Knitting & Crochet Takes Top Spot as NZ’s Coolest Craft

Knitters and crochet groups young and old have thrown their love of yarn around the earth 3.75 times using more than 150,000,000 metres of yarn in the last year.

The latest Kiwi craft trends, released by leading craft retailer Spotlight ahead of National Craft Month, show that traditional crafts such as knitting, macrame and crochet are anything but dead. Crafting together with friends, family and community groups attributable to its resurgence in Aotearoa.

Knitting and crochet take the top spot with slime, cutting machines, cake decorating, moss and faux greenery, mermaid and unicorn crafts all making the top 10.

Throughout the month of March, Spotlight will celebrate National Craft Month, encouraging DIY diehards to come together and share their love of creating with instore events and activities for the whole family throughout stores nationwide.

Sales figures released by Spotlight reveal that New Zealand’s most popular crafts, emerging craft trends and the hottest craft items are...

1. Knitting & crochet - New Zealand’s most popular craft, with Spotlight sales figures showing over 150,000,000 metres of yarn were sold this financial year; enough to circle the Earth 3.75 times!

2. Slime - a favourite of kids and big kids alike, slime videos are sweeping the Internet and the sticky supplies are flying off the shelves

3. Cutting machines - the new tools of scrapbookers, card makers and quilters that make easy work of cutting paper, vinyl and fabric

4. Cake decorating - there’s nothing sweeter than a craft you can eat

5. Weaving - the recent resurgence of knitting and weaving looms and woven wall hangings sees weaving as New Zealand’s fifth most popular craft

6. Macramé - the biggest comeback of any craft form in recent memory, the plant hangers and wall hangings you had in the 70s beach house are back with a vengeance

7. Cake Yarns - multi-colour, variegated yarns spun into balls that resemble a sweet confection

8. Mermaids - from full crochet mermaid tails to embellished tiaras, mermaid crafts are making a huge splash in 2018

9. Unicorns - the mythical unicorn is capturing the heart of crafters nationwide with everything from parties, costumes, bedroom makeovers drawing inspiration from the majestic beast

10. Moss & Faux Greenery - the easiest way to bring greenery into the home, without the hassle of watering

Other crafts rapidly gaining in popularity are fairy gardens, watercolour painting, charity knitting, calligraphy and resin art.

Spotlight National Craft Month highlights the importance of sharing craft knowledge between friends and the intergenerational handing down of craft skills and knowledge to preserve art forms.

To help pass on the proverbial craft torch, Spotlight stores all over New Zealand will be a hive of activity during March, hosting a wide array of craft workshops and activities to encourage Kiwis to craft together.

Participating stores will host a variety of activities including new age crafts like 3D paper to Easter craft activities including egg painting and creating bonnets.

For more information on Spotlight store activities during Spotlight National Craft Month visit www.spotlightstores.com/nz

*Spotlight Stores sales data, FY2018 (June-July), total sales units Australia & New Zealand

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