Knitting and Crochet Statistics 2026: 26 Key Data Points
By FiberCroft . 8 min read . Updated June 2026
Knitting and crochet are quietly enormous, and they are getting younger. This page collects 26 of the most useful, fully sourced statistics on the fiber-arts world: how many people knit and crochet, who they are, how large the yarn market is, how social media is pulling in a new generation, and what peer-reviewed research says about the wellbeing benefits. Every figure below names its source and year so you can cite it with confidence. The data draws on the Craft Industry Alliance, the Association for Creative Industries, Ravelry, market researchers, and published studies in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.
The short answer
About 28.8 million Americans knit or crochet, roughly 71 percent of them women, and the craft is skewing younger as 86 percent of Gen Z now identify as crafters. The global yarn market is around 124.8 billion dollars, Ravelry has over 9 million registered members, and peer-reviewed research found 81.5 percent of knitters reported feeling happier after knitting.
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How many people knit and crochet
Fiber crafts have a large participant base. The Association for Creative Industries US Craft Market Study, via KnitLikeGranny, counted 28.8 million Americans participating in knitting and/or crochet. A separate Wool and the Gang survey, via Crochet Penguin, estimated 53 million US knitters, with the gap reflecting different survey methods and definitions.
Within the fiber-arts world, crochet edges out knitting on primary craft. The Craft Yarn Council tracking study, via KnitLikeGranny, found 48 percent of US fiber crafters primarily crochet, 32 percent primarily knit, and 20 percent do both. The 2024 Craft Industry Alliance yarn consumer survey found 84 percent of yarn consumers knit, 73 percent crochet, and 58 percent do both.
Who crafts: demographics
The craft is heavily female. The AFCI US Craft Market Study, via KnitLikeGranny, found 71 percent of US knitters and crocheters are women, and the 2024 Craft Industry Alliance yarn consumer survey put yarn consumers at 98 percent female.
Age is the dimension in flux. The Craft Industry Alliance survey found the average yarn consumer is 58 years old, but the entry point is getting much younger: per the AFCI study via Crochet Penguin, 34 percent of crocheters are aged 18 to 34. The dedication runs deep, with 53 percent of knitters knitting every single day.
The Gen Z and social-media surge
A new generation is driving growth. Per Amra and Elma craft marketing statistics, 71 percent of US adults engaged in a craft project, and 86 percent of Gen Z identify as crafters. Social platforms are the engine: The Big Issue reports the TikTok #knittok hashtag has reached 1.1 billion views.
That attention shows up at the register. The Big Issue, citing John Lewis, reported a 61 percent year-over-year increase in haberdashery sales, the yarn-and-craft category, a concrete signal that the online enthusiasm converts to buying.
The yarn and craft market
Yarn is a globally significant material market. Growth Market Reports sizes the global yarn market at 124.8 billion dollars in 2024, projecting 186.3 billion dollars by 2033 at a 4.7 percent CAGR. The narrower knitting and crochet apparel market is sized by Technavio at 13.81 billion dollars in 2024.
Online buying is reshaping the spend. The Craft Industry Alliance survey found 56 percent of yarn consumers buy more yarn online than a year ago, and younger buyers spend heavily online: consumers aged 25 to 34 spend about 411 dollars a year on yarn online versus 215 dollars in stores. Average monthly household knitting spend was about 20.57 dollars in the AFCI study. That recurring spend funds the tool kit, including the needle sets we rank like the ChiaoGoo TWIST Red Lace Complete Interchangeable Set (5-inch) .
ChiaoGoo TWIST Red Lace Complete Interchangeable Set (5-inch)
Surgical-grade stainless steel tips with memory-free red cables and nearly seamless joins. The set most advanced knitters point to when asked for a single recommendation.
Community and the wellbeing case
The hub of the online craft community is Ravelry, which reports over 9 million registered members and a database of nearly 1.2 million patterns, per its blog via Expanded Ramblings. The Craft Industry Alliance survey found 70.4 percent of yarn consumers get crafting inspiration primarily from Ravelry. Beyond fiber, the wider handmade economy is large: Customcy sizes the global handicrafts market at 906 billion dollars and reports Etsy at 96 million active buyers.
The wellbeing benefits are documented, not just felt. A study by Riley, Corkhill, and Morris in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, surveying 3,545 knitters across 31 countries, found 81.5 percent reported feeling at least a little to very happy after knitting. AARP, citing a Knit for Peace survey, reported that 92 percent of members in poor or very poor health said knitting improved their health.
Sources
Association for Creative Industries US Craft Market Study and Craft Yarn Council tracking study, via KnitLikeGranny and Crochet Penguin.
Craft Industry Alliance, Yarn Consumer Survey, 2024. Wool and the Gang survey, via Crochet Penguin.
Growth Market Reports, Yarn Market, 2024. Technavio, Knitting and Crochet Market Analysis, 2024. Customcy, Handmade and Craft Industry Statistics, 2026.
Amra and Elma, Craft Marketing Statistics, 2024. The Big Issue, on TikTok knitting and John Lewis sales, 2024. Ravelry About page and blog, via Expanded Ramblings.
Riley, Corkhill and Morris, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2013. AARP, citing the Knit for Peace survey, 2017.
Featured in this guide
ChiaoGoo TWIST Red Lace Complete Interchangeable Set (5-inch)
Surgical-grade stainless steel tips with memory-free red cables and nearly seamless joins. The set most advanced knitters point to when asked for a single recommendation.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many people knit or crochet?+
The Association for Creative Industries US Craft Market Study counted 28.8 million Americans participating in knitting and/or crochet. A separate Wool and the Gang survey estimated 53 million US knitters; the figures differ because of different survey methods. Crochet slightly leads, with 48 percent of fiber crafters primarily crocheting.
Is knitting and crochet growing among young people?+
Yes, sharply. Per Amra and Elma, 86 percent of Gen Z identify as crafters, and the TikTok #knittok hashtag has reached 1.1 billion views. The retail impact is visible too, with John Lewis reporting a 61 percent year-over-year jump in haberdashery sales.
What percentage of knitters and crocheters are women?+
The Association for Creative Industries found 71 percent of US knitters and crocheters are women, and the 2024 Craft Industry Alliance yarn consumer survey put yarn consumers at 98 percent female. The average yarn consumer is 58 years old, though 34 percent of crocheters are aged 18 to 34.
How big is the yarn market?+
Growth Market Reports sizes the global yarn market at about 124.8 billion dollars in 2024, projected to reach 186.3 billion by 2033 at a 4.7 percent CAGR. The narrower knitting and crochet apparel market is about 13.81 billion dollars per Technavio.
Does knitting actually improve wellbeing?+
Research supports it. A British Journal of Occupational Therapy study of 3,545 knitters across 31 countries found 81.5 percent reported feeling happier after knitting. AARP, citing a Knit for Peace survey, reported 92 percent of members in poor or very poor health said knitting improved their health.