Dec 7, 2024 - Business

Grandma's hobbies are back

Brianna Crane

Animated illustration of a striped red and blue sock with a hashtag on it knitting onto the screen, and a thread pulling from it until it disappears. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Hobbies like knitting, sewing and quilting are helping people connect, and in some instances, bring in a little extra cash.

The big picture: Gardening and homesteading, needlepoint, crochet — all of these activities typically enjoyed by boomers are taking off with younger generations now, according to TikTok.

It's all part of the slower living aesthetic, also popular on TikTok.

By the numbers: On TikTok, posts with #needlepoint increased by 400% for the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, the social platform shared with Axios.

Zoom in: Waste Knot Needlepoint owner Lori Mazza started noticing an influx of customers during the pandemic. Popularity hasn't waned since.

The Arlington, Virginia-based needlepoint shop has always attracted crafters of all ages, but younger people are starting to take up a large share of their customer base, Mazza says.
They're looking for ways to get off their phones, ease anxiety and relax, she says.

My thought bubble: I started needlepointing this fall for two reasons: I needed something to do with my hands (besides scroll social media) and I wanted to continue my great-grandma's tradition of homemade stockings.

My nickname was "Gam Gam" in high school. Safe to say, I'm here for the cozy crafts resurgence.

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Grandma's hobbies are back

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