Emotional-Support Crafts and the Rise of Creative Gatherings
Crafting has shifted from a solitary activity to a lively social movement. The 2025 Michaels Creativity Trend Report, featured by Better Homes & Gardens, highlights the rise of “emotional-support crafts” and group crafting, such as “DIY & dine,” as an emerging trend.
At first glance, this might appear to be just another lifestyle trend. However, engaging in creative group activities offers specific benefits: it allows for deepened personal meaning and widens opportunities for genuine connection with others through making.
Creativity as Emotional Support
Crafting is about more than the finished product. The tactile process of working with yarn, paint, wood, or clay helps regulate the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and ground attention in the present moment. What’s new is the recognition that these practices can also be profoundly relational.
In a world where loneliness and burnout rates are at all-time highs, people who participate in group crafting gain both the therapeutic benefits of making and the rejuvenating support of community. Joining others around a craft table reduces social pressure and invites honest conversation, helping you feel understood and supported.
Gathering Around the Craft Table
Unlike formal workshops, these gatherings are low-pressure. No one judges skill. The goal is to support, provide laughter, and offer encouragement while experimenting together.
These new formats directly unite creativity and emotional well-being:
The Crafting Potluck: Each participant brings a small project or a handful of supplies to share. The potluck model emphasizes generosity and discovery. You might go home having tried something you never considered before!
Maker Circles: Similar to classic quilting or knitting groups, these meet regularly with prompts such as “make something blue.” Over time, it’s about both companionship and creation.
Emotional-Support Art Jams: These are more about expression than technique. A playlist, a pile of materials, and an invitation to create without expectation can open surprising channels for release and joy.
Why It Matters for Mental Health Professionals
For healthcare providers, educators, artists, and creative enthusiasts, these group-crafting trends outline accessible ways to foster self-care and promote social connection. Attending informal, supportive gatherings helps integrate well-being practices into daily routines, promoting both individual joy and shared support.
In today’s world, the simple act of making something together is both radical and restorative. These spaces remind us of the importance of individual expression, as well as collective healing, and provide creative environments where both can occur simultaneously.
by Dr. Amy Vail and Alli Fischenich