Nana crafts are making a comeback, and they’re good for your heart and your head

Turns out, your nana was onto something. From knitting and crocheting to embroidery and quilting, the crafts we once saw as old-fashioned are having a serious glow-up. And they’re not just good for passing time. They’re calming, creative, and surprisingly social.

In an age of endless swiping and algorithmic matches, there’s something deeply refreshing about doing something slow, deliberate, and handmade. Whether you're crafting solo on a quiet Sunday or joining a local stitch-and-bitch group (yes, that’s a thing), these old-school hobbies offer a digital detox with some serious mental health perks (and maybe even some sneaky romantic potential).

Crafting as self-care

The science is in: Crafting is good for your brain. Studies have found that engaging in repetitive, creative activities like knitting can reduce stress, ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even improve cognitive function. One study by Harvard Medical School found that knitting can induce a state of relaxation similar to meditation, helping to lower heart rate and cortisol levels.

Crafting also offers a tangible sense of accomplishment. Unlike endless scrolling or ghosted DMs, making something with your hands delivers instant gratification (and a very cute scarf). Therapist Elise Robinson puts it beautifully: “Crafting is akin to a meditative activity. You're engaged in it, you are really focusing on the task, which means you're very present.”

Meet cute at knitting club?

Here’s where things get unexpectedly spicy: Nana crafts aren’t just for the couch. These days, groups for knitters, crocheters, and stitchers are popping up in cafes, libraries, community halls, and even pubs. And they’re not all grandmas. Millennial and Gen Z crafters are flocking to these clubs to decompress, make things, and without even meaning to, connect.

It’s low-pressure, high-vibes socialising. No need for small talk when you’re swapping yarn tips. And when you see someone helping a stranger untangle their embroidery floss, it’s hard not to swoon just a little.

We’re not saying a new flame is guaranteed, but we are saying it’s a pretty cute place to meet someone who has the patience to finish a blanket. And if they’ve got that kind of patience, well, they’re far less likely to rush things in bed, if you know what we mean (wink wink nudge nudge).

Crafting for connection

Our world often feels rushed and reactive, but crafting asks us to slow down and focus. Whether it’s a solo activity that helps you process a situationship or a way to meet new people with similar interests, there’s something powerful about choosing presence over perfection. And truly, you don’t need to be good at it. You just need to give it a go.

Try a beginner’s embroidery kit. Join a local knitting night. Offer to teach your hookup how to make a pompom. (Seriously – there’s something weirdly intimate about winding yarn together.) And maybe, making something by hand can remind us how we want to be treated. With care, attention to detail, and intention toward seeing something to completion - not leaving it half-finished in the back of the closet. (There's a metaphor here, but we're just gonna leave it for you to find while we organise our embroidery floss by number.)

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