Photo Source: The Craftivists
Trend forecasters have suggested that 2026 would mark a return to “analog hobbies,” with more people embracing reading, knitting, painting, and other hands on activities as an antidote to doom scrolling. In a time when digital overload feels constant, the pull toward tactile, offline creativity feels less like a trend and more like a coping mechanism.
That shift is playing out locally through Montclair resident Emily Kraft, who recently launched a grassroots initiative called The Craftivists. A former knitting instructor at Yarnia, Kraft gathered a group of Montclair moms to create a community knitting night designed to channel collective anxiety into action. Their events aims to ease tensions many feel while watching aggressive immigration enforcement unfold nationwide, while also raising funds for local organizations, particularly the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE). By pairing craft with community support, Kraft’s effort offers a grounded way for residents to step away from the scroll and into something constructive and beneficial.
🎧 The full conversation is available on this week’s episode of The Montclair Pod. Below is a summary of the interview.
Where Craft Meets Community
When asked about her vision for the events, Kraft described how it began as something much smaller and more intimate. She initially imagined a gathering of about 20 people in a yarn store, knitting for a cause, a format she still sees as meaningful and valuable. But as more women from different industries and areas of expertise became involved, the concept expanded. What started as a simple crafting circle has grown into a broader community driven initiative, reflecting both collaboration and shared purpose.
While knitting and crocheting will be central components of her events, Kraft emphasized that the events are designed to be inclusive, with activities available for those who do not craft. At its core, the event aims to give community members a constructive outlet to process emotions surrounding immigration crackdowns, offering a space to connect, contribute, and take action together.
Kraft is quick to challenge the perception that knitting is reserved for an older generation. She describes the modern knitting and crochet community as wide reaching, politically engaged, and deeply connected to craftivism. She points to projects like the pink hats that became a symbol of protest in 2017 and, more recently, the “Melt the Ice” hat, a red pointed cap inspired by styles worn in the 1940s in resistance to fascism. A Minneapolis yarn store revived the pattern as a $5 download benefiting organizations that support immigrant families, raising approximately $650,000 in just two weeks.
For Kraft, that momentum reflects the power of collective making. What began as a simple idea for a knit or crochet night was rooted in that same spirit. Within Montclair, she sees a community grappling with anger, fear, and a sense of helplessness, and believes gathering in person to create something tangible offers a meaningful counterbalance in a moment shaped by technology, surveillance, and uncertainty.
Turning Anxiety Into Action
As conversations around immigration enforcement intensify nationwide, Kraft said the emotional impact has been deeply felt within her circle. As a group of mothers, she explained, they are especially shaken by the effects these crackdowns are having on children and school communities, particularly in Minneapolis but also across the country. She shared that the situation has felt reminiscent of the early days of COVID, when families were suddenly thrust into virtual learning and children were afraid to leave their homes. The possibility of that kind of fear taking hold locally is something she and others are desperate to avoid.
Mark your calendars
Their first event will take place on Thursday, February 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lackawanna Station and is open to the public.
The event is open to knitters, crocheters, and makers of all kinds who want to bring their own Craftivist projects, with activities planned for all ages, including kid friendly crafts. Attendees are encouraged to bring their needles, hooks, and red yarn to knit the “Melt the Ice” hat, a project supporting immigrant aid organizations in New Jersey. A limited supply of red yarn will also be available for purchase on site.
While the gathering is free and open to the community, organizers recommend a $10 donation to the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. Proceeds will support MFEE’s Navegadores Escolares program, which works closely with immigrant families and Montclair schools to advance equity and access for local students.
