"Knitting is the new Netflix" sounds like a joke until you see the numbers. In 2026, Michaels reported yarn accessory sales up 40% year over year, and searches for analog hobbies like knitting and crocheting up 136% in six months (Michaels 2026 Creativity Trend Report, March 2026). The internet has a name for the look driving a lot of it: Grandmacore. Here's what it is, why it's happening, and exactly which yarn to reach for.
Key Takeaways - In 2026, Michaels reported yarn accessory sales up 40% YoY and analog-hobby searches up 136% in six months (Michaels, 2026). - Grandmacore favours three makes: chunky cable cardigans, plush amigurumi, and granny-square blankets. - Match the make to the yarn - a wool-blend super bulky for cardigans, plush chenille for amigurumi, mercerized cotton for granny squares.
What is Grandmacore, and why did yarn sales jump 40% in 2026?
Grandmacore is the 2026 aesthetic that brings back handmade, nostalgic craft: chunky cable cardigans, granny-square blankets, and plush amigurumi toys. It isn't a Michaels term. Michaels' own 2026 Creativity Trend Report calls 2026 the "Year of Creative Living" and recorded yarn accessory sales up 40% year over year as part of a wider analog revival.
That report named eight creativity trends and logged a 136% rise in searches for analog hobbies (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, journaling, painting) over six months. "Creativity is no longer just self-expression, it's self-definition," said Heather Bennett, Michaels' President and Chief Customer Officer. The shorthand the internet reached for was "grandma core."
In 2026, that label went mainstream on Reddit too. A post titled simply "the grandma core trend" pulled 122 upvotes in r/MichaelsEmployees, with staff describing a real, in-store demand surge (Reddit, May 2026). When the people stocking the shelves notice, it's not a niche.
Why are Gen Z and Millennials picking up yarn right now?
The short answer is screen fatigue. In 2026, the Associated Press reported young people taking up "grandma hobbies" like knitting and needlepoint as a deliberate break from screens. As one 23-year-old maker told the AP, it's "a really therapeutic way to... do something with your hands instead of doomscrolling" (Associated Press, March 2026).
Michaels framed the same shift as a move "towards creative living in the analog era," and the search data backs it: needlepoint up 251%, sewing patterns up 152% year over year. CNN made the call in January too, reporting that people "tired of AI" are committing to an analog lifestyle (CNN, January 2026).
There's an identity piece too. Finishing a cardigan you can wear, or a toy you can gift, gives a kind of proof-of-effort that a feed never does. Crafters aren't just buying yarn; they're buying a few quiet hours and something real at the end of them.
You can watch it play out in maker communities. On r/YarnAddicts, newer crafters openly ask how to choose between fibres and blends, a sign the audience is growing past its old core (Reddit, May 2026). New makers need clear guidance, which is exactly where yarn choice trips people up.
The best yarn for each Grandmacore make
Three makes define the look, and each one wants a different yarn. Chunky cable cardigans call for a warm super-bulky wool blend. For sweaters of any weight, our best yarn for sweaters guide breaks it down. Plush amigurumi want a soft chenille. Granny squares need a crisp cotton that holds stitch definition. Every Estako line below is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, tested against 1,000+ harmful substances.
Here's how the three core Grandmacore makes map to Estako yarn:
| Grandmacore make | Estako line | Fibre | Catalog weight | Works at | Hook / needle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chunky cable cardigan | Cozy | 80% acrylic / 20% wool | #6 Super Bulky | super bulky | 9-10mm |
| Plush amigurumi (small) | Velvet | 100% polyester chenille | #6 Super Bulky | worsted gauge | 3.5-4mm hook |
| Plush amigurumi (large) | Velvet XL | 100% polyester chenille | #6 Super Bulky | bulky gauge | 5-6mm hook |
| Granny-square blanket | Royal Cotton | 100% mercerized Giza cotton | #1 Super Fine | DK gauge | 4mm hook |
A note on weights, because it confuses people. Cozy is a genuine super bulky, and it's a wool blend, not a chenille - the wool gives a cardigan real warmth and body. Velvet is labelled #6 in our catalog, but it works up at worsted gauge, so reach for a 3.5-4mm hook for amigurumi. Royal Cotton is labelled #1, yet it crochets at DK gauge with a 4mm hook, and the mercerized Giza fibre keeps granny squares sharp. When a label number and your pattern disagree, match by hook size, not the number.
How many skeins do you need to start a Grandmacore project?
Start with weight, then needle size, then quantity. For a chunky cardigan you want super bulky on US 13-15 (9-10mm) needles; for granny squares, DK-gauge cotton on a 4mm hook; for amigurumi, a chenille worked tight on a 3.5-4mm hook. Then buy a little extra, all at once. New to weights? Our Yarn Weight Guide breaks down the full CYCA #0-#7 system and how to match any pattern.
That "all at once" part matters more than beginners expect. Yarn is dyed in batches called dye lots, and the same colour can shift slightly between lots. For anything multi-skein - a cardigan, a blanket - buy every skein from the same dye lot so the colour stays consistent across the whole piece.
This starting-quantity guide uses Estako yarn:
| Project | Estako line | Hook / needle | Skeins (per skein) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chunky cardigan (adult) | Cozy | US 13-15 / 9-10mm | 5-7 (100g / 65 yds) |
| Chunky cardigan (kids) | Cozy | US 11 / 8mm | 3-4 (100g / 65 yds) |
| Granny-square blanket (throw) | Royal Cotton | 4mm hook | 8-12 (50g / 137 yds) |
| Amigurumi plush (small) | Velvet | 3.5-4mm hook | 1-2 (100g / 132 yds) |
Our rule of thumb: for a first cardigan, buy one extra skein beyond the estimate. Running out mid-project and chasing a matching dye lot later is the single most common beginner heartbreak.
What to look for when buying yarn online
Online, you can't squeeze the skein, so judge three things: the fibre certification, the true delivered price, and the dye-lot promise. A certification like OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 means the yarn was independently tested against more than 1,000 harmful substances, which matters most for anything worn close to the skin.
Price is the second trap. A cheap skein with a surprise customs bill at the door isn't cheap. Estako ships worldwide DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), so duties and taxes are included in the price you see at checkout, with free shipping over $75 and a flat $9.99 below it. No surprise fees on delivery.
For context on who's behind the yarn: Estako is a modern direct-to-consumer brand founded in 2021 by Esref, with manufacturing through a Turkish partner and a deliberately curated 16-line catalog. We'd rather stock sixteen yarns we trust than bury you in two hundred. Returns are 14 days on unused skeins. You can read the fuller story on our about page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What yarn is best for Grandmacore chunky cardigans?
Estako Cozy is the natural fit: a super bulky #6 wool blend (80% acrylic, 20% wool), 100g / 65 yards per skein, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified. For an adult cable cardigan, plan on 5-7 skeins worked on US 13-15 (9-10mm) needles.
Is Estako chenille OEKO-TEX certified for skin contact?
Yes. Estako Velvet and Velvet XL chenille carry OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, which tests for more than 1,000 harmful substances and covers products in direct skin contact. That's one reason makers reach for plush chenille on amigurumi gifts. For toys, also follow normal toy-safety practice, like securely fastening any eyes or parts.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Estako ships worldwide with DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), so all customs duties and taxes are included in your checkout total. Shipping is free over $75 and a flat $9.99 below that, with no surprise fees when the parcel arrives.
What is a dye lot, and why does it matter for Grandmacore?
A dye lot is a single batch of yarn dyed together, and the same colour can vary slightly between batches. For multi-skein makes like cardigans or granny-square blankets, buy every skein at once from the same dye lot so the colour stays even across the finished piece.
How long does a Grandmacore cardigan take to knit?
With super bulky yarn like Estako Cozy on US 13-15 needles, an adult chunky cable cardigan takes roughly 18-25 hours of active knitting for an intermediate knitter. If you're newer, give yourself 30-40 hours and enjoy the slow part.
Where can I find Grandmacore patterns?
Ravelry has the largest searchable library. Filter by "super bulky" for Cozy cardigans, "worsted" or "chenille" for Velvet amigurumi, and "DK" for Royal Cotton granny squares. Match the pattern's stated hook or needle size to the yarn and you're set.
Start your first Grandmacore make
The trend is loud, but the entry point is quiet: one skein, one hook, one evening. Pick your make, match the yarn, buy your dye lot in one go. When you're ready, browse the full 16-yarn curated collection or jump straight to the super bulky line for that chunky cardigan.
Happy making. - Esref & the Estako team
Sources
- Michaels Companies, "Michaels Unveils 2026 Creativity Trend Report," PR Newswire, March 10 2026 - retrieved 2026-06-01 - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michaels-unveils-2026-creativity-trend-report-revealing-a-shift-towards-creative-living-in-the-analog-era-302709301.html
- Kaitlyn Humani, "From blacksmithing to needlepoint, young people are embracing 'grandma hobbies'," Associated Press (via KPBS), March 9 2026 - retrieved 2026-06-01 - https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2026/03/09/from-blacksmithing-to-needlepoint-young-people-are-embracing-grandma-hobbies
- "Tired of AI, people are committing to the analog lifestyle in 2026," CNN Business, January 18 2026 - retrieved 2026-06-01 - https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/18/business/crafting-soars-ai-analog-wellness
- r/MichaelsEmployees, "the grandma core trend," Reddit, May 9 2026 - retrieved 2026-06-01 - https://www.reddit.com/r/MichaelsEmployees/comments/1t863ah/the_grandma_core_trend/
- r/YarnAddicts, "Blended yarn has become so much of a trend," Reddit, May 22 2026 - retrieved 2026-06-01 - https://www.reddit.com/r/YarnAddicts/comments/1tka34n/blended_yarn_has_become_so_much_for_a_trend/
