Emotional Support Crafting Is Trending, But There’s One Problem with It

Crochetaylor Swift taunts me. The little knit doll sits on a shelf, in her little Folklore-esque cardigan, reminding me each day of the three (three!) crochet kits I've opened and abandoned. She was a Christmas gift from my sister, an Etsy find that inspired me: How nice would it be to create whimsical little amigurumi dolls and animals, crocheting instead of doomscrolling at the end of a long night? 

Apparently, I'm not the only one. In its 2025 Creativity Trend Report, arts and crafts store Michaels found searches for beginner crochet kits were up 140 percent this past year, part of a larger trend it identified as "emotional support crafts," a desire to tackle small, portable DIY projects as a form of relaxation and self-care. The trend isn’t limited to crochet: searches for yarn kits are up 1,200 percent, embroidery kits are up 170 percent and portable crafts in general have seen a 269 percent spike.

What these crafts have in common, Michaels notes, is that they’re hands-on activities that involve repetitive motion. In that sense, they’re meditative—with the added bonus that you may have something cool to show for it when you’re done. And, given that nearly one out of every two people has felt more anxious than they did last year—with the economy, politics and gun violence being top concerns, according to a recent American Psychiatric Association study—it tracks. We’re looking for anything that will help us feel more at ease in an uncertain world.

Research and experts alike back this up: “Crafting projects can help the brain send signals to the body that all is well,” shares Gayle Torres, ATR-BC, a board-certified art therapist at Cancer Wellness at Piedmont. “Blood pressure and tension are reduced, resulting in a sense of well-being.”

That’s the challenge of emotional support crafting: You reach for it as a quick source of relief, but if the learning curve is too steep—and you don’t have the time to commit to figure things out and stick with it—you wind up even more frustrated.

So how do you ensure the craft you’re taking up is actually soothing?

I’d been scratching my head, until I stumbled upon a blog post by Kristina, an occupational therapist who offered some helpful direction: “In school, OTs [occupational therapists] learn about the ‘just right challenge,’ which I believe applies here and even determines the benefits on stress that art may have,” she writes. “In the just right challenge, we look at your skills compared to the complexity of art. For example, I am not a knitter/crocheter, so for me, if I was looking for a relaxing craft, I may not choose knitting, as it would be more frustrating for me as I learn than relaxing. Instead, I might choose coloring or collaging, as it more closely matches the skill level I have and therefore allows me to zone in and enjoy!”

Similarly, when I posed this question to Mandi Clark, Michaels’ Director of Trend & Design, she suggested another emerging trend: getting into gateway crafts, aka beginner-friendly DIYs with a minimal learning curve, if any.

“Guided art kits—like Paint-by-Number Kits and Diamond Art Kits—come with all the essential tools and step-by-step instructions, making it easy to explore a new creative outlet,” she explains. “Plus, they provide quick gratification, helping you unwind while keeping your hands busy.”

There are even palm-sized Paint-by-Number canvases these days, and diamond art for bookmarks, so you can tuck them in your bag and work on them during your commute or while waiting at the doctor’s office or DMV.

Ultimately, the key to taking up an emotional support craft that actually soothes you is to—at the risk of sounding like an “enjoy the journey!” Hallmark card—find something that matches your skill level and allows you to enjoy the process over the final product. Crafting my own Crochetaylor Swift is a bit too ambitious for me right now, particularly when my windows of free time are confined to moments my nap-averse toddler closes his eyes and there aren’t half a dozen chores to tackle. But pouring a candle or punch-needling a folksy little square of flowers? That I can do.