Meet Ilana: LE’s First Crochet Assistant!
Ilana Schacter shares all things crochet, fashion, navigating burnout, and her relationship to the creative process.
By: Naomi Gwynn
Ilana Schacter is a fashion designer and marketing student based in Montréal. She is best known for her brand, Call Me Granny, which features her playful, whimsical, and unconventional crochet garments. Joining the LOOSENDS team, she helps bring our crochet vision to life with her technical skill and unique artistic vision. Read on as we get to know the newest member of LOOSENDS.
WEDNESDAY 10AM, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025, MONTREAL
I was lucky to sit down for a coffee with Ilana in the LOOSENDS studio this week.
Immediately I learn that she was born and raised in Montreal, and has a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Her time at McGill in turn played a significant role in leading her towards uncovering her talents, creativity, and a love of crochet.
I: After I had started school, I decided that I wanted to do something a little more creative, which is when I started crocheting. This was back in 2021. It was just a hobby in the beginning. I was just having fun. It was really during COVID and lockdown that I was like, okay, what am I supposed to do now? So I just started crocheting. My grandma was a big crocheter and so was my great-grandma, so as soon as I started, my family freaked out. They were so happy. My grandma showed me how to do it in the beginning. She had her old little kit that she gave me, so that's how I got started - it was with all of my great grandmother's stuff, which is really sweet.
When you started crocheting, did you have a specific thing that you were really focused on, or that you liked making?
I: Not really. At the beginning I just remember myself in my room making granny squares, and I remember my first project was, you know that classic Harry Styles cardigan, the colour block? I remember that being the first thing I made and I was like, wow, this is the coolest thing I've ever done. Like, I was obsessed with Harry Styles at the time. I mean…still am.
Image via Grazia
We shared a moment of bonding over a shared affection for Harry Styles that was seeded in our teen years as big fans of One Direction (“directioners” if you will). She then goes on to tell me about a Fashion Show held through McGill University that launched her into designing her own pieces. She crafted six looks for the show, including the design she is still the most proud of, a coral reef inspired dress.
I: That was the first piece that I was super proud of, and I was like, okay, I could do something with [crochet]. And that's kind of where my interest in creating more of a brand out of this, versus just a hobby, started.
The collection marked a transition from a simple pass-time to a passion project. She uncovered her voice, and began selling on Etsy, participating in markets, and even launched her own website.
@callmegrannyy by @fliccowens
Pushing the boundaries of what we often imagine for crochet, rather than sticking to granny squares, hats, and scarves, Ilana created jerseys, lingerie, pants, etc. Her inspiration came from exploring how regular garments could be replicated through crochet.
First photo by @fliccowens. Last 3 photos by @captured_by_isma
I asked Ilana to speak more about who or what inspires her and she introduced me to Mulyana - an Indonesian artist who creates installations in the form of colourful coral worlds using knit, crochet and stitch.
I: For my “under the sea” dress, I was really inspired by Mulyana. I saw people turning crochet into fine art and I was like, wait, hold on, what if that was in clothing form?
Anima Mundi (2019) by Mulyana Under the Sea Dress (2023) by Ilana Schacter. Image by @masonbramadat
If you had to describe your crochet aesthetic, what would you say?
I: I would say it’s more on the playful side, very girly. I really like fun colours, which is really random because how I dress is so not like that, but when I create things, I guess people are often like that - you kind of create things the opposite of your personal aesthetic. It's so fun to make these crazy extravagant pieces.
Can you talk about your relationship to crochet in your life? Things have changed a lot since the pandemic, but what did it provide for you?
Ilana shared with me how her relationship to crochet has evolved over time.
I: At the beginning, it wasn't serious at all, it was kind of just this fun pastime. I really had no idea what direction my future career or anything was going to go in, I still don’t completely know. I never really had hobbies growing up and I was always kind of jealous of people that had fun things that they do, or like, cool talents. I never had anything, and I think once I found something that I was interested in, I just locked in. I'm realizing that I'm more creative than I thought I was. I just started crocheting a lot more and I started using it as an outlet to express myself. I let out creativity that I didn't know I had.
“I just started crocheting a lot more and I started using it as an outlet to express myself. I let out creativity that I didn't know I had".”
@rorycreelman
Like many crocheters, she got hooked (pun-intended). I know many fiber artists who share this exact sentiment-they start a new hobby, quickly realize how addicting it feels, and eventually lead themselves to burnout. Ilana was no different. She began to notice intense feelings of stress and fatigue in preparation for her MAD Festival debut in 2023 (an annual event in Montreal showcasing up and coming local designers).
I: I was living with friends at the time and I would just hang out in our living room. They would go to work and come back and I'd still be crocheting, hours later. They were like, ‘hey, are you gonna go get some fresh air?’ And I was like, ‘no, I'm okay. I need to finish this.’ I just took on a bit too much in a small amount of time.
When it rains it pours. For Ilana, prepping to premiere this huge collection was timed simultaneously with moving apartments - the day after the show.
I literally just packed everything up. I put my yarn in bags and I didn’t even take it out until recently. [My collection] had some of my favourite things I've ever made, but I think it was a few months of way too much, and I needed to take a little break.
“I feel a thousand times better and more excited about it again. I learned my boundaries and my limits and I think it also taught me a lot in all ways of my life to just slow down a little and just take my time with everything.”
A practice that connects deeply with LOOSENDS and Bennett’s approach to the brand, with a distinct focus on slow sustainability. Bennett has a way of steadily moving forward without rushing or chasing things, but allowing for new designs and ideas to emerge organically.
I ask her what other creative outlets she found during this period away from crochet.
I: Once I took a step back to see what I actually enjoyed the most out of running my brand, I realized it was the fashion side. I realized that my favourite parts of Call me Granny were the fashion shows and all the styling and creative direction for the photography/videography. That's when I realized that I wanted to get more into marketing. And now I'm going to be going back to school this winter to progress that a little bit.
I ask her what vocabulary she’d use to describe her personal style, to which she responds humbly saying her closet is “random” and “not cohesive”. She lights up talking about layering patterns, shapes, and textures, adding bold jewelry and vintage pieces mixed with modern silhouettes. At work you can find her sporting anything from a fur collared blazer, to knee high leather boots, to a newsies cap. Her personal style is as uniquely playful as the artistry of her designs.
On a more personal level, we talk about her day-to-day life, what she’s watching, where she’s going, and how she spends her time.
I: For a while Sex and the City, of course. That was a big one. I didn't really watch TV until I started crocheting. I genuinely believe that was the first time that my TV was ever used. And I feel like I had to watch all the basics, The Office, Friends, etc.
As a born and raised Montrealer, what are your favorite spots or parts of Montreal?
I: I love St. Henri. Right now I'm living in Griffintown, but I'm always in St. Henri - I mean, it's pretty close, but I'm always there. I feel like I'm just going to all the classic spots around there like Café Sav Sav or BarBara. There are so many cute little cafes around there. B52 is my favourite studio right now. I love doing all the classes there. It's so fun. They have Pilates, boxing, they really have everything.
BarBara Image credit TripAdvisor
B52 Montréal’s Premier Wellness Club Image credit B52
And since everyone’s curious, we talk about what led her to LOOSENDS. Ilana explains that she was a follower from the beginning of Bennett’s journey on tiktok. Upon seeing the job posting come across her feed, it felt perfectly aligned with her needs at this moment.
I: It was perfect timing for me because I've been wanting to find a way to create with more structure. I'm trying to ease back into it, and not necessarily create on my own, so this is the perfect in between. I can work with someone who is super cool and doing something that I’m so interested in, and at the same time be able to bring back my practice of crocheting and being creative.
