Behind the scenes

Bye-bye banana bread, hello knitted socks

10.5.2021

Handmade is en vogue – especially since the second lockdown. Many residents of Switzerland have set up a sewing and knitting room at home.

For many, the slogan «stay home» also means «keep calm and knit on». From April 2020 to March 2021, the first Corona year, the demand for home sewing and knitting grew rapidly within the Galaxus community. Online sales of knitting needles, sewing machines, fabric scissors, wool and the like increased more than sevenfold (+646%) compared with the previous twelve months.

Pimp my sewing machine

In the first Corona year, three times as many sewing machines were sold over the virtual counter as in the year before. Significantly more customers dusted off and upgraded their old sewing machines. New needles, zipper foots or lubricating oil was needed. The sewers also pimped their sewing room with little helpers. They treated themselves to snap pliers, Wonderclips- a fabric clip, rotary cutters and busts. Sets with threads in various colours and other tools such as fabric scissors and safety pins were especially popular. Sewing equipment sold 1230% better at Galaxus from April 2020 to March 2021 than in the previous twelve months.

Crafting sets provide a solid base for various projects. Creative minds aren’t limited to one colour, but manufacture a yellow baby hat one day and a blue fabric mask the next. This desire for a range of colours and techniques is visible in the most popular products from the first Corona year: three sets feature among the top five products.

Sewing accessories

CHF24.70

AEG Sewing Thread

Gütermann All-round sewing machine (100 m)

Thread + yarn

CHF37.70 CHF0.38/1m

Gütermann All-round sewing machine

100 m

Sewing accessories

CHF9.90

Prym Filling wadding

Sewing accessories

Quantity discount

CHF4.95 per piece for 2 units

Prym Measuring tape

Thread + yarn

Mio Star 64-piece thread and bobbin set

Already during the first lockdown, the people in Switzerland indulged in crafts, and since January 2021, the hype is on the rise once again. From January to March 2021, Galaxus sold three times more wool, sewing machines and accessories than during the first lockdown (April to June 2020). «Last spring and summer we baked banana bread, redecorated our homes and worked in the garden; now we spend the wet and cold days knitting and sewing,» says Nicola Brand, responsible for the knitting and sewing range at Galaxus.

Handmade and sustainable

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, not only the sound of sewing machines, but also of knitting needles has been present in Swiss households. In the past twelve months, Galaxus sold over eight times as many crochet and knitting needles as in the same period last year. For the almost meditative occupation, many rely on sustainable materials: «Self-knitted items are a countertrend to fast fashion. So it makes sense to knit socks and sweaters from sustainably produced wool as well,» says Nicola Brand. Especially popular at the moment, as Nicola Brand adds, is Zpagetti yarn from the manufacturer Hooked. This wool is made from recycled scraps from the fashion and textile industry.

Thread + yarn

CHF20.90 CHF0.17/1m

Hoooked Zpagetti

120 m

Did you also rediscover your sewing machine during the pandemic? And what knitting or sewing patterns do you swear by? Let me know in the comments!

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Norina Brun

Senior Communications Manager

norina.brun@digitecgalaxus.ch

News aren’t enough for me – it’s the stories behind the news that capture my interest. Curiosity is my constant companion and the reason why I spend Saturday afternoons in my favourite café, eavesdropping on city stories while planning my next travel adventure and creating new event ideas. Zen meditation can wait.

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Bye-bye banana bread, hello knitted socks

Pimp my sewing machine

Handmade and sustainable

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Pimp my sewing machine

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