I accidentally started a new project...

Before I get into how this started, a little context.

I love reading. I always have. But in this season of life with three busy kids, most of my reading happens through audiobooks. Stories squeezed in while driving, folding washing, or doing the school run.

I still get through books, just not at the speed my sister does.

Which honestly made this project make even more sense.

This whole thing started very much spur of the moment.

And yes - there is a TD/LR at the end as usual, but I highly recommend you check this post out!!

Very much in a mum brain moment where you already have a thousand tabs open in your head, your hands are full, and you still think yes this seems like a great idea right now.

I tagged my sister in a cool project I saw on my social feeds about turning book covers into granny squares. She replied with that is amazing, you have to make one for me with my reads this year.

More books read meant more granny squares. And that felt like a win.

Once I actually sat down to plan it, I fell straight down the rabbit hole. Not just how to make it, but how to make it fun. How to make it something I would actually stick with and not quietly abandon on the back of the couch.

So I decided to turn it into a little experiment.

Every finished book would become a granny square.

No pressure to rush. No huge end goal yet. Just one square per book. A slow build. A visual way to capture a reading month in yarn.

Now I am fully hyperfixated.

The loose rules I gave myself

Because this was not planned and I know myself well enough, I kept the rules simple.

One book equals one granny square.

The colours are inspired by the cover and the vibe, not an exact match.

No overthinking perfection. The square just needs to feel right.

That is it.

The idea is that by the end of the year, this will tell a story. Not just of the books that were read, but of the season of life they were read in.

First impressions of the project

Overall, this worked up way quicker than I expected.

I kept the squares intentionally simple. A basic five round granny square that I could work on in small pockets of time. I made all six on a Sunday at home, in between kids, snacks, and general mum duties. No long uninterrupted crafting sessions required.

I played around with using single crochet and double crochet rounds, which ended up being one of my favourite parts. It created really nice balance in each square and helped control how much of each colour showed up. Some books naturally wanted more colour, some needed a bit of breathing room, and the stitch choice made that easy to adjust.

Most importantly, it felt achievable. Quick to work up, visually satisfying, and very forgiving.

And yes, before anyone asks, I absolutely wrote the pattern out.

January reads turned into granny squares

January is the first official month of this little experiment. I turned six finished books into six granny squares. I am keeping my sisters identity private, but these are the details from her reading month.

I will be sharing photos of each square alongside this post so you can see how each book translated into yarn.

Book one

Heat of the Everflame
Finished January 6 2026
Rating five stars

Sister's review

"I started this book straight after the second one, and I actually stopped reading at first because I was annoyed. I just wanted to see Diem rule and be the queen she clearly is.

I am really glad I picked it back up to finish though. The world building was so strong and once it hit its stride, I was completely back in. And that cliff hanger? That one hurt."

Book two

The Housemaid
Finished January 7 2026
Rating three stars

Sister's review

"This was a good book, but it had been hyped up for me, so I went in with pretty big expectations. Maybe a bit too big.

Some parts felt a little clunky, but overall it was still a thriller that kept me turning pages. I only wish there had been more Nina POV chapters, because those were easily my favourite parts."

Book three

You and Me on Vacation
Finished January 12 2026
Rating four stars

Sister's review

"Classic Emily Henry book. I loved the character building and the way the relationship unfolded over time. And yes, I absolutely sobbed at the end."

Note - I frogged this square 3 times and I think the 3rd time was the charm!!

Book four

Shield of Sparrows
Finished January 17 2026
Rating five stars

Sister's review

"I loved this book. Some people might find it slow or very dialogue driven, but I felt like I was asking the same questions as Odessa the whole way through and it completely sucked me in. The monsters are brutal, and by the end I was questioning everything I thought I knew." 

Book five

The Games Gods Play
Finished January 19 2026
Rating five stars

Sister's review

"After reading the second book, I came back and changed this to a five star rating. The foreshadowing is unreal and blends so seamlessly into the second book. And honestly, who doesn’t love a set of deadly games?"

Note - I am going to redo this square, when I finished the next book square, I realised this series needs to be cohesive. So back to Cozy Cloud Show Room this weekend to get some better colour matches!!

Book six

The Things Gods Break
Finished January 20 2026
Rating five stars

Sister's review

"I read this in a single night because I was so hooked. The connection to the first book and the layers of storytelling were fantastic. If you don’t like stories that play with the concept of time, this one might not be for you."

Note - I can't decide if this is my favourite for the month, or the Done and Dusted Square! Comment and let me know!

Book seven

Done and Dusted
Finished January 25 2026
Rating three stars

Sister Rating review

"Cheesy, light hearted, spicy cowboy romance.  It’s short, easy to read, and full of loveable characters."

Note- Is this not the coolest colour combo!!! That's why I can't pick my fav!

Yarn and tools I am using

For this project I am using Cozy Cloud Legacy Yarn. All 35 colours are in play, and honestly that range makes this kind of colour driven project so much easier. If I do not have the exact shade I am picturing, there is always something close enough to make it work. With a range of 922 shades, there is very little room for colour panic.

I am pairing it with my 5mm pink fox crochet hook, which has become my default for granny squares and easy pick up projects like this.

First impressions of the project

Right now, this is just a fun hyperfixation project that brings together books and crochet.

But I cannot help thinking there might be something more here.

A way to turn reading into a creative ritual.

A way to make a long term project feel achievable.

A way to visually record the stories that mattered to you in a season of life.

So here is where I want your input.

If you were following along with this project, would you want a pattern or a planner to go with it?

Something to help you track books, plan colours, and keep the whole thing simple and enjoyable.

I have a few ideas brewing, but I want to know if this is something you would actually use.

So here is where I want your input.

What do you think of the squares themselves?

Do the colours feel right for the books. Do you have a favourite. Would you tweak anything.

And if you were following along with this project, would you want a pattern or planner to go with it?

I have a few ideas brewing, but I would love some feedback before I take this any further.

Drop a comment and tell me what you think of the squares and where you think this could go.

This might just stay a fun personal project. Or it might turn into something more.

We will see where the yarn takes us.

 

TLDR

I accidentally started a new crochet project after a very classic mum brain moment. Each finished book now becomes one granny square.

January turned into six books and six simple five round granny squares, all made in one day around kids, snacks, and general life chaos. I kept the rules loose, focused on the vibe rather than perfect colour matching, and played with single and double crochet to control how each square looked.

Right now this is just a fun hyperfixation and a creative way to visually record a month of reading. But I have a few ideas brewing.

I’d love your feedback. Do the squares feel right for the books. Do you have a favourite. And would you want a pattern or planner to follow along if this turns into something more.

Drop a comment and tell me what you think.