Crafts That Sell Well - 2022

What will be the most popular crafts that sell well in 2022?

Check out these 15 top design trends to discover the hottest crafts to make and sell for the upcoming year.

You can integrate any of these key trends into the design of your handmade products or your brand images and marketing. 

Trending crafts 2022: goth style, Memphis design, cottagecore, pastels and checkerboard patterns, and punk fashion.

Hottest Craft Trends for 2022

Let's look at each of these trends in more detail, so you can use the information to design crafts that sell well in 2022.

Memphis Style

Memphis style pattern: bright colors, graphic shapes, and squiggles.

Memphis style is the definitive playful, bold look that dominated design in the 80s. Think bold patterns, random geometric shapes and squiggles, a clash of vivid colors mixed with pastels, and graphic black and white elements, and you have the essentials of Memphis design.

Elements of Memphis style have been trending for several years now. Remember when terrazzo was everywhere? That's another element of Memphis style that was featured in the Crafts That Sell Well report in 2019.

This '80s inspired style continues to be popular into 2022 in both fashion and home decor. And the popularity is reflected in search trends on both Pinterest and Etsy.

Pinterest searches for vibrant outfits have increased 16 times compared with the previous year. On Etsy, searches for squiggles — a classic element of Memphis pattern design — are up 177% compared with the previous year.

Danish / Denmark Pastels

Checkerboard pattern with pastel colors popular in Danish pastel interiors.

Danish pastel style, also known as Denmark pastel, has seen a huge jump in Etsy searches in 2022.

Beyond pastel colors, this interior decor style also includes: seashell motifs, candles, gold accents, organic curved lines, checkerboard patterns, and gingham patterns.

Punk

Wide studded belt popular in punk fashion.

Goth

Goth style: black clothing accented with crimson, and black velvet choker necklace.

Key features of goth style include: a dark and elegant aesthetic, black sometimes combined with with deep reds or purples, Victorian and Elizabethan period style clothing, velvet, silver jewelry, and fishnet stockings.

Cottagecore

Cottagecore style dried flowers in handmade vases.

Cottagecore got its start around 2018 and grew in popularity in response to people spending so much time at home in 2020. It features nostalgic and cozy elements of romanticized, peaceful rural life.

This trend reflects a desire to connect with nature, embrace simple living, disconnect from technology, and escape from the pressures of fast-paced life.

Cottagecore style centers around natural colors, natural light, and natural materials. Common motifs include fields, forests, wildflowers, gardens, mushrooms, and strawberries. Cottagecore style can also embrace elements of fantasy, including fairies, gnomes and crystals.

In fashion, you'll see long, flowy, and layered dresses, puff sleeves, ruffles, lace trim, and handmade accessories. In interior design, this trend features natural materials including wood and stone, embroidery, vintage pottery, plants, flowers (fresh or dried), and handmade items.

The growing popularity of the cottagecore aesthetic will make items featuring natural textures, natural light, dried flowers, and fantasy-related themes among the crafts that sell well on Etsy in 2022.

Biophilic Design

Biophilic design: interior garden with vertical plant wall.

Biophilic design seeks to create buildings that enable people to easily connect with the natural environment to enhance health and productivity.

Popular Color Trends for 2022

Periwinkle — Pantone Color of the Year

Veri Peri — Pantone's color of the year

The Pantone Color of the Year for 2022 is Veri Peri PANTONE 17-3938. Check out some color palettes using this shade of periwinkle to see how well it works with Memphis style designs.

Emerald Green — Etsy Color of the Year

Emerald green — Etsy's color of the year

Emerald green is Etsy's color of the year for 2022. This leafy green shade fits perfectly with the growing cottagecore design trend.

Pastel Colors

Pastels — Trending with Danish pastel design & Memphis design

Pastels are trending on Etsy for 2022.

These soft shades are used along with bright colors in Memphis style designs.

The growing popularity of Danish pastel interior decor is also driving the interest in pastel decor items. In this style, pastels are used on their own, sometimes accented with gold.

Brights / Colorful Design

Bright colors — Trending with Memphis design

Trending Shapes and Patterns

Squiggles

Squiggles pattern — Trending with Memphis design

Bold patterns featuring squiggles are a classic element of Memphis style. On Etsy, searches for squiggles have increased 177% compared with the previous year.

Checkerboard

Checkerboard pattern — Trending with Denmark pastels

Abstract Shapes

Say goodbye to boring rectangular rugs. In 2022 handmade shoppers want abstract shapes — another key component of Memphis design.

On Etsy, searches for abstract shape rugs have increased by 71% compared with last year.

Lifestyle Trends

Luxury Everywhere

Celebrate Everything

People are ready to party in 2022! That is, they are looking for ways to celebrate life moments that usually pass by unremarked.

How to Use 2022 Trend Forecasts to Make Crafts That Sell Well

You don't have to completely overhaul your products and marketing materials to reflect the most popular handmade items in 2022.

There are plenty of design styles with varied looks trending this year.

Choose one trending style that suits your brand's overall image and existing products. Find ways your products, merchandising, and brand images already reflect that trend, and draw attention to those features. Then use simple, low commitment tactics to add trending design to your products or marketing.

Incorporate Trends into Your Handmade Products

This approach to selling the trend requires that biggest commitment for people who sell handmade items.

If you're going to change the design of your product to suit a trend, you'll need to be fairly certain you'll be able to sell those items while a trend is still hot. Or, you'll need to know the trend will work for your brand over the long term.

If a trend is a good fit with your existing products, it may be worth working that trend into your product design. 

Incorporate Trends into Your Craft Packaging

If a trend is a good fit with your brand image, consider using that trend in your product packaging.

Changing up your product packaging to reflect handmade trends is still a bit of a commitment. However, for many products, it's fairly simple to change out the packaging, making this strategy less risky than completely redesigning your products.

Use Trend Research to Appeal to New Customers

As you research trending crafts that sell well, you may discover that items similar to the crafts you make to sell are popular with a group of shoppers who are different from your existing customer base.

Use that knowledge to reach out to new customers.

Use On-Trend Merchandising in Your Craft Show Display Booth

If you sell your handmade items at craft shows, updating your booth is a low cost — possibly free — and low commitment way to reach out to customers who are shopping for trending, popular craft fair items.

Refreshing your craft show booth to reflect handmade trends for 2022 can be as simple as featuring or grouping key products together, or changing your signs or display props.

Choose a trend that's a good fit with your brand's style, and add an element of that look to your booth. 

Use Trending Styles in Your Photography Backdrops and Styling Props

Using trending styles in your brand images is a fairly low commitment way to connect your product with a trending style. 

Simply choose product photography styling props and backdrops to reflect a trend that works with your brand. Take a few new product photos using those props, and add them to your website, Etsy shop or use them in social media marketing. Be sure to feature those new images on your site/shop.

Use Trending Search Terms in Titles and Descriptions in Your Etsy Shop and Online Marketing

If you have existing products that already fit any of the most most profitable crafts to sell for 2022, be sure to use those search terms in your online marketing.

Find More Craft Ideas to Sell in 2022

Do you want to take a deeper dive into the handmade items in demand and learn more about the crafts that sell well in 2022?

Check out the trend reports from Etsy and Pinterest.

I haven't described all of the upcoming design trends predicted for this year. I've focused on ones that were a good fit for many handmade business.

You might find other trends that fit your brand and ideas to promote your crafts within those reports.