Pig in a Granny Square Blanket: An Honest Crochet Pattern Review
This post contains affiliate links (#ad) in the 'What you'll need' section: if you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I bought the pattern itself on Ravelry, and nobody asked me to review it.
If you crochet, you've probably noticed more and more Etsy patterns lately with very polished pictures that don't quite look real. Some of them are AI-generated images, and the pattern you download doesn't always make what's in the photo. So I thought it would be helpful to share a pattern I've actually made, from start to finish, and tell you honestly how it went.
This is the pig in a granny square blanket by A Good Right Hook, a little hanging Christmas decoration. I originally bought it on Ravelry, and it's on Etsy too. I've made it, I've given it as a gift, and here's what I thought.
Quick facts
Pattern | Pig in a granny square blanket (hanging Christmas decoration), PDF on Ravelry and Etsy |
Designer | A Good Right Hook (Etsy shop AGoodRightHook) |
Skill level | Confident beginner. Easy if you can make a granny square and basic shapes |
Yarn (per pattern) | Small amounts of DK, 4 ply and 2 ply yarn, plus toy stuffing, 2 × 5mm safety eyes and thread for nostrils |
Suggested yarns | DROPS Safran, Scheepjes Softfun and Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat (per the designer's Ravelry page) |
Hook (per pattern) | 3mm, 2.5mm and 1.5mm (as listed on the designer's Ravelry page) |
Terms | US crochet terms |
Time | About an hour or so each (my experience) |
Verdict | Clear, tested and makes exactly what it shows. A lovely handmade gift |
What the listing says
It's a digital PDF pattern for the pattern only, not a finished pig.
Suitable for confident beginners: you need basic crochet stitches and working in the round.
Written in US crochet terms.
Each pig uses small amounts of DK, 4 ply and 2 ply yarn, plus 2 × 5mm safety eyes, toy stuffing and a little brown or black thread for the nostrils.
The designer's Ravelry page suggests DROPS Safran, Scheepjes Softfun and Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat, and all three are used in the pattern.
The designer says the pattern was thoroughly tested before release.
How I got on
I found the pattern really clear and easy to use.
I used the same yarns and hook the pattern recommends, so I could follow it exactly as written.
If you can make a granny square and basic shapes, you'll find it easy.
The ears were a bit more fiddly, because they use a thin yarn that's harder to crochet, but they're worth it for the effect.
I gave them out as gifts one year.
My tips
Each one was quick to make, about an hour or so.
Making a batch as gifts? Make them part by part: all the bodies, then all the ears, and so on.
Play with colour. I made mine in different colours too, which is a lovely way to personalise them as gifts.
Take your time on the ears. Thin yarn is fiddlier, but it's worth it.
What you'll need
These are the exact yarns I used for my pigs, from a Wool Warehouse order back in November 2022:
Scheepjes Softfun, shade 2466 – Wool Warehouse – Shop here
Scheepjes Sweet Treat, Soft Rose (409) – I bought mine from Wool Warehouse, but I couldn't find it listed there now.
Drops Safran in Red (19) – Wool Warehouse – Shop here
Drops Safran in White (17) – Wool Warehouse – Shop here
Drops Safran in Moss Green (60) – Wool Warehouse – Shop here
Anchor Lamé embroidery thread, shade 300 – Wool Warehouse – Shop here
If you'd like cheaper alternatives, or a few extras for your craft box, these bits from The Range work well. Do check the pattern for the yarn weights and hook sizes and match those:
Yarn in pink, white and your blanket colours – the pattern uses small amounts of DK, 4 ply and 2 ply. Divante Basic Knitting Yarn (4 ply, 100g), from £0.89 a ball – Shop here
A soft cotton-blend yarn for the blanket – Divante Crochet Yarn, 100g, £2.49 – Shop here
Crochet hooks – the Divante Crochet Hooks Set has soft-grip handled hooks, plus stitch markers and a row counter, £6.99. Do check it has the sizes your pattern needs – Shop here
Stitch markers – Divante 150 Piece Crochet Stitch Markers, £1.49 – Shop here
Toy stuffing, 2 × 5mm safety eyes and a little brown or black thread for the nostrils – any toy-safe stuffing works, and embroider the eyes instead if the pig is going to a little one.
A yarn or tapestry needle for sewing the pieces together and weaving in ends.
New to crochet? A little kit is a lovely way to practise first. The Cosy Crochet Mini Cuties Kit comes with yarn, a hook, a needle, safety eyes, embroidery thread and stuffing, £5.99 – Shop here
Prices checked 22 October 2026 and may change.
Real pattern vs AI pattern: what to look for
I don't want to tar every new shop with the same brush, but these are the things I check before I buy a pattern now:
Real photos of real makes, ideally from other buyers as well as the designer.
Reviews that mention making it, not just the download or the picture.
Clear details: yarn weight, hook size, crochet terms (UK or US) and skill level, all stated up front.
A designer you can find elsewhere, like Ravelry or Instagram, with a history of patterns.
Finding the genuine listing: I've seen quite a few copies of this particular pattern relisted on Etsy by other shops, so it's worth a quick check before you buy. My tip would be to look at reviews: real ones from people who have actually made it. Then a few quick checks:
Make sure the shop name matches the designer, A Good Right Hook.
Look for the same pattern on the designer's Ravelry page.
Look for real photos from makers.
Be wary of very cheap copies, or listings where the photos don't quite match.
With this one, the details were all there up front, and it made exactly what the pictures show, which is why I'm happy to recommend it.
My verdict
A lovely, well-written pattern that makes exactly what it promises. If you can make a granny square, you can make this pig. Allow a little patience for the ears. It's a brilliant little handmade gift, or one for your own tree.
Shop the look
More handmade and gift ideas
If you're making gifts this year, have a look at Gifts for New Homeowners: The Christmas 2026 Edit, my gift and home guide for gardeners, and handmade-look Christmas decorations you can buy on the high street.
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