Crochet is both a long-running fiber craft and a modern social-media-driven hobby. The data below combines large yarn-crafter surveys (where crochet is measured alongside knitting) with marketplace/search indicators that show how demand is shifting.
crochet statistics
Crochet statistics (top highlights)
In a Craft Yarn Council (CYC) tracking study of 3,178 knitters and crocheters, 48% primarily crocheted (32% primarily knit; 20% did both equally).
In the same CYC study, 58% said they knit/crochet daily, and 84% said they craft at least 3–4 times per week.
Top self-reported benefits in CYC data included feeling of accomplishment (93%) and reduced stress (85%).
Six-in-ten respondents said they made a knit/crochet project for charity in the past year.
In Craft Industry Alliance’s 2024 consumer yarn survey summary (7,000+ respondents), 73% reported crocheting, 84% reported knitting, and 58% reported doing both.
In eRank’s Etsy keyword reporting for Q4 2025, “crochet” ranked 17th among top Etsy searches and was reported with a 139% Q4 click-through rate.
The Yarn Survey initiative (run by Premier Needle Arts) reports 14,000+ total responses since launching in 2023 (across survey waves).
Who crochets (and how crochet compares to knitting)
Large surveys often measure crochet and knitting together because many yarn crafters do both. In the CYC tracking study sample, nearly half of respondents identified crochet as their primary craft, making it the single largest “primary” category in that dataset.
Bar chart: primary craft split (crochet vs knitting)
Label
Bar
Value
Primarily crochet
48%
Primarily knit
32%
Equally knit and crochet
20%
Max = 48%. Widths: Primarily crochet 100.00%, Primarily knit 66.67%, Equally knit and crochet 41.67%.
How often people crochet
“Frequency” is one of the clearest indicators of how sticky a hobby is. In the CYC tracking results, a majority reported daily crafting, and only a small minority said they craft only when a project interests them.
Bar chart: crochet/knit frequency (CYC tracking study)
Label
Bar
Value
Daily
58%
3–4 times per week
26%
Less than 3–4 times per week
11%
Only when a project interests me
5%
Max = 58%. Widths: Daily 100.00%, 3–4 times per week 44.83%, Less than 3–4 times per week 18.97%, Only when a project interests me 8.62%.
Why people crochet (wellbeing, accomplishment, and community)
Survey data consistently frames crochet as a mental “reset” activity as much as a creative one. In the CYC tracking results, respondents most often cited accomplishment and stress reduction as key benefits, alongside mood and confidence. Group participation also shows up as a meaningful part of the hobby for many yarn crafters.
How crocheters find patterns and inspiration
Pattern discovery is strongly internet-led in the best-known yarn-crafter datasets. In the CYC tracking study, the vast majority reported using the internet to find patterns and project ideas, and a substantial share used it to purchase supplies.
More recent consumer yarn survey summaries (as reported by Craft Industry Alliance) reinforce how blended this has become: online marketplaces and community platforms remain central discovery points, while in-person shopping still matters for touch-and-feel purchases and local community.
Buying behavior: where yarn gets purchased
CYC tracking results show specialty craft chains as the most common “primary” purchasing channel, followed by local yarn shops and mass merchandisers, with online as another major route. Separate consumer-yarn survey reporting highlights continued growth in online buying behavior year over year.
Bar chart: primary yarn source (CYC tracking study)
Label
Bar
Value
Specialty craft chains
51%
Local yarn shops
14%
Mass merchandisers
14%
Internet
10%
Max = 51%. Widths: Specialty craft chains 100.00%, Local yarn shops 27.45%, Mass merchandisers 27.45%, Internet 19.61%.
Demand signals: Etsy search behavior
Beyond surveys, marketplace search data can act as a proxy for what shoppers are actively looking to buy. eRank’s reporting for Q4 2025 listed “crochet” among the top Etsy searches and described rising click-through rates as a sign of strong purchase intent.
Sources
Craft Yarn Council (CYC) — “Crocheters and knitters of all ages are an active and creative group” (2014 tracking study summary PDF): https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/sites/default/files/press/D586_ResearchOneSheet_1.pdf
Craft Yarn Council (CYC) — “Knitting & Crocheting Are Hot!” (web summary of tracking study): https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/know.html
Craft Industry Alliance — “The Size of the Yarn Market: Yarn Consumer Survey Results 2024” (May 14, 2024): https://craftindustryalliance.org/the-size-of-the-yarn-market-yarn-consumer-survey-results-2024/
Craft Industry Alliance — “The Size of the Yarn Market: Yarn Consumer Survey Results 2025” (May 18, 2025): https://craftindustryalliance.org/the-size-of-the-yarn-market-yarn-consumer-survey-results-2025/
eRank Help — “Top Etsy Searches in Q4 2025” (Jan 17, 2026): https://help.erank.com/blog/top-etsy-searches-in-q4-2025/
