The Comforting Resurgence of Grandma Hobbies Among Gen Z

A quiet revolution is underway in living rooms and community centers across the country. Younger generations — particularly Gen Z and Millennials — are putting down their phones and picking up knitting needles, embroidery hoops, and quilting squares. This resurgence of so-called “grandma hobbies” represents more than a passing trend; it reflects a deep cultural shift toward mindfulness, sustainability, and a deliberate escape from digital overload.

According to AP News, droves of young people are turning to tactile, analog activities as a means of escaping technology and reconnecting with creativity. Google Trends data shows searches for “analog hobbies” have jumped 160 percent in just 30 days as of January 2026, signaling rapid growth in the movement.

The Appeal of Hands-On Creativity

For many, the motivation is simple: the need to do something with their hands instead of doomscrolling. Emma MacTaggart, 26, a former investment banker who founded the needlepoint business “What’s the Stitch,” told the AP that the craft became a therapeutic escape from work stress. “It was a really therapeutic way to kind of distract yourself from either work or stress, but also just do something with your hands instead of doomscrolling,” she said.

MacTaggart’s story is emblematic of a broader trend. While many initially took up these hobbies during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, the interest has persisted and intensified well beyond that period. What began as a way to fill time has evolved into a lifestyle shift toward slower, more intentional activities.

The Mental Health Connection

The therapeutic benefits of these crafts are backed by research. A 2024 study from Anglia Ruskin University found that crafters report higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and a stronger sense that life is worthwhile. As NPR reported, therapist Cassandra Dominick, who wrote her graduate dissertation on knitting, explains that “repetitive movements release serotonin,” helping with depression and pain management.

Jaime Kurtz, a professor of psychology at James Madison University whose research focuses on happiness, emphasized the importance of carving out time for these activities. “Hobbies are really important, and a lot of us have lost them, or we just don’t prioritize them enough, or we think we’re too busy,” she told the AP. “But just finding little bits of time to carve out to do these kinds of things is a really wise use of time.”

Which Crafts Are Leading the Way?

Not all analog hobbies are trending equally. According to HOLA!, needlepoint and crochet are leading the resurgence. Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson noted that “needlepoint-related searches are significantly outpacing the rest — particularly among beginners.”

The trend extends beyond textiles. Young people are also embracing pottery, gardening, origami, mahjong, birdwatching, and even blacksmithing. Isaiah Scott, 22, a birdwatcher and conservationist, described the appeal to the AP: “It feels like a video game, but in real life.” He has seen about 800 different bird species and recently purchased 16 acres of land in Georgia to safeguard wildlife habitats.

Building Community Across Generations

One of the most striking aspects of this trend is the intergenerational connection it fosters. Knitting meetups and craft circles bring together people of different ages who share skills and life stories. As Manda Tran, a knitting meetup participant, told NPR: “There’s not a lot of spaces where I would find myself talking to people that have lived much more life than me and are wiser than me, but that can share their skill and then also just their life stories.”

Kristie Landing, 34, founder of the platform Verse & Sip, has built a global community around slow, tactile crafts such as letter writing, wax sealing, and origami. She recently started a pen-pal matching service after receiving an abundance of requests from followers. “I am trying to create slower moments on platforms that are based on really quick, short attention span kind of videos,” she told the AP. “These kind of stop you in the scroll.”

From Hobby to Business

For some, these crafts have evolved into thriving businesses. Anna Weare, 27, a full-time blacksmith and farrier known online as AnvilAnna, has a year-long waitlist for her coveted one-piece spurs. “People, now more than ever, are realizing that things made in factories or mass produced, they wear out so quickly,” she told the AP. “People want longevity, and this craft has been around for so long for a reason.”

A Lasting Shift, Not a Passing Fad

While the irony of a movement driven by TikTok and Instagram is not lost on observers, many participants insist this is not a temporary trend. As Mathrubhumi reported, Gen Z is not rejecting technology entirely — many hobbyists still use apps and social media to learn skills and share their work. But they are carving out space for activities that move at a different pace.

In a world designed to keep people constantly online, spending an evening knitting, gardening, or writing letters has become an act of quiet rebellion. As MacTaggart put it: “I joke with my friends that I have been a grandma my whole life, so it’s only fitting that this is now my career.”

What to Watch For

As the trend continues to grow, experts expect to see further expansion of the craft economy, increased intergenerational programming in community spaces, and a continued cultural conversation about balancing digital and analog life. The “analog bag” — a tote filled with screen-free activities kept in the same place one would keep their phone — has emerged as a popular concept, making offline entertainment equally accessible.

Whether this marks a permanent shift in how young people spend their leisure time or simply a meaningful chapter in the ongoing negotiation between technology and human connection, one thing is clear: the comforting resurgence of grandma hobbies is providing something increasingly scarce in modern life — the simple joy of making something with one’s own hands.