Last week, I lay on the sofa after work and looked at my phone, and before I knew it, two hours had passed. I was only planning to watch a few shorts.

When the screen time notification popped up saying I averaged over five hours a day, I honestly felt a bit of a reality check. So, I decided to do something with my hands this fall.

What I chose was knitting. At first, I laughed too; I mean, what does someone whose hobbies are sports and watching games have to do with knitting?

But it turns out I'm not alone in this impulse. There are quite a few articles saying that so-called grandma hobbies are making a comeback among young people in the U.S.

According to the 2026 Trend Report released by the craft supply chain Michaels on March 10 of this year, the search volume for analog hobbies like knitting, crochet, and embroidery has increased by 136% in just six months.

The same report also stated that sales of yarn-related accessories have risen by 40% compared to the previous year. They even dubbed this year the Year of Creative Living, marking the return to analog times.

There's also data on teenagers and those in their early twenties. A survey by the research firm YPulse found that 70% of respondents aged 13 to 24 said they are seeking offline activities more than before.

A survey conducted by Talker Research for ThriftBooks also revealed that 63% of Gen Z has tried to reduce their screen time. This suggests that many are feeling similar fatigue.

However, I want to point out one thing. Many of these numbers come from data provided by companies in the craft supply or bookstore industries.

This means that while the trend is real, we should take the exact scale with a grain of salt. Just because it's trendy doesn't mean everyone has put down their phones.

Interestingly, this trend started on social media. Influencers posting knitting videos have sparked interest, and analyses suggest that after the pandemic, it has transitioned from online to offline gatherings.

It's ironic that a trend that started on phones is leading people to put them down. I can't argue, as I was also inspired by a video that the algorithm showed me.

So why knitting in particular? After trying it for a few weeks, I started to see the reasons.

First, my hands are busy, so I can't reach for my phone. When I'm holding two needles, there's no way to check notifications. It's like a forced detox.

Second, the results are visible. After spending all day handling emails, I sometimes wonder what I've accomplished, but seeing a scarf grow longer stitch by stitch gives me a strange sense of achievement.

Third, if I mess up, I can just unravel it. In my job, it's hard to undo mistakes, but with knitting, as long as I unravel the yarn, I can start over, which surprisingly eases my mind.

This is how my beginner journey went. On the first weekend, I went to a local yarn shop, and the staff advised me to start with thick yarn and needles if I was a beginner.

If you start with thin yarn, it's hard to see the stitches, and you get tired quickly. In fact, using thick yarn in a bright color made the stitches much clearer and easier to work with.

For my first project, I was recommended to make a simple straight piece like a scarf. As long as you know how to knit one stitch, you can finish it.

I could learn on YouTube by myself, but videos are still screens, right? My hand movements were awkward, so I ultimately chose to learn directly from a person.

I found out that my local public library had previously held knitting workshops that included materials. Some yarn shops also offer beginner classes or knitalong groups.

There are also quite a few groups on apps like Meetup that meet weekly to knit together. Since schedules change often, be sure to check the website or call before going.

When I first attended a meeting, I was the only man there. It felt a bit awkward, but an elderly lady sitting next to me said, "You dropped a stitch, honey," and helped me fix the mistake, and after that, we quickly started chatting.

This was an unexpected benefit. It had been a long time since I had such casual conversations with local people outside of work in the U.S. I didn't realize how nice it would feel to be asked what I was going to knit next week.

Of course, there are downsides. Once you start wanting pretty yarn, you realize the money goes faster than expected.

And my wrists and shoulders get surprisingly sore. Sitting hunched over for long periods isn't much different from the posture I have when looking at my phone. So, I've made it a habit to get up and stretch every 30 minutes.

So, if it were me, I would only buy one or two skeins of yarn and a pair of needles at first. It's not too late to invest in a full set of equipment after a few months of trying it out and realizing it's truly my hobby.

Right now, my first scarf is about halfway done. The stitches are uneven, so I can't give it as a gift, but my goal is to finish it before the first snow and wear it to work.

Most importantly, my evenings have changed. Spending an hour holding needles instead of my phone surprisingly gives my mind a good rest.

I don't think it's necessary to make a big deal out of a digital detox. This winter, I recommend just holding something in your hands; that's enough for me.