Knitting and crocheting are no longer just hobbies: 3 gen Z creatives explain why

By Marcia Veiga

Published Nov 13, 2020 at 09:30 AM

Reading time: 3 minutes

11327

In every crisis, there are opportunities looming around and even amid this global pandemic, the same can be said. What was once renowned and beloved by baby boomers has now trickled down generations and become a therapeutic hobby or a grand business opportunity for millennials and gen Zers. When did crocheting and knitting become more than just a craft?

View this post on Instagram

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🧶🧶🧶🦔🧶❤️❤️❤️❤️🧶🧶🧶🧶❤️❤️🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶❤️❤️❤️❤️

A post shared by Lulu Kaalund (@lulukaalund2) on

The summer of 2020 was memorable for many reasons, but for me, knitting in the sun with a gin and tonic by my side takes the trump. From the kaleidoscopic JW Anderson cardigan that started a TikTok trend to independent brands such as @Lulukaalund2 and Hope Macaulay, yarn couture was ‘in’ and crotchet fashion began to dominate every viral runway, as well as pavement. The rest of us are still just joining the craze, but three fashion-conscious creatives in particular adamantly strayed away from the pandemic spectacles and sought relief in their cherished two hooks.

The first of which was from Denmark, after the country went into lockdown on the 11 March, PASTA JESUS was born. The mid-20-year-old behind the independent account spoke to Screen Shot and said, “We had about two months of complete silence, so during the dark and quiet time I tried my hand at making my own colourful pieces.” In a bid to keep her creative and personal life separate, she has requested to remain anonymous.

The first of which was from Denmark, after the country went into lockdown on the 11 March, PASTA JESUS was born. The mid-20-year-old behind the independent account spoke to Screen Shot and said, “We had about two months of complete silence, so during the dark and quiet time I tried my hand at making my own colourful pieces.” In a bid to keep her creative and personal life separate, she has requested to remain anonymous.

View this post on Instagram

🎨🌺🌹🌷🌸🌼🌻🍄🍄🌾copenhagen is rainy now and for the next 8 months so heres a throw back to better dayZ 🌞#pastajesusbaby

A post shared by PASTA JESUS (@jesuspasta) on

Around the same time, Megan Turner set up her craft-focused Instagram account to showcase the many socks she was knitting for friends and family, and before she knew it requests came swarming in. She now runs her business from the comfort of her home in Brighton. “My mum taught me to knit when I was seven, I stopped for a couple of years but picked it up last year and haven’t stopped since,” she tells Screen Shot.

View this post on Instagram

Frills or no frills? 🤔

A post shared by Megan Faith Turner (@meganfaithmakes) on

In recent years, retailers and consumers are encouraged to shop with conscious awareness—in an attempt to steer clear of fast fashion and landfill excess. Since then, the upheaval of sustainable purchases remains prevalent; apps like Depop are the epitome.

“I’m not interested in creating trend-based pieces or working for seasons,” explains innovator Beth, the face behind @B.clax, “I’m interested in creating high-quality unique knitwear that will last forever.” Four years ago, she took a foundation course and since then, the passion remained prominent. “A piece can take me anytime from a day to a month depending on the intricacy and detail. Nonetheless, they’re guaranteed to be long-lasting, as I only use the best quality yarn,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

Becky and Harrison at @50mlondon 💚

A post shared by B (@b.clax) on

Durability and endurance are terminologies every high fashion brand promises when justifying the price tag. However, after the disastrous events of the Rana Plaza factory seven years ago, which demonstrated the façade behind the fashion industry, the inhumane conditions of workers should continue being the key driver for why we must all do better. The pandemic has given like-minded creatives time to bloom; and with climate change still in full swing, people have started creating more and shopping less.

“A vest takes me three weeks to make, a hat a little less, and a sweater a little more. Merino wool is my favourite to work with as the fabric has antibacterial properties, which helps it destroy odours while remaining breathable. It’s perfect for Denmark’s weather which is cold 80 per cent of the time,” said PASTA JESUS’ co-founder.

View this post on Instagram

❄️🌞❄️🥺🦐❄️❄️⛄️🥊🥊🥶🥶🏋️‍♀️#pastajesusbaby

A post shared by PASTA JESUS (@jesuspasta) on

For Megan down in Brighton, just one item in her collection takes her eight hours to make, “The bags are the shortest and the Daisy jumper takes a solid three days.” Still, she believes it’s worth the time, “In March, I decided to actively boycott fast fashion and have noticed a real shift in like-minded customers.”

According to an advert I stumbled across on Instagram, “crocheting is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life,” and for some, it really is. Crochet therapy is a thing! It is not only said to work wonders for those with depression and anxiety, but it can also help with insomnia, reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 30 to 50 per cent, build one’s self-esteem, act as a form of group therapy and, most importantly, put you in control—especially in hopeless moments like lockdowns and isolation.

Keep On Reading

By Charlie Sawyer

Is Lana Del Rey dating alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrene to prep for her upcoming country album?

By Abby Amoakuh

Man behind Glasgow Willy Wonka experience put on sex offenders list for abusive behaviour

By Abby Amoakuh

The women in male fields TikTok trend is now being used by men to air their own dating grievances

By Abby Amoakuh

Meet the CEO of Hulah, the dating app born out of a need to weed out weirdos

By Abby Amoakuh

Americans chose a convicted felon over a woman of colour for president. How did this happen?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Strava mule reveals shocking reason why Strava users are paying him to run for them

By Charlie Sawyer

Is the sex work industry unfeminist? TikTok thinks so, and so do I

By Charlie Sawyer

TV show hot take: HBO’s Girls is for those in their early 20s, Broad City is for women in their late 20s

By Charlie Sawyer

Why I never considered reporting the man who flashed me to the police

By Charlie Sawyer

Drake’s recent hairstyle has fans thinking he’s going through a midlife crisis 

By Charlie Sawyer

The Apprentice star Sebastian Stan warns Trump’s criticism may spark new wave of violence

By Abby Amoakuh

Sweden’s plans for an underage social media ban to curb gang violence could inspire EU to do the same

By Abby Amoakuh

Did The Summer I Turned Pretty star Gavin Casalegno cheat on his ex-girlfriend Larsen Thompson?

By Charlie Sawyer

Resurfaced Frenemies clip proves Trisha Paytas manifested SNL appearance

By Abby Amoakuh

Parents are buying bulletproof backpacks and clipboards for their children as school shootings continue

By Abby Amoakuh

Gen Z are now bringing their parents to job interviews, proving helicopter parenting has gone too far

By Louis Shankar

The only ones who find the 2024 Paris Paralympics TikTok page offensive are able-bodied people

By Abby Amoakuh

Why are cheating partners putting upside down bell peppers in their shopping carts?

By Abby Amoakuh

Selena Gomez cried on camera about ICE raids and mass deportation but did we need to see it?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Woman charges her boyfriend $50 every time he stays over for a very unexpected reason