> At a Glance
> – Searches for “analog hobbies” jumped 160% in 30 days
> – Needlepoint leads with 208% YoY growth on Etsy
> – TikTok’s #Needlepoint tag tops 119k videos
> – Why it matters: Younger users are trading screen time for hands-on calm
Younger generations are powering a surge in offline crafts-needlepoint, crochet, and jigsaw puzzles-sparking the biggest “grandma hobby” revival in decades.
What’s Trending
Google Trends shows “analog hobbies” up 160% in the past month, while Etsy reports:
- Needlepoint starter kits up 208% year over year
- Crochet sweaters up 162% year over year
TikTok fuels the boom: #Needlepoint has 119,000 posts, and #WIPWednesday nears 81,000 as users share mid-project shots instead of selfies.
Why People Are unplugging
Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy Trend Expert, says shoppers entering 2026 want “hobbies that help them slow down and step away from screens.”
Krista LeRay, owner of Penny Linn needlepoint shop in Connecticut, credits two drivers:
- Connection-with oneself and others
- Digital detox-“gets people off their (very addictive) phones”
Nostalgia helps. Substack writers list ’90s summer inspirations, and buyers gravitate toward “warm, cozy” items that echo “grandma’s living room.”
The Analog Bag
An analog bag is a go-to tote packed with screen-free pastimes-cross-stitch, crossword puzzles, sketchpads-kept “as accessible as your phone” to curb scrolling urges.
Key Takeaways
- Needlepoint is the fastest-growing traditional craft among beginners
- Gen Z discovery on TikTok is driving second wave after millennial COVID bump
- Analog bags act as a physical swap-in for smartphones
- Doomscroll fatigue is pushing users toward mindful, tactile hobbies
Offline crafts are becoming the anti-algorithm pastime for a new generation.
