The Morning Crafter

The global crafting market has experienced significant growth from over the last decade, driven by an increasing interest in DIY activities, the rise of social media and online communities, and the expansion of platforms like Etsy.

In fact, the market growth for crafting globally is projected to skyrocket well beyond the next five years. The market size is predicted to almost double from 2023-2032, according to Value Market Research.

So, what does that mean for staying on top of crafting trends? There’s good news.

Craft is the trend

Over the last four years alone, it hasn’t been hard to see that crafting in itself has become a trend. During the height of the pandemic, people turned toward handmade goods as something to pass the time and ease their minds. What was once often kept to the older generations and those they’ve passed their knowledge onto, soon became something anyone of any age could access.

YouTube and social media platforms like TikTok helped even further, opening the door to knowledge and technique of the craft. Let’s take a look at the micro trends that have formed within the broader crafting community this year.

Top craft trends of 2024

Crochet and knitting

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the rise of crocheting and knitting in the last year, especially among younger generations. The market size has exploded, notably sharply in 2020, and has continued a very fast upward trend. Online purchases for crochet and knitting supplies, unsurprisingly, have also followed a similar trend, where unfortunately, in-store purchases have started a decline.

An aside — Local yarn stores are incredible, and I highly recommend finding ones in your area to visit. They tend to be priced at a premium, but you’re getting high quality, smaller batched yarns, and supporting local small businesses. Check out this list of all of the local yarn stores in Florida!

Crochet and knitting micro-trends

Within the broader trend of crocheting and knitting, there have been micro-trends that have emerged.

• Amigurumi of all shapes and sizes
• Granny square everything — bags, sweaters, vests, blankets…
• Crochet Kindle and book covers coinciding with the rise of BookTok
• Knit shawls and sweaters — more timeless than trendy, but I’ve definitely noticed a rise
• Anything novelty! Think food, fish, funny, you name it

Upcycled and sustainable crafts

There’s an interesting trend of overconsumption in the craft community, with unboxing and yarn hauls becoming the norm. The counterbalance of upcycling and sustainability has been a trend that has emerged more strongly over the last year.

A controversial trend has been the re-purposing of thrift store finds, specifically of the handmade variety. One of my favorite makers, PoppyLu breathes new life into abandoned quilts and handmade textiles, turning them into incredible wearables. But, her comment sections are often ripe with folks upset at the “destruction” of the original piece. Sadly, those pieces would have like sat and sat at the thrift store, never seeing the glory it once held.

Additionally, on the sustainability front, using materials that would otherwise be destined for the landfill, have been a very welcomed trend over the last few years. From repurposing what others would deem “trash” to finding unique uses for things otherwise unused, this trend has challenged crafters to up their creativity and think outside the box.

Beaded bracelets and bead crafts

“So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.” Fans took that lyric to the next level during Taylor Switf’s The Eras Tour, making millions of friendship bracelets collectively over the last 18 or so months. Arms stacked to the elbow, concert goers trade with each other, building this incredible community of fans with take-home memories of their show attendance.

But bead crafts have exploded beyond just the Eras Tour. There has been a huge boom in bead purchases since 2023, with some smaller bead shops in Australia reporting “The Great Bead Shortage” in relation!

Needlepoint

If you haven’t been targeted by at least one Needlepoint account on social media, I would be shocked. Needlepoint started to gain popularity around Christmas 2023, when Calder Clark posted about her handmade ornaments that she had been making over the years.

I was sold at that point, immediately purchasing my first Needlepoint kit and diving in head first. I even started painting my own canvases, because I didn’t want to spend $100 per canvas, but also because I wanted to do it from start to finish.

Clay makes

Another fun trend that has taken off this year is small housewares made with craft clay. Some of my favorites that I’ve seen have been little trinket dishes painted with a retro vibe. The coolest one I think I’ve seen has been the maker who made a vintage swimming pool trinket dish!

The speed of craft trends

The beauty of social media is the exposure to ideas and opportunities. One of the downfalls of these platforms is the speed at which trends, craft and otherwise, rise and fall. Often, by the time you see a video and get all the supplies, the trend has already hit it’s height and is on the decline.

A great example of this is the rapid rise and fall of resin art. In 2023, resin art was literally everywhere. Online, in-store, craft markets — you couldn’t escape items floating in a pool of hardened resin. While there are still some remnants of the resin boom out there, the popularity has declined.

Part of the decline was in the exposure of safety issues with underdeveloped resin and the potential of acrylate poisoning with improper precautions. The other was the brevity of quality in the resin items. Cheaper resin kits yellowed quickly, creating distrust in the buyer and lessening the demand.

Adapting to trend cycles

Here’s the good news. Handmade is not a trend. It’s a timeless counterpoint to mass production that will never go out of style. The key to adapting, especially if you are trying to market your goods is to not focus on the craft itself, but instead embrace the overall vibe that craft is capturing. A great example is with crochet. When the “squiggly line” aesthetic became popular in 2020, so did the crochet items who embraced the look.

Embrace the trends, but stay timeless

It’s important to remember that crafting is your superpower. You are a counterbalance to AI, and in doing so, are perpetuating the timelessness of craft. Using the trends as inspiration in your crafting journey will keep you relevant, while also keeping up with tradition.