Why “Grandma Hobbies” Help Women Live Longer and Feel Better

Crafted with calm, courage, and a cheeky wink by The Hookery

Somewhere in the frosty brilliance of Finland, researchers uncovered a delightful truth: women who regularly engage in the gentle rhythm of traditional handcrafts — think knitting, sewing, crochet, gardening and all those “grandma hobbies” society used to underestimate — tend to enjoy significantly longer, healthier lives.

We’re talking up to eight extra years of living, breathing, laughing, loving and generally being amazing. Eight. Whole. Years. That’s an entire primary school education. Almost a decade of bonus birthdays. Countless cups of tea.

But why does something as humble as a hook, a ball of yarn, and two quiet hands create such powerful ripple effects across the body and mind?

The Calm Within the Craft

Repetitive creative movement has this magical ability to hush the nervous system — like giving your brain permission to exhale. Each loop and stitch nudges stress levels downward and invites a meditative, focused state that feels a little like finding your own private sanctuary… without leaving the couch.

Here at The Hookery, we call it crafting calm through chaos. Science calls it regulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Tomato, tomahto.

A Confidence Loop You Can Actually Feel

When your hands make something real — a blanket, a beanie, a tote, even one humble granny square — you build a quiet kind of confidence that accumulates stitch by stitch. Creative routines give women a sense of purpose, progress, and visible accomplishment. And unlike housework, the results don’t mysteriously disappear within 48 hours.

A Brain That Stays Bright

Handcrafts are basically Pilates for your brain. They activate memory, attention, problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility. As women age, that mental movement matters. Keeping the mind active through creativity has been linked to slower cognitive decline and improved long-term wellbeing.

And honestly, nothing keeps your neurons firing like counting stitches while Netflix tries to distract you.

Why This Matters to Us at The Hookery

We believe that simple, creative pastimes aren’t frivolous extras — they’re grounding rituals. They soothe. They challenge. They reconnect you with yourself. They remind you that joy can be handmade, and that rest doesn’t have to be passive.

Our kits are designed not just to help you make something beautiful, but to help you feel something beautiful. Calm. Clarity. Connection. Confidence. A little spark of “I made this… look at me go.”

If you’ve ever thought of crochet as quaint, old-fashioned, or something your nan did while waiting for scones to bake, it might be time to rethink it. Turns out she was onto something profound.

And now, so are you.

Here’s to longer lives, calmer days, busier brains, and handmade happiness.
One stitch at a time.