RETURN OF GRANNY HOBBIES
By: Alea Wittler & Alison Mickelson
Knitting, quilting, sewing, and embroidery are things my grandma does for fun. Right?
After talking with West Texas A&M students, we are confident that your grandma’s hobbies are making a comeback - as trendy pass times! From cross stitching and embroidery to quilting and crocheting, no matter the hobby, these historically traditional activities are more appealing to the younger generation now than in previous years.
Learning how to crochet or knit can seem like a daunting hobby to pick up for those who don’t have any experience; however, Gen Z isn't letting that stop them! Something all current college-age students have in common is the amount of extra time that was available in quarantine during COVID-19. Many students used this additional time to pick up a new hobby and learn something new. Ash Wilson is a self-taught crocheter and sewing enthusiast who did precisely that. With the help of Google and YouTube, Hobby Lobby yarn runs and Amazon packages bearing supplies became common.
Other students, like sophomore Morgan Elarton, learned from their grandmothers. “She bought me my first (embroidery) kit and showed me how to do it. It’s such a peaceful hobby I like to do with her or even on my own.”, Elarton said. Many students not only pick up one hobby but are skilled at multiple crafts. From making large quilts with her grandma to embroidering jeans for her role as a WTAMU Peer Leader, Morgan enjoys quilting and embroidering in her free time. Fellow student Rose (Rosie) Lewis finds joy in crocheting and uses this talent to repair her grandmother's doll house with handmade creations. “My grandfather built the doll house for her, and some of the little miniatures in it have stories like - I think the little bed in there was built by her father so I like to add to it with my creations. I crocheted a little rug to match,” said Rosie.
Students aren’t the only ones who learned crafts like sewing and knitting from their grandmothers! Canyon native Cynthia Matlock, an avid member of the Canyon Library knitting group “Knit Night,” learned how to crochet from her grandmother when she was just six years old. This creative pastime has stuck with Cynthia her whole life. Even now, she enjoys dying and spinning her yarn and competing in the March international sock knitting competition, “Sock Madness.”
Many young people are picking up traditional hobbies again because they see the value in homemade things. The internet has also opened up a world of possibilities; it's so easy to learn new things nowadays,” Cynthia said.
Gen Z has taken to adding “Granny Hobbies” to their list of pastimes because it’s relaxing and rewarding to make their products. “It lasts a lifetime,” Ash said. By being able to create your own items, you can ensure quality. Blankets, throws, hats, and gloves will last longer if you make them yourself instead of purchasing cheap, mass-produced items. “I think it's the sustainability, and also, they’re just fun to do, to sit there and create something with your own hands.”
In the fast-paced, short, attention-span world of social media, students find solace in engaging in a quieter hobby. “I think it's nice to escape social media, kind of. It's almost easier to go back to hobbies like these ‘granny hobbies’ or vintage hobbies because they give you a break from the real world,” junior Maddie Pembleton explained.
Even on TikTok and Instagram, granny hobbies are trending. Instagram influencer Sam @morethangardening shares her life of making fresh, homemade bread, gardening, canning, and other sustainable gardening practices that she uses to feed her family. Many different influencers show how they are able to make sustainable clothing and fresh food. These practices take them back in time and help to connect them with their grandmothers.
Students at West Texas A&M are keeping these hobbies alive and well. “My favorite part is making something tangible,” Rosie said. “People don’t sew or have any of those practical skills anymore. It's quite novel these days.”
Students with these unique skills have even considered turning their passion into profit! “Once I showed people my projects like my embroidered jeans, they started asking if I could make them pairs,” Morgan explained. “I might have to start a side hustle embroidering people’s jeans!”
Maddie used her newly learned skills to raise funds for a mission trip she went on. She taught herself how to create crocheted headband handkerchiefs, once she noticed the trend becoming a popular accessory style. She sold them to friends and family who wanted to support her mission.
Granny hobbies are bridges between generations, woven with threads of fabric, yarn, and the shared time spent creating together. Though fondly dubbed "granny hobbies" by younger generations, these timeless activities echo traditions passed down through the ages. Once vital for clothing and nourishment, they have become cherished pastimes for “grannies” and young students.
