From blacksmithing to needlepoint, young people are embracing ‘grandma hobbies’

In the fast-paced digital age where screen time dominates leisure hours, a growing number of young people are embracing traditional, hands-on hobbies as a conscious escape from technology. These analog activities, often labeled “grandma hobbies” on social media, have found surprising popularity among millennials and Generation Z.

Emma MacTaggart, 26, discovered needlepoint at age 23 while working demanding hours in investment banking. She and her roommates sought an alternative to their habitual smartphone scrolling during downtime.

“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,” MacTaggart explained. “We became completely obsessed.”

What began as a simple diversion evolved into a business venture. MacTaggart now runs What’s the Stitch, selling needlepoint canvases and designs that inject contemporary humor into a traditionally conservative craft. Her social media presence has helped cultivate a growing customer base drawn to her fresh approach.

While many of these analog hobbies gained initial traction during pandemic lockdowns in 2020, their popularity has continued to grow rather than fade. Activities like knitting, gardening, pottery, origami, and even blacksmithing have found enthusiastic young practitioners.

Psychology professor Jaime Kurtz of James Madison University points to mental health benefits behind this trend. These activities can reduce anxiety and stress while providing a sense of accomplishment through focused, challenging work.

“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,” Kurtz said. “But just finding little bits of time to carve out to do these kinds of things is a really wise use of time.”

Clara Sherman, co-founder of So Bam Fun, a company aimed at introducing mahjong to younger players, describes reaching a “zen state” when playing with friends.

“You kind of feel like you’re existing in this little bubble of just myself, my friends and this game we’re all enjoying together,” Sherman said. “It just really does allow you to shut off the rest of the world.”

Interestingly, technology often serves as both gateway and enhancement to these analog pursuits. Isaiah Scott, a 22-year-old birdwatcher from Savannah, Georgia, uses the app eBird to track observations and contribute to scientific research.

Scott compares birdwatching to playing Pokémon games – “like a video game, but in real life.” His passion has led to founding the Rookery and Roots Conservancy nonprofit and purchasing 16 acres in Rincon, Georgia, for wildlife conservation, funded partly through his online platform.

Social media has enabled practitioners of even the most traditional crafts to build thriving businesses. Anna Weare, 27, known online as AnvilAnna, has transformed her blacksmithing skills into a successful enterprise with international reach through TikTok and other platforms.

“People, now more than ever, are realizing that things made in factories or mass produced, they wear out so quickly,” Weare said. Her handcrafted spurs have a waitlist of approximately one year, reflecting growing consumer demand for durable, artisanal products.

Community connection represents another vital aspect of this analog revival. Kristie Landing, 34, created Verse & Sip, a platform for poetry enthusiasts, and shares videos of letter writing, wax sealing, and paper crafts online. She recently launched a pen pal matching service after followers expressed interest in exchanging physical letters with like-minded correspondents.

Landing also runs the Verse & Sip Mail Club, sending original poems with tea to hundreds of subscribers worldwide. Her content aims to create moments of reflection within fast-moving digital spaces.

“I am trying to create slower moments on platforms that are based on really quick, short attention span kind of videos,” she explained. “These kind of stop you in the scroll.”

Most practitioners view their analog hobbies not as passing trends but as intentional lifestyle choices representing a meaningful reconnection with tactile creativity and mindfulness.

As for the “grandma hobby” label, MacTaggart embraces it wholeheartedly: “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.”