Handicraft Trend: Is It Getting Smaller or Bigger?

Dear users, dear authors,
do you think the crafting trend—and especially the crochet trend—will eventually come to an end or lose steam?

I think it’s like any trend. Eventually, everything fades away. Especially when it comes to amigurumi—at some point, you, your friends, and your family will have had enough of those cute little animals. As for clothes and socks, it won’t stop, 

I don’t think this “trend” will fade away anytime soon. There was also a knitting boom in the ’70s. Back then, there were craft stores on every corner. Then it suddenly disappeared, and for decades, crafting lay dormant.
But ever since computers entered households and the internet and smartphones took the world by storm, the market for crafts has been growing again. I think this also has something to do with the fact that people want to make things themselves again. This doesn’t just include knitting, crocheting, and crafts. It also includes DIY projects, cooking, baking, home decor, and gardening. For many years to come, this will serve as a counterbalance to the digital world.

I think—and hope—that the trend will last a long time and continue to grow.
In an age where mass-produced goods are everywhere, people are rediscovering individuality and uniqueness.

I can only speak from my own circle of friends. I have so many friends who’d love to learn how to crochet and knit. Many of them enjoy using the internet—YouTube and the like—to teach themselves the basics.
They often don’t have the time to get started right away, but the desire to create something themselves is always there. And sooner or later (usually once the kids no longer need “round-the-clock care”), they get back to it.

I can also say that I’m swamped with orders. Because by now, all the kids in my circle of friends love handmade items—not to mention the adults.
And whenever possible, I prefer to show people individually how they can make things themselves.

So I don’t think this trend is going to decline.

I don’t think the trend will fade away anytime soon either.
Just think of the Christmas market—the huge demand for handmade items.
It’s not mass-produced merchandise you can just buy off the shelf.

Plus, I can confirm Pe-Ka’s point. Among my friends, doing handicrafts is also becoming more and more popular, and schools (at least here in the countryside) are encouraging it too.

Let’s hope it lasts for a very long time.

Hi everyone!

I don’t think the crafting boom is going to fizzle out either.
Crocheting and knitting were “uncool” for a long time—as a young person, you were “supposed to be ashamed” if you enjoyed crafts… that’s a shame, but that’s how it was.
People didn’t wear things they’d knitted or crocheted themselves (or sewn, for that matter), nor did they dress their children in them—in many circles, that was considered “shabby.”
Older people, however, mostly kept crafting anyway—partly because they really (and in this respect, they were [also] ahead of us young people...) didn’t care at all what others thought about it, and partly because they had ALWAYS enjoyed doing it… and why would anyone give something like that up?!
Nowadays, it’s socially accepted, even among young people. Of course, “guys” like the MyBoshis have played a big part in that.

And then there’s the fact that people today want to be unique. They want things they can’t just buy off the rack and see everywhere else.
They want to stand out from the crowd.
And that’s where handmade items come in—and when you can also say, “I made this myself” and get amazed looks and words of admiration, that’s just great. (Almost) everyone likes that…
This trend will surely last for a loooong time—people don’t want to be just another face in the crowd, but an individual!

Best, Nina

As I said, clothing will stick around; I really enjoy it myself too, especially because each new piece looks more "wearable" and you feel proud of the progress. I just think the amigurumi trend will decrease over time, just like silk painting, napkin decoupage, Windowcolor, Scoubidou cords, and last but not least Rainbow Loom... it will surely pop up again at some point, but that's how it is with trends: they come and go.
When I was young, those Pali scarves were in, then it was long colorful necklaces; today people have triangular shawls, loops, and dragon tails (is that what they're called???) Then less is more again.
So I don't really see crafts in general as a trend, but rather the things you make yourself.
Today, hardly anyone knits sweaters in 80s style anymore either, because other things are currently trending.
Conclusion: Handcrafting itself will continue to exist, just in different, continually modern ways.