Some knitted works by Zou Xinyu Photo: Courtesy of Zou Xinyu

As temperatures have gradually dropped in recent days across China, topics such as "knitting scarves" and "crochet meetups" have gone trending on Chinese social media. Some people have even signed up for night classes to learn yarn crafts, embracing this traditional handiwork as a new way to relieve stress and express themselves. 

In the past, crocheting or knitting were mostly associated with older generations working at home. 

Today, however, people of all ages can be seen knitting anywhere, from airplanes and high-speed trains to cafés and community centers.

This hobby, which can be picked up and put down at any time, is increasingly filling the fragments of urban life. Whether you're a complete beginner or a proficient knitter, you can work magic with crochet hooks, knitting needles, and yarn.

A crochet content creator named Zou Xinyu from Northwest China's Shaanxi Province told the Global Times that crocheting has become popular because it simultaneously satisfies emotional healing, self-expression, social connection, and a sense of personal value.

Once seen as a "money-saving skill," crocheting has become an emotional outlet. "Today, more people take it up to relax, relieve stress, and experience the satisfaction of creating something with their own hands. Crocheting is a slow process, but it is precisely this slowness that allows people to step away from fast-paced, anxiety-driven routines, offering a sense of control and calm," said Zou, who recently shared her knitted sweaters made for Labubu, a popular furry doll, on China's lifestyle sharing platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote. 

What to make, which colors to choose, and what style to adopt all serve as expressions of personal taste and character. By sharing tips and crochet pattern tutorials on social media, enthusiasts easily form social circles that often extend into offline meetups. 

Moreover, crocheting a small item as a gift for family or friends is a way of expressing care through time itself. The feeling of "I'm willing to spend time on you" is deeply touching, she noted. 

According to estimates by Chinese consultancy iiMedia Research Institute, China's crochet-related product market surpassed 4.5 billion yuan ($640 million) in 2025 and is expected to reach 7.8 billion yuan by 2030, Zhang Yi, CEO of the institute, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

For charity

Enya (Pseudonym), a handicraft teacher from Northeast China's Liaoning Province, organized her second offline gathering on Sunday, with about 20 participants taking part. They learned how to weave pet collars for a charity sale, with all proceeds to be donated to a local stray animal rescue shelter to help purchase medicine and food for stray animals.

"We plan to have face-to-face meetups every Sunday for people to learn crocheting. I'm glad that the participants honed their crocheting skills and at the same time contributed their care and love for stray animals in such cold weather. The participants were particularly motivated by the charity cause," Enya told the Global Times.

Another Beijing-based crochet blogger surnamed Zhang told the Global Times that she enjoys sharing her work with others and exchanging experiences, and therefore regularly organizes gatherings for fellow knitters. 

"I have hosted about 10 meetups so far this year, giving people a platform to exchange ideas and build connections. In the latest gathering, we knitted some scarves and hats and donated them to rural areas," said Zhang. 

Zhang noted that the process of working with yarn helps people stop dwelling on distracting thoughts, bringing a sense of calm - a positive effect on one's mindset. 

"I had a lot of fun to have met so many enthusiasts through crocheting and I hope to keep working with them over the long term, producing work of lasting value," Zhang said. 

People at a meetup session for knitting pet collars pose for a picture on December 7, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Enya

'Woven' love

Zou echoed these sentiments, saying that the repetitive motions help clear the mind. 

"As you crochet and let your thoughts wander, much of your anxiety and inner conflict gradually get worked through."

Finishing a piece, tidying it up, taking photos, sharing a post and receiving likes on social media all serve as affirmations of "I've created something," reinforcing the motivation to keep creating, Zou noted.

In addition to gaining a sense of self-control and accomplishment, Zou hopes that love that is "woven" can be passed down from generation to generation.

"I never expected that my very first piece - a cushion - would make my grandparents so happy when I gave it to them. They kept praising how skillful my hands were. In that moment, I realized for the first time that something made by hand can truly make people feel cared for and remembered," she recalled.

"What I didn't expect even more was that they've been using that cushion ever since - nearly 10 years now. Now that I have a child of my own, I knit sweaters, hats, and scarves for him every year. As I knit, I often wonder: When he grows up, will he remember this 'woven' love the way I remember my grandparents?"

"I express love stitch by stitch, and in the process, I'm also healed and made to feel needed. That's probably the 'mutual fulfillment' between yarn and me. So I guess, for the rest of my life, I really won't be able to live without yarn," she added.