37 Times Crocheters Outdid Themselves (New Pics)

While crocheted items may once have conjured up images of stuffy, scratchy-looking sweaters, dusty doilies, or frilly tea cozies, those stereotypes have largely faded.

Now, several decades after crochet's fashion and home decor boom in the 1960s and '70s, crochet garments have found their way back into the spotlight, becoming "a hit with Love Islanders, Taylor Swift—and retailers." Even the humble granny square has enjoyed a modern glow-up.

Although the return of '70s-inspired fashion has undoubtedly played a part, crochet's resurgence has been driven by a broader mix of influences.

During the pandemic, many people turned to creative hobbies as a way to stay occupied, relieve stress, and learn new skills from home. That renewed interest in DIY crafts, combined with the growing slow-fashion movement and easier access to online tutorials and communities, has helped introduce crochet to a new generation of makers.

What was once a skill often passed down by relatives or learned from books can now be picked up through YouTube tutorials, TikTok videos, online classes, and countless free patterns. Social media and online communities have also given crocheters somewhere to showcase their work, exchange ideas, troubleshoot tricky stitches, and encourage one another.

One such community is r/crochet, which sees around 296,000 weekly visitors and 8,800 weekly contributions. At the time of writing, it boasts 1,943,136 members. They are invited to "share their work, discuss, swap ideas, and support each other," creating a welcoming space for everyone from complete beginners to seasoned crocheters.

As crochet has flourished online, however, communities have also had to contend with a new challenge: the proliferation of AI-generated crochet images.

Crochet enthusiast Nadia Moule has described the trend, writing that "AI-generated crochet images are everywhere lately—crafted for clicks, not with hands." She argues that they are "slowly crowding out the work of real makers: the ones who design, stitch, photograph, and hold the yarn in their own two hands."

Every crocheted piece represents hours—sometimes days or even weeks—of careful work, with every stitch placed by hand and no two finished projects exactly alike. AI, meanwhile, can "yarn-ify" almost any object and generate countless crochet-inspired images in seconds.

And while this contrast is hard to ignore, distinguishing between genuine handmade work and digital fabrications, which are becoming increasingly convincing, is becoming more and more difficult—particularly for novices who may not be as equipped to clock the impossible stitches, unrealistic construction, or projects that couldn't actually be recreated with yarn and a hook.

As a result, some people are tricked into buying patterns for designs that were never possible in the first place, wasting both their money and their time.

It's perhaps no surprise, then, that r/crochet has taken a clear stance on AI. While the moderators encourage "fun contributions and discussion," members are asked not to use AI to enhance finished projects or recommend AI for pattern creation or crochet help. Doing so, the mods argue, takes away from "the realness of crochet."

Fortunately, among the jaw-dropping garments (I mean, did you see that wedding dress?), adorable amigurumi, and clever home decor, there's no shortage of this "realness" in the group.

And it's this commitment to authenticity that helps keep the focus on projects that deserve to be celebrated for the very real creativity, patience, and craftsmanship behind every stitch.