How Many People Knit [Updated 2022]

Statistics on things like interest in knitting over time, stats on the health benefits of knitting, age groups and knitting trends.

I reviewed and updated this post on July 26, 2022.

Table Of Contents

Interest In Knitting – 2010-2020

Interest in knitting over the last 10 years has seen a decline from 2015. There’s more interest during the colder months.

In the pandemic of COVID-19 and people staying at home in 2020, interest in knitting increased.

Wondering what the essential knitting tools are? Let me guide you through them.

Interest By Region 2010-2020

Top 5

1. New Zealand
2. Iceland
3. United Kingdom
4. Canada
5. Australia

(The United States is in 8th place.)

Bottom 5

1. Brazil
2. Japan
3. Vietnam
4. Russia
5. Mexico

5 Most Popular Search Terms For Knitting

Most popular search terms for knitting over the last 10 years.

• Arm Knitting Scarf
• Arm Knitting Blanket
• Deramores
• Vogue Knitting Live
• Arm Knitting Yarn

Arm Knitting became popular in 2014 when a video went viral on how to make an arm knitting blanket.

In 2016 and 2017, the interest for this search term spiked.

Deramores is an online knitting and crochet store.

Vogue Knitting Live is a knitting event in the United States.

Interested in learning more about a wool winder?

Knitting Pattern Trends

Ravelry^[1] is a place for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, weavers and dyers.

It tracks yarn, tools, project and pattern information.

It’s a wealth of information. I used their amazing search function to gather these statistics.

In 2019, 82,335 patterns were published in Ravelry. Compared with 51,363 patterns published in 2010.

Of those published in 2019:

• 44,774 were Knitting Patterns
• 37,057 were Crochet Patterns

Pattern Trends over the last 10 years include^[2]

• Brioche knitting
• Knitting with two yarns together
• Colorwork yokes

Brioche knitting uses a special set of stitches to create a lofty, thick fabric. (Like a ribbed pattern.)

Double-stranded knitting (knitting with two yarns held together) is nothing new.

What’s become popular is combining a fluffy yarn (silk/mohair) with another yarn.

Published patterns featuring colorwork yokes increased. Colorwork sweater designs were popular.

Interested in gift ideas for knitters?

Most Popular Patterns

What were the most popular patterns in 2019?

Here’s the 2019 Patterns with the most projects in Ravelry.

Soldotna Crop by Caitlin Hunter – 4682 Projects

A top-down circular yoke sweater with stranded colorwork.

Love Note By Tin Can Knits – 3618 Projects

Mohair lace and single-ply merino create a soft, floaty fabric.

Starflake by Stephen West – 3442 Projects

Two colors of fingering weight yarn create a collage of graphic shapes for this top-down shawl.

Garter stitch parallelograms with I-cord edges followed by stripes, brioche, short rows, and eyelets.

Odyssey Shawl by Joji Locatelli – 2135 Projects

A free pattern by Joji to give back to her wonderful community. Inspired by a road trip to Canada.

Each color section ends with a lace band featuring striking big eyelets and wavy texture.

Navelli by Caitlin Hunter – 1896 Projects

A relaxed lightweight summer sweater, knit in the round from the bottom up. It features colorwork at the hem.

Knitting Trends In 2019

The Cropped Sweater

In 2019 the cropped look was very popular. Due to the inclusive sizing it was embraced by many people.

Shawls

2 shawl patterns were in the Top 5 most projects in Ravelry. The popularity of Knitted Shawls isn’t waning.

This has been a trend for the last few years. In 2019, 7747 shawl/wrap patterns were published.

Hats
The popularity of hats hasn’t diminished over the years. In 2019 were 10,403 published hat patterns.

Socks
3447 sock patterns were published in 2019! In 2010, there were 2,780 sock patterns published.

Studies Conducted About Knitting and Crochet

The Association For Creative Industries (AFCI) 2016 Creative Products Size of the Industry Study

The Association For Creative Industries (AFCI) conducted a study in 2016 of the US Craft Market.^[3]

This study gives insight into consumer behaviors and demographics related to crafters.

One category was knitters and crocheters.

• 28.8 million Americans participated in knitting and/or crochet in 2016.
• Crafts represented a market of $2.79 billion, with an average monthly spend per household of $20.57.
• Knitters and crocheters are likely to also participate in other needle arts.

• 77% buy their supplies in a physical store
• 4% buy outside physical stores
• 19% buy from both

• 62% give the items they craft as gifts
• Knit and crochet items are the most donated at 18%
• 58% keep their items.

• 18% consider themselves experts (one of the highest percentages of any craft)
• 82% rate their skills as beginner or intermediate

• 71% of knitters and crocheters are female
• 29% are male
• 37% are employed full time

• Knit and crochet age ranges are fairly even
• 34% are 18-34
• 36% are 35-54
• 30% are 55+

Craft Yarn Council’s 2014 Tracking Study

Craft Yarn Council’s 2014 Tracking Study [4] surveyed 3,100 crocheters and knitters across the United States of America.

They were asked about what motivates them to do these crafts, the benefits they derive.

Plus, where they get inspiration and what they’re making.

Age Groups Of Participants

• 15% were 18–34
• 13% were 35–44
• 23% were 45–54
• 32% were 55–64
• 17% were 65+

Of the 3,178 knitters and crocheters surveyed

• 48% primarily crochet
• 32% primarily knit
• 20% equally knit and crochet
• 84% say they crochet or knit 3- times a week
• 58% claim they crochet or knit daily.
• 53% of ages 18–34, crochet or knit daily

Top three important reasons they participate in their craft.

• Provides creative outlet (65%)
• Enjoy making things for others (51%)
• Provides a sense of accomplishment (44%)

Knitters and crocheters experience benefits

• Feeling of accomplishment (93%)
• Reduced Stress (85%)
• Improved Mood (68%)
• Sense of confidence (56%)

Common uses of the Internet for the craft

• Finding patterns (90%)
• Getting new project ideas (67%)
• Purchasing yarn, patterns and supplies (42%)

Searching For Projects On The Internet

• Social networking sites (83%)
• Yarn company websites (77%)
• Magazine and publisher websites (37%)
• Retailer websites (34%)
• Podcasts and YouTube (26%).

Popular Social Media Sites For The Craft

• Ravelry (71%)
• Facebook (61%)
• YouTube (52%)
• Pinterest (40%)
• Blogs (23%)

Crocheters and knitters get ideas from print sources.

• Knit and crochet magazines (64%)
• Books (61%)
• Free tear-off patterns (59%)
• Projects on yarn labels (47%)

What They Make

Scarves, hats, baby blankets and afghans topped the list of favorite projects among those surveyed.

Scarves at 86% and hats at 79% were favorite projects across all age groups.

The Health Benefits of Knitting Statistics

Over the last 6 years, studies have shown the health benefits of knitting and crochet.

Knitting and Crochet Relieve Depression

In a study of 3,500 knitters in The British Journal of Occupational Therapy.

81% of respondents with depression reported feeling happy after knitting. Over half reported feeling “very happy.”^[5]

Crafting May Reduce or Postpone Dementia

Yonas Geda, associate professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Published a study in the Spring 2011 edition of The Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences.^[6]

His research showed people who read books, played games or crafted had a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment.

A precursor to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Their study looked at 1,321 adults, ages 70-89.

197 were identified as already having mild cognitive impairment.

The normal and cognitively impaired groups were surveyed about their activities within the year.

Playing games, crafting, reading and watching less TV resulted in 30-50% decrease in the odds of having mild cognitive impairment.

I hope this post expanded your knowledge.

I’d love to hear what you found interesting.

References

1. Ravelry – https://www.ravelry.com/ Accessed 7 May 2020
2. ‘Spotting a Trend: Knitting Patterns Released in 2010–2019’, Susanna Winter, January 24, 2020, <https://www.susannawinter.net/single-post/2020/01/24/Spotting-a-Trend-Knitting-Patterns-Released-in-2010E280932019>, Accessed 5 May 2020.
3. ‘2016 Creative Products Size of the Industry Study’ Association For Creative Industries, <https://www.craftandhobby.org/eWeb/pdfs/AFCI%20MASTER%20Report_020117.pdf>, Accessed 4 May 2020.
4. Craft Yarn Council <https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/health> Accessed 6 May 2020.
5. ‘The Benefits of Knitting for Personal and Social Wellbeing in Adulthood: Findings from an International Survey’, Jill Riley, Betsan Corkhill, Clare Morris, 15 February 2013, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.4276/030802213X13603244419077 Accessed 5 May 2020
6. ‘Engaging in Cognitive Activities, Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Population-Based Study’, Yonas E. Geda et al., April 2011, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204924/, Accessed 5 May 2020

Pin Now to Save for Later