In a fast-paced and increasingly digital world, some University students are choosing to unplug and slow down one stitch at a time. Needlepoint — an embroidery style involving stitching across a colorful canvas — has recently gained popularity among younger generations. What was once considered a “grandma hobby” has become a trend on social media, a thoughtful gift option and a popular way for students to step back from academic pressure towards something more grounding and mindful.
In recent years, the needlepoint industry has seen a nationwide resurgence, with a rise in independent designers, “stitch clubs” and TikTok trends like “Work in Progress Wednesdays.” The growing trend has led to the opening of more retail shops dedicated to needlepoint nationwide — including one in Charlottesville.
Founded in 2019 and located on the Downtown Mall, Poppypointe is a colorful, whimsical needlepoint shop offering a wide variety of threads, finishing services and accessories. Store owner Lauren Ryan transformed the establishment into a dedicated needlepoint space after purchasing a former custom stitching store when its previous owner retired.
Poppypointe hosts beginner needlepointing classes, offers a variety of canvases catering to a range of skill levels and carries more than 150 thread lines in hundreds of colors. The shop features everything from hand-painted stockings and personalized key fobs to intricate ornaments, allowing stitchers to create projects that are both decorative and meaningful.
Ryan has collaborated with local designers — including a part-time University faculty member in the School of Nursing whose line “Cabell Stitchery” is now sold in over 125 stores — to bring unique canvases to her shop, contributing to the growing fiber arts world in Charlottesville.
“There’s so many great designers, and great designs out there,” Ryan said. “People are really clever … and there are projects for every skill set.”
For Ryan, what began as a hobby inherited from her grandmother turned into a prominent business and a mindful practice. A trained social worker in trauma recovery, Ryan sees needlepoint as an activity that requires focus and presence while producing a tangible, creative result.
“You have to focus on what you're doing,” Ryan said. “You have to kind of ground yourself and look at the colors and not be distracted by something else. So there's something very grounding about it.”
The needlepoint process itself reflects its broad appeal by combining relaxation, creative expression and the satisfaction of producing handcrafted pieces. Artists design intricate canvases before stitchers select threads and finished works are transformed into pillows, ornaments and other keepsakes.
For Ryan, this combination of mindfulness and artistry is part of why needlepoint resonates with college students.
“Being a U.Va. student, there’s a lot of pressure academically to get into the school, to stay in the school, to find a job, find an internship,” Ryan said. “It’s a good way to practice self-care, and a store can give you a safe space to be able to do that.”
Many students at the University credit local resources like Poppypointe for making it easier to sew themselves into the hobby. Second-year Commerce student Anna Roth, for example, said that she frequents the store and finds it especially useful when introducing friends to the practice.
"I always take my friends there, and they love to go," Roth said. "[Poppypointe is] really helpful with picking stuff out for beginners, and they'll also teach you how to do it."
Among these students, needlepoint has become a way to step back and focus on something tangible. Another needlepointer — first-year College student McKenzie Goltermann — said that needlepoint has allowed her to take a break from social media and the constant distractions of everyday life.
“It's very calming,” Goltermann said. “With TikTok and Instagram, our attention spans are just so short that I can now do something productive rather than going on my phone.”
In addition to its therapeutic qualities, the hobby brings communities together as they share individual artsy creations. While the in-person communities of needlepoint include stitch clubs and classes, the online needlepoint communities — especially on sites like TikTok — have been especially influential on students at the University, according to both Roth and Goltermann. Roth said that an online resurgence drew her to the hobby once again, after she had been introduced to it by family at a young age.
“I kind of said that I was into it before a lot of other people were, just because my mom had taught me how to do it,” Roth said. “And then, definitely, I've gotten a lot more into it since the whole social media craze has started.”
Beyond increasing its popularity and making the hobby more accessible, online communities have allowed students to improve their creativity and craft as a whole. Goltermann said that others’ shared works often inspire her own.
“[Social media] definitely has given me ideas on what to make next,” Goltermann said. “If I want to do a smaller project but don’t want to do another ornament, [TikTok is a really great place] for giving ideas like that.”
The growing online presence of needlepoint also reflects the larger trend of the craft being redesigned to appeal to younger audiences, according to Roth. For many, the combination of creativity, social connection and stress alleviation is part of what makes needlepoint so enjoyable.
“Needlepointing is becoming more catered to young people,” Roth said. “There are a lot of new needlepoint shops that create canvases with pop culture and things people like. It’s also an activity that brings people together … it’s a good stress reliever.”
Some stitchers turn their canvases into heartfelt gifts for their families. Goltermann said that she once made her dad a flask cover, highlighting the personal nature of the hobby. Similarly, Ryan has crafted 17 stockings for her family members, along with ornaments and other items. Ryan spoke to the sentimental value of these carefully curated pieces.
“When I make something like [the stockings], I put a lot of thought and love into it … There's something really special about having that connection,” Ryan said. “It's really special what people can create and make for others.”
This flexibility and ease of entry is part of what draws younger stitchers to the craft, allowing them to experiment without pressure and walk away with a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment. Needlepoint can be done in short increments and in a variety of settings, and canvases are available in a range of sizes, designs and price points.
These qualities allow beginners to start with smaller projects and experiment with the craft without a large time or financial commitment, according to Goltermann.
“I’m not a particularly creative or crafty person, but needlepoint is very fun and easy,” Goltermann said. “My roommate has said that I’ve inspired her to start, so I think it’s very easy to get into.”
Needlepoint allows many to unplug, explore creativity and craft something personal and meaningful. What was once seen as an old-fashioned pastime has become a creative outlet for a new generation to express themselves, connect with others and form a lasting personal hobby one stitch at a time.
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