As a millennial who’s officially graduated from the wild party phase (don’t worry, I still enjoy nights out that don’t involve a strict 9 pm bedtime), I find myself drawn to new hobbies that help keep me somewhat sane. Spoiler alert: “somewhat sane” is the key phrase here.
I don’t always want to be outside surrounded by bugs and the charming eau de local farm smells—eww, hard pass. So when the great outdoors isn’t calling my name, I like to create. It’s way too easy to just flop on the sofa and binge the latest trending reality show. (Yes, I did just marathon two series of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives—don’t judge. It’s the perfect kind of brain rot.) And please, if I have to hear “Is this the end of MomTok?” one more time… no, it’s not over, guys, relax.
Enter my “old lady” hobby of choice: knitting. I love knitting! It’s my go-to way to de-stress after a long, chaotic day—just me, a glass of wine (chicken wine, for those who don’t know, google it), some needles (obviously the knitting kind, not the tattoo kind), and a ball of yarn. What am I making? No idea. My mind bounces around faster than a toddler hopped up on sugar.
When I get an idea, I go full force. Want to knit mini hat keyrings for all the F1 teams this summer? Why not! Fancy a thick, cosy cardigan in the middle of a heatwave? Sure, I’m that kind of rebel. My hobbies tend to mix and match like a messy Pinterest board.
I think this is a trend with millennials these days—if it’s not knitting, it’s gardening or hoarding houseplants. We’re basically turning our homes into jungles. I tried it once. One plant. It died almost immediately. Turns out, plants need water. Who knew?! Clearly, plant mum is not in my future.
But here’s the thing about knitting: there’s zero chance I’ll accidentally kill any of my latest creations. Well… maybe not the creations themselves. I may have a few bent needles from the classic “accidentally sitting on them” move or during a manic knitting session. Those are wild times, let me tell you. But making things—especially things I can actually wear or use—feels pretty awesome.
I love knitting little blankets and sitting pads for my guinea pigs, my literal tiny humans. These aren’t just for decoration—they’re the perfect chill-out spots at home or little comfort companions for vet visits. I don’t have kids (not even close to ready for that), so my “babies” are my squeaky little furballs.
People have told me I should sell my creations and make a few extra quid on the side. My problem? I get way too attached to every single thing I make. Anyone else feel this? You pour hours into a project, it turns out amazing, and then you’re supposed to let it go? That’s a tough sell.
Maybe one day I’ll bite the bullet and start selling. But for now, I’ll just rock my slightly wonky, totally homemade cardigan (made with so much love) on chilly autumn days and carry my knitted bag to the beach like it’s haute couture.
Just like the grannies in that Shreddies advert, everything I make is crafted with love—even when I mess up on row 102 (which somehow took me half an hour to knit). That’s when the perfectionist in me bursts out in tears, undoes everything, and starts again. And so, the therapy continues.
What’s your favourite millennial hobby? Are you an avid knitter like me, a budding houseplant enthusiast, or maybe training for your first parkrun? Drop a comment below and let me know—I’m always up for swapping stories (and maybe a few knitting fails).
Sincerely,
Catherine
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