TikTok sparks Seattle craft craze
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Wearing the first hat she made, new knitter Marley Mecham, 27, shops for her next project at So Much Yarn in Seattle.
Hobbies like knitting, sewing and quilting are helping Seattleites of all ages rediscover textile crafts, build new skills and invest time creating clothing that will last.
The big picture: Gardening and homesteading, needlepoint, crochet — all of these activities typically enjoyed by boomers are taking off with younger generations, according to TikTok.
- It's 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: Seattle's So Much Yarn in Pike Place Market has always attracted crafters of all ages, but younger women and "guys as well" started showing up during the pandemic and they haven't stopped coming, the store's buyer Ginger Allen, tells Axios.
- "People find it relaxing," she says. "It's a form of yoga and very zen."
- Marley Mecham, 27, of West Seattle, started knitting last year after watching TikTok videos about making your own clothes and says she feels empowered by her new skills.
- She's ready to take on sewing and crochet next, she tells Axios.
What they're saying: Artist Ren Han, who was shopping for yarn this week to make a scarf, has gone deep into the crafting rabbit hole: She spins her own yarn, colors it with natural dyes, knits, weaves and does rug tufting, embroidery and Tunisian crochet as well.
- "People are interested in learning traditional skills and connecting with their ancestors," Han says.
- "It's all part of a larger social dynamic to embrace sustainability and slow crafts, getting away from fast fashion and unsustainable art."
The intrigue: Unravel, an exhibit this year at London's Barbican, suggested that needlework can be a "tool of resistance" against the harmful effects of the fashion industry.
- The exhibit showcased the timeless appeal of craft as well as growing interest among Gen Zers who want to address overconsumption, environmental impacts, animal welfare and social justice issues, the BBC reports.
My thought bubble: I've been knitting and crocheting for about 20 years now and while I'm not particularly fast or skillful, the sweaters, hats and socks I make for loved ones get worn till they're threadbare.
- That's the ultimate compliment for a handmade item in my book!