Revealed: The best knitting patterns to try as online searches boom

Bupa Care Services uncovers the UK’s growing obsession with knitting patterns. No longer a pastime purely for the elderly, here we explore popular patterns, what exactly could be driving the trend, and how to start knitting.

Most popular knitting patterns

If you’ve been thinking you’d like to start knitting, research from Bupa Care Services shows you’re not the only one. In the last four years, Google search data shows that many more of us have been exploring the world of knitting. From sweaters to knitted poppy patterns, these are the highest-growing knitting searches we found.

Compared to March 2021, February 2025 UK online searches grew vastly:

• ‘Free easy knitting patterns to download’ – 36 times as many searches
• ‘Free comfort doll knitting patterns’ – 22 times as many searches
• ‘Free poppy knitting patterns to download’ – 21 times as many searches
• ‘Free knitted beanie patterns for adults’ – 17 times as many searches
• ‘Ladies Aran knitting patterns to download for free’ – 17 times as many searches
• ‘Easy men’s sweater knitting pattern free’ – 17 times as many searches
• ‘Easy bunny knitting pattern free’ – 16 times as many searches
• ‘Free easy knit poncho pattern for beginners’ – 14 times as many searches

Knitting popularity

Knitting popularity has recently seen a revival, trending for both older and younger generations. Thanks to celebrities endorsing knitting, and even a competitive knitting show airing on UK TV, more of us are giving the hobby a go.

From making your own accessories and clothing, to reaping the mental health benefits, it’s no wonder knitting is becoming more a more appealing way to spend our free time.

Benefits of knitting

Learning new skills – whatever your age – has been proven to boost your brain function. Keeping your brain occupied as you get older is also linked to prolonging independence.

Research suggests crafts like knitting and crocheting can provide many health and wellbeing benefits. Along with being easy to learn, knitting may help provide daily structure and even offer relief from chronic pain.

At many of Bupa’s care homes, including Elm View Bupa Care Home, knitting is a keen interest for many residents and anyone else in the local community who’d like to get involved. Their ‘Knit and Natter’ club has plenty of regulars who get together for catch-ups - all while making something that lasts, including pocket squares for Bupa’s 40th anniversary knitting challenge.

Over at Chilton Meadows Bupa Care Home resident, Nina, 96 loves how knitting keeps her occupied and her hands mobile. After being taught by her mother and aunt, Nina started knitting when she was a young girl.

“I was probably around six years old when I first started knitting. I remember knitting a square for a potholder.” Nina reminisced. By secondary school, Nina had advanced to knitting jumpers – one of which holds a special place in her heart. “My friend and I knitted jumpers together in secondary school – that’s my favourite thing that I’ve ever knitted.”

Nina’s top tip: use ‘go faster’ knitting pins to help your yarn move easier.

Arthritis and knitting

If you’re considering picking up your knitting pins after an arthritis diagnosis, you might need to adapt your routine to help find your flow. Whether you’re brand new to knitting, or are trying it again after a break, it may be worth trying different techniques and rest times to help knitting become more achievable for you.

Is knitting good for arthritis?

The older we get, the greater our chance of developing arthritis becomes. If you get arthritis in your hands or fingers, you might experience swelling, crunching or a grinding feeling.

You might think this would make activities like knitting significantly harder. However, lots of people with the condition find knitting a good way to help keep their hands moving, lessen pain and reduce stiffness.

Arthritis can limit your mobility and independence, so continuing to do activities that you can, that you enjoy, can make a huge difference to your wellbeing. That’s why picking up creative hobbies like knitting or crocheting can give you something to focus on, and something to share with others

Tips for knitting with arthritis:

• Try knitting needles for arthritis, like bamboo knitting needles or ones made from birch. These kind of needles are lighter than metal ones, and help to keep your hands warmer.
• Use circular knitting needles to help you knit flat. This encourages what you’re knitting to fall on your lap, rather than your wrist taking the weight.
• Knit with wool. Unlike other materials, wool tends to have more give and stretch, making it easier to work with for arthritic hands.

How to start knitting

• Before you start, make sure to set up your workstation so it’s organised and all items you need are in easy reach. It’s wise to sit on an adjustable chair that supports your back and legs well, and gives you the option to move your arms or keep them supported.
• Some people find that soaking their hands in warm water, or using hand warmers before knitting helps to loosen up their hands and reduce pain you’ve felt earlier in the day.
• If the joints in your hands are inflamed and red, don’t apply heat to them. Instead, take this as a sign that you shouldn’t spend too much time knitting as it might make the inflammation worse.
• You might also find it useful to do some gentle finger, hand and wrist stretching exercises to loosen you further.
• Speak to a health professional about compression gloves, and whether they may help increase your hand circulation and support your joints.
• Remember to take breaks often, not only to give your hands a break, but to move your body. Stretching, standing up or walking around every five minutes.
• Stop if you’re in pain. Try different sitting and knitting positions if you think you can alleviate the pain, but don’t try to push through it if it doesn’t go away.