A good time for past time and more millennials are
How hobby addicts of the smartphone
Stitches, sketches, purls and pottery are hobbies usually associated with a generation growing up with the ability to make do and mend.
But in recent years, traditional arts and crafts have seen a boom in popularity with millennials looking to switch off from the digital world – and, according to recent research, taking up tactile leisure activities can even boost confidence in the workplace.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that pursuing a fun hobby requiring traditional skills keeps people happy and healthy, helping to “recharge our batteries” and lift confidence levels.
Dr Ciara Kelly, a lecturer in work psychology at the university, said: “A high commitment approach to hobbies can help us to build skills and experiences that improve our confidence in the workplace, and can be beneficial as long as the hobby doesn’t interfere with work.”
The research also showed that interests outside of work are becoming increasingly common, as more people remain single longer or start a family later in life.
The Craft & Hobby Trade Association estimates that more than one million people have taken up sewing in the last decade, and 32% of teenagers now enjoy learning crafts such as knitting and crochet.
Glasgow-based counsellor and hypnotherapist Lisa Murphy, who specialises in anxiety, added:
“Tactile hobbies, such as knitting and sewing, put you in a meditative state and it’s actually very similar to being hypnotized. You’re in the zone, you’re focusing on a specific thing and you stay still; it gives you a creative purpose that can be very calming for the mind.
“When we’re on technology, especially social media, there is so much pressure. Stepping away from all the noise just by doing something that’s very tactile can help us feel more authentic.”
New figures from digital magazine service, Readly, show consumers are also increasingly interested in following a sustainable lifestyle, with searches for needlework topics experiencing a surge in popularity among younger generations.
The terms “knitting”, “crochet” and “sew” all featured in the platform’s most searched words online during 2019.
Jessica Kirke, owner of The Craft Pottery in Glasgow, opened her business when she realised there was demand for adult-friendly pottery painting and lessons, and says people posting on social media about their hobbies has made crafts even more popular.
She explained: “I used to work part-time in a pottery studio while I was living in Brooklyn, but my full-time job was in PR. The studio
‘ Friends are trying pottery rather than going out
provided stress relief and a nice atmosphere outside of my intense day job. It was a little haven.
“Then when I moved to Glasgow, I would go to pottery painting studios with my now husband but we felt a bit out of place because they were very