Celebrities with a hidden passion for knitting, sewing and crocheting
After a year cooped up at home, it seems that nearly everyone has been honing their craft skills in one form or another. Yet, one of the most surprising revelations of 2021 (so far) is that the George Clooney has an affinity for needlework. ‘I do a lot of sewing the kids’ clothes, and my wife’s dress that tore a couple of times,’ he said in a recent interview with AARP. ‘I was a bachelor for a long time and didn’t have any money, and you have to learn how to repair things.’
We’ve already revealed the A-listers going potty for pottery, so what about the stars going nuts for knitting? It turns out Clooney isn't the only male Hollywood actor with a penchant for handicraft: Ryan Gosling once confessed that knitting would be his perfect day activity (he picked it up on the set of indie film Lars and the Real Girl), and a deep-dive into Pinterest surfaced rather entrancing images of Paul Rudd, Russell Crowe and Ewan McGregor with knitting needles in hand. We also may or may not have considerably bumped up the view count on this offbeat ad spot for Jack & Jones, featuring a stoic Christopher Walken knitting by a fireplace.
But beyond actors, who else has caught the craft bug? Coldplay’s Chris Martin previously revealed the band’s surprising recipe for success: sewing. ‘Making clothes together in our studio makes us feel complete,’ he said. ‘We probably sound like a group of grannies in a knitting circle but it's the truth and it gives us some control over our visual identity.’ More recently, Greta Thunberg shared that she had been keeping her mind and hands busy with cross-stitching in between interviews, panel discussions, meetings, online classes, and well, saving the planet.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama took up knitting during quarantine last year and has been making blankets, scarves, hats, and mittens for her family. She admitted to joining an online knitting community using a pseudonym, saying, ‘They don’t know I’m in the knitting community because I don’t use my real name, but I have some knitting tutors I go through to get my yarn and my patterns.’
Meanwhile, Ella Emhoff became an Internet sensation overnight after attending the inauguration of the new US President Joe Biden and her stepmother, Vice President Kamala Harris in a bedazzling Miu Miu coat. Turns out the 21-year-old student turned model is an avid knitter and crochet-lover – her Instagram feed features some of her recent pieces. Look out for her upcoming knitwear collaboration with New York womenswear label Batsheva.
Olympic diver Tom Daley caught the crochet bug during the first UK lockdown last year, delighting fans with his colourful creations that include a poncho, a tea cosy, cutlery holders, and swimming trunks (of course). Meanwhile, Rolling Stones legend and erstwhile wild man Ronnie Wood has swapped booze and drug binges for the genteel pastime of knitting. Could this be the makings of the celebrity craft circle we never knew we needed? We hope so.
