An eighteen-foot Christmas tree rose inside the Museum of Goa in India this Christmas season thanks to the efforts and skills of 25 women. The festive tree is made up of more than a thousand individually crocheted Granny Squares, each stitched together by the women of The Crochet Collective and mounted on a wire frame designed and donated by one generous civil engineer. It shone as an example of creativity and community brought together by crochet.
At KnitPro, we were inspired by the feat and bring to you a small tutorial to make your own. Go through the details of the inspiring crochet crafting moment.
The Crochet Tree: How 25 Women Turned 1,000 Granny Squares into a Holiday Icon
It all began in mid-2025. In a concerted effort to promote the craft of crochet and to celebrate the Goan crochet community, the women of “The Crochet Collective” hand-crocheted nearly 1,000 individual squares, which were then hand-stitched onto a metal frame to form the tree. Standing inside the entrance to the museum, and measuring 18’ high and 8’ in diameter, it is a testimony to the power of collective work and cultural heritage.
©thecrochetcollectivegoa
As of today, January 5, 2026, the tree remains on view until January 18, inviting visitors to marvel at this handmade wonder.
Celebrating Goa's 450-Year Crochet Heritage from Portuguese Roots
The project also celebrates Goa’s crochet lineage, a craft introduced during the Portuguese era, which lasted over 450 years. To this day, Goa’s love of the craft is demonstrated through its use in a variety of venues, including religious events, craft demonstrations and fiber art installations. Because Goa’s crochet practice was derived from European influence, it is unique, and it stands apart from other traditional Indian crafts.
From Museum Display to Orphanage Blankets: A Sustainable Crochet Story
After the holidays, once the tree is dismantled, the squares may be repurposed into blankets and sold to raise funds for local orphanages, a beautiful nod to sustainability in crafting.
While we’re on the subject, we thought we would share a few facts about the power and practice of crochet, straight from us at KnitPro, where we've seen countless creators find joy in every stitch.
- While there’s no global survey that counts every crocheter, it is estimated that well over 150 million people crochet. The number of people who enjoy the craft is growing annually, and some reports say about 44% of crocheters are aged 25–34.
- The statistics reflect a strong involvement among young people who like to free-form, without the benefit of a pattern. Some say they crochet to help reduce anxiety. In fact, it is on a long list of handicrafts, including knitting, weaving and sewing, that are valued because of the meditative power that comes from repetitive work.In addition to inducing a state of calm, the practice results in a finished piece of crochet. Talk about a win/win!
No two people are exactly alike in their preference for a favorite crochet tool. Some like a metal hook for speed, while others may have learned on a light-weight aluminum model, and still others prefer the warmth of a wooden or bamboo hook.
KnitPro Crochet Hooks to Begin Your Crafting Journey
At KnitPro, our ergonomic hooks come in standard sizes in different materials. Choose from bamboo, wood, aluminum, stainless steel, to acrylic fitted with a soft-grip rubber handle or an interchangeable handle, make those long sessions even more comfortable—perfect for tackling projects like a DIY crochet Christmas tree with granny squares.
First Steps In Crochet
Often, when people get “hooked” on the craft, they like to explore other types of crochet art. Tunisian Crochet is a good example of this. Many describe it as a combination of knitting and crocheting. However, when people begin to crochet, they often start with the granny square—just like the ones you see in that fabulous tree. They are a good way to learn and practice. After getting more adept, it’s fun to see how many variations can be made. Here are some free granny square patterns just in case you feel like trying your hand at a mini version of Goa's iconic installation.
Quick Start Granny Square Tutorial (Beginner-Friendly for Your Own Crochet Tree)
From us at KnitPro, here's a simple foundation to build your own granny square Christmas tree wall hanging:
- Yarn & Hook: Worsted-weight green yarn (about 200 yards) and a 5mm KnitPro hook.
- Basic Square: Ch 4, join to form a ring. R1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, *(3 dc, ch 2) twice more, join. R2: Ch 3, 2 dc in corner sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp; *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner; rep from * twice, join. Repeat for 4-6 rounds, increasing the size for tree layers.
- Assemble: Sew 5 squares (3-7 rounds) into a triangle, add a brown trunk chain, and top with a star motif.
This easy how-to crochet a tree with granny squares takes just a few hours and uses scrap yarn for that sustainable twist.
The Goan crochet tree is a good example of the power of the slow craft movement, a worldwide program that celebrates and promotes the value of hand-made production over mass production. It brings people together in a community-based effort of shared artistic activity and promotes sustainability, often using natural, reused, or ethically sourced materials.
Seek & you shall find!
From us at KnitPro, we encourage you to grab your hook and begin your crafting journey. For tools and inspiration, we have a collection that caters to beginners, intermediate and experienced makers. Get your favorite crochet hooks and sets to begin your crafting journey!
