LOS ANGELES (AP) — At just 23 years old, Emma MacTaggart began to notice the scarcity of her free time, often consumed by the demands of her long hours in investment banking. Once she logged off for the day, her inclination was to turn to her phone. However, seeking a more fulfilling pastime, she and her roommates decided to explore hobbies that could replace this habit. They quickly became engrossed in needlepoint, a craft MacTaggart had only briefly encountered during her childhood. Since then, the 26-year-old has not looked back.
MacTaggart describes needlepoint as a “therapeutic” outlet for relieving work-related stress while engaging her hands in a creative activity rather than mindlessly scrolling through her phone. This trend of embracing analog hobbies is growing among young people who wish to escape the clutches of technology and reconnect with their creative selves. Ironically, this analog movement has been bolstered by its visibility on social media.
Activities such as knitting, gardening, and needlepoint are now referred to as “grandma hobbies,” a term derived from the older generations that typically engage in them. In addition to these, other offline hobbies like pottery, origami, and blacksmithing are capturing the attention of Gen-Z and millennials. Although many young enthusiasts initially turned to these pastimes during the extra free time prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, interest in “grandma hobbies” has outlasted the pandemic and continued to gain traction online.
MacTaggart has turned her passion for needlepoint into a thriving business with her venture, What’s the Stitch. She has successfully built an engaged social media presence around her business, selling needlepoint canvases, accessories, and digital designs. Her unique touch includes cheeky humor and occasional profanity, offering a fresh, youthful spin on a historically traditional craft.
Psychology professor Jaime Kurtz from James Madison University emphasizes the importance of hobbies for reducing anxiety and stress, alongside providing a sense of accomplishment and focus. “Hobbies are really important, and a lot of us have lost them,” 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.”
Among others showing interest in analog hobbies is Clara Sherman, who co-founded So Bam Fun, a company aimed at making mahjong appealing to younger audiences. Through playing mahjong, she experiences a “zen state,” feeling entirely engrossed in the game with her friends while shutting out the distractions of the outside world.
Some hobbyists, like birdwatcher and artist Isaiah Scott, find ways to integrate modern technology into their pastimes. Scott uses the eBird app to log his observations, contributing to scientific research while enhancing his experience of birdwatching. He describes this hobby as reminiscent of his childhood love for Pokémon, expressing that it feels “like a video game, but in real life.” Ultimately, birdwatching has motivated Scott, now 22, to protect the environment, leading him to establish the nonprofit Rookery and Roots Conservancy.
Social media has enabled hobbyists like Anna Weare to build successful businesses out of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing. Known online as AnvilAnna, Weare has attracted a global audience, capitalizing on a growing desire for quality handmade products versus mass-produced ones. Currently, there is a significant waitlist for her sought-after blacksmith items, underscoring a consumer shift toward longevity and craftsmanship.
Kristie Landing is another thriving hobbyist who created Verse & Sip, a platform for poetry and paper crafting that encourages community among its followers. Her engagement with viewers has led to the establishment of a pen pal matching service and an original poem and tea subscription called the Verse & Sip Mail Club, fostering a slow and meaningful interaction with her audience.
Many in the hobbyist community believe that their pursuits will remain a lasting part of their lives rather than a fleeting trend. As for MacTaggart, she embraces the label of “grandma hobbies,” stating lightheartedly, “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.”
