> At a Glance
> – Searches for “analog hobbies” jumped 160% in 30 days
> – Etsy reports beginner needlepoint items up 208% year over year
> – TikTok #Needlepoint videos now top 119,000
> – Why it matters: Younger users are trading screen time for calming, hands-on crafts
TikTok’s endless scroll is driving users straight into the arms of cross-stitch, crochet and watercolor. The platform that popularized doomscrolling now fuels a boom in offline, “grandma-style” hobbies.
What’s Trending
Google Trends shows the term “analog hobbies” up 160% in the past month. On Etsy, searches for “beginner needlepoint items” surged 208% year over year, while “crochet sweaters” rose 162%.
Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy Trend Expert, explains:
> “Needlepointing is emerging as the clear standout … particularly among beginners.”
- #Needlepoint – 119,000 TikTok videos
- #WIPWednesday – 81,000 videos (work-in-progress posts)
Why People Are Making the Switch
Krista LeRay, owner of Penny Linn needlepoint shop, traces the first wave to COVID-era millennials on Instagram. A second, TikTok-driven surge began in 2023 and pulled in Gen Z.
> “Connection with ourselves and others … gets them back in the ‘real world’,” LeRay says.
Shoppers also crave nostalgia. Johnson notes a pull toward “pieces that evoke feelings of warmth and coziness – just like sitting in your grandma’s living room.”
Meet the “Analog Bag”
An analog bag is a go-to tote packed with screen-free projects – cross-stitch, crosswords, sketchpads – kept “as accessible as your phone” to curb impulse scrolling.
| Hobby | Etsy Search Lift |
|---|---|
| Beginner needlepoint items | +208% YoY |
| Crochet sweaters | +162% YoY |
| General analog hobbies (Google) | +160% past 30 days |
Key Takeaways
- Needlepoint leads the analog revival, fueled by TikTok tutorials
- Users view offline crafts as an antidote to doomscrolling
- The trend blends nostalgia, mindfulness and social-media discoverability
- Analog bags make swapping phone time for craft time easier
From watercolor to word searches, the message is clear: the same platform that hooks users is now inspiring them to log off and thread a needle instead.
