Grandma Knows Best: Baking To Crochet, Gen Z Is Turning To Old-School Hobbies

The other day, my friend proudly peppered our WhatsApp group with photos of her balcony garden, a lockdown project that blossomed into a purposeful hobby. "My lilies finally bloomed," she exclaimed, followed by a string of congratulatory messages, as though she just announced the birth of her firstborn. Then came the questions: 'What kind of soil did you use?' 'Did you keep the pots in direct sunlight?' 'How often did you water it?' She patiently answered them before quipping, "I feel like that one grandma who knows all the tips and tricks of gardening." 

It's a curious thing to witness. Gen-Z, stereotyped for their digital engrosment and naivete, has been embracing activities that are associated with older women. There is even a name for it, 'grandmacore'.

Young people on social media are showing off their "trendy" hobbies that are slow-paced, hands-on, and intentional. Take the crocheting craze, for example, or the homemade bread baking; these old-school hobbies are becoming an escape in today's rapidly evolving world.

The era of personalisation

Pull out your grandmother's yarn and needles from the attic, because crocheting and knitting are now 'It-girl' hobbies ('girl' here is gender neutral). The stereotypical visual of an old woman seated by a fireplace, engrossed in knitting, has now become a fashionable aesthetic. Everyone from your besties to their situationships is sporting a crocheted beachy bralette or handbag charm.

My friend Neha Ahmed from Hyderabad started crocheting two years ago. "What I love about crochet is that you can make something unique and no one else will have the same thing as you because it's handmade and customised", she expressed. "There is also room for mistakes and learning, which makes it very comforting." Neha shared that she has been working on a crocheted 'labubu' doll. Isn't it cool how an age-old craft can adapt to a modern fad?

In many cities, public places like parks and cafes have turned into 'group crocheting' platforms. For example, have a look at Bengaluru's knitting/crochet community:

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A post shared by Cubbon Knits (@cubbon_knits)

Sewing, upcycling, and customising clothes have also become common among the style-savvy and eco-conscious young generation. "Thrift flipping," the art of turning second-hand clothes into unique fashion statements, has become a full-blown movement on social media. More Gen Zers are moving away from the cliched fast-fashion stores and learning to sew, so they can make their very own 'fits that actually feel like them. It's not just about saving money or rejecting or rejecting fleeting trends, it's about reclaiming style on their own terms.

One with nature

Like my friend with the lilies, so many more young people are turning to gardening, creating their own little escape from the 'concrete-and-glass' world within their homes. Your hands may get dirty, you may forget to water your hibiscus plant, your plants' leaves may wilt, but the process of nurturing a living being and watching it grow is meditative. 

"My plants are my babies," expressed Anika Singh from Bengaluru, who discovered her green thumb when she was gifted a plant a few years ago. "I have not been the best at gardening. I have killed a lot of plants because I forgot to water them, even succulents, but I kept trying and now I have a small green corner in my balcony." She added that gardening has taught her consistency and discipline.

Many other young people have got into hobbies like forest bathing and birdwatching, finding joy in slowing down and tuning into the nature around them. Putting your phone on DND and listening to the calming chirps of birds might not be the most "productive" activity, but it is a radical act of self-care and being fully present in the moment.

No more instant gratification

I, for one, am currently obsessed with embroidery, a craft I inherited from my grandmother. She recently handed me her supplies because she could no longer see well, and I hopped onto YouTube tutorials to learn to embroider a (rather lopsided) butterfly. When I showed it to her, she was thrilled to see me take an interest in something close to her heart.

There is something so cathartic about embroidery; the repetitive movements, the patience and slow progress, and the result of seeing something made using my hands. Try replicating that, artificial intelligence! As almost every industry today is technologically-driven, I believe Gen Z has begun craving activities that require tactile intimacy and imperfections. For me, the prospect of eventually getting better at embroidery is fulfilling, knowing that I am learning something new and using my time to create something artistic.

It's all in the process

Remember how everyone had suddenly turned into a pro baker during the COVID-19 lockdowns? It wasn't just because we were bored to death or because bread was not easily delivered at the time. It was deeper than that, whether you realised it or not. The secret was in the process. At a time when the world seemed to be on a standstill and uncertainty loomed large, making bread from scratch offered a sense of structure, purpose, and drive.

Kneading the dough and waiting for it to rise was a way to channel our restless energy. If you made sourdough bread, the process of feeding the starter and waiting for it to ferment was like caring for a little pet that demanded consistency, attention, and patience. For many, including me, this became a grounding ritual that we continue to practice to this day. Again, it's not about the perfect golden-brown crust or the pockets of airy crumb; it's about making something personal and wholesome. 

Another hobby that has been trending lately is candle making, which has turned creativity therapeutic. The process itself, like melting the wax, choosing a soothing scented essential oil, selecting a jar, and letting nature do its thing as it hardens, is a lesson in patience, focus, and care. This is why candle making is less about the result and more about the ritual.

My friend Prashanti Gupta from Bengaluru gifted her girlfriend a handmade candle. "Handmade gifts are always special, and the idea that I was making something for my special person made the process even more special!" she shared.

Grandmacore & Gen Z

While it is easy to sit back and let AI take charge of our lives, many young people are choosing to go the opposite way, even if that means slowing down. That's why 'grandmacore' hobbies are so appealing. They are a relief from hustle culture, doom-scrolling, and perfectly curated algorithms. They are real. They teach us to never stop learning, to enjoy "boredom", to embrace uncertainty. So if you are looking for a new activity, give your grandma a ring. She might just have the perfect idea!