Which skills do Americans most want to learn in lockdown

With everyone being urged to social distance themselves over the next few months and with self-isolation a reality for many, it can be easy to focus on the negatives that this difficult time brings, but it is also vital to find the positives and maintain an optimistic outlook - something we’re passionate about at LoveCrafts!

Sure, you may be confined to your home unable to socialise with friends and family physically, but you will have a lot of free time on your hands, making it the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill. Maybe there’s something that you’ve always wanted to try but didn’t think that you’d be able to commit enough time to learn. So what can you learn in three months? Well, we may not have the 10,000 hours it takes to master a craft, but we do have 2,190 hours to give it a good go (minus time for working, sleeping, eating and relaxing of course).

Not only will learning a new skill prevent boredom over the next couple of months, it can also be incredibly beneficial for your mental health, as well as potentially leading to the discovery of a new passion/talent that you never knew you had.

We asked 3,000 members of the public from across the US to rank the top skills they would like to learn with the extra time that the current situation has afforded them. The survey results revealed that 42% of people want to learn a practical skill, such as cutting hair and basic DIY, while almost a quarter (23%) want to learn a new arts or crafts-based skill.

The top ten skills Americans most want to learn during the lockdown are how to

1. Cut hair
2. Knit:
Our how to knit page is a great place to start
3. Bake bread
3. DIY/home projects
4. Play piano
5. Learn a language
6. Do basic car repairs
7. Draw
8. Make jewelry
Create your own knitted jewellery with our free jewellery patterns
9. Paint
10. Do calligraphy

With services such as salons and garages currently closed, and without access to a good builder or handyman, it’s clear that people are keen to try and be more resourceful during this lockdown by learning practical skills such as cutting hair, and doing their own car and home repairs.

Like all good hobbies, these skills are easy to pick up and very rewarding. They encourage time away from screens and can easily take place within your own home, garden or garage with a few simple tools you’ve likely already got lying around - perfect for those who are working from home and in need of regular breaks from the laptop or are anxious about becoming glued to social media!

Our research also showed that over half (52%) of participants said they hope it will be beneficial for their mental health. A further 25% said they have always wanted to learn something new but never had the time, while 18% said it was to cure boredom.

When the results were broken down, it was revealed that the highest number of budding hairdressers were found in in-land states, such as Montana, Kansas and Missouri, while people in southern areas such as Louisiana and Texas were most keen to try their hands at basic car repairs.

“With people around the world confined to their homes for the foreseeable future, it’s no surprise that people are looking for new hobbies to keep themselves busy."

Edward Griffith, founder of LoveCrafts.com, said,

“With people around the world social-distancing and confined to their homes for the foreseeable future, it’s no surprise that people are looking for new hobbies to keep themselves busy. For many, crafting provides an important lifeline to cope with uncertainty, loneliness, and sometimes long-term medical conditions.

“We hope that this list of top skills to learn will inspire people to try something new while they have a little extra time on their hands and support positive mental wellbeing, at a time when many of us need it most.”

If the whole family is stuck indoors, then we’ve got you covered. Explore our range of crafts to entertain the kids.

Learn To Craft with our Ultimate Beginners Guide