Why Gen Z Is Trading Screens for Knitting and Crochet

The Trend: From nonnamaxxing to grandma fashion, “grannnycore” is having a moment. Gen Z is living and dressing like their grammies — and even getting into their hobbies. Knitting and crocheting have gotten particularly popular: In increasing numbers, young adults are swapping smartphones for skeins of yarn. 

What People Are Saying: As social media, AI, and other tech increasingly encroach on our lives, some have responded by seeking out a more analog lifestyle, from communicating via flip phones and listening to music on vinyl to prioritizing secondhand and handmade items. While this embrace of all things analog may feel nostalgic to older adults, for Gen Z, handmade crafts like knitting and crocheting can offer a way to unplug, slow down, and support mental well-being as part of a more intentional, less online lifestyle.

What to Know: Not only are knitting and crocheting fun and analog, but they’re also good for your health. Learning a new skill can help keep your cognition sharp, while hobbies that require deliberate, repetitive hand movements may lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and calm the nervous system. Some research also suggests hands-on activities like knitting and crocheting may release oxytocin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of wellbeing.