In decades past, young people would leave home equipped with an armoury of home-making skills; girls learnt needlework and cooking techniques in ‘Home Tech’ at school (knitting was only phased out of lessons with the introduction of the national curriculum in 1988); boys were taught metalwork and O Level woodwork. At home, parents passed on kitchen tips like pickling to preserve food. 

But are the same skills needed today? Few of us will mourn the gendered education system of the 1960s, and many of us are time-stretched, with caring responsibilities. The last thing anyone wants to do after a long day at the office is sit down and darn socks when for just a few pounds and fewer clicks, we can go online and buy a replacement pack. But while frozen pizzas and Amazon Prime are undoubtedly useful, are we in danger of losing domestic arts? And should we care if we do? 

That’s what we wanted to find out with our big Good Housekeeping survey into lost domestic skills. Over 2000 of you replied to tell us which tasks you can confidently carry out, which you struggle with, and a handful that you are glad to see the back of. 

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Sewing machine know-how and needlecrafts like knitting and crocheting are among the most endangered domestic skills. Just 27% of you can operate a sewing machine confidently and only 16% can cast on and off to knit confidence. Crocheting is almost obsolete with just 10% doing it regularly; and darning fares even worse – only 9% of you darn on a regular basis.

‘While skills like these have been essential in our past, now that solutions are so easily accessible and affordable, they’ve gradually become hobbies rather than necessities,’ says GH homes and household advice editor Katie Mortram. ‘‘With time being more precious than ever, we’re not likely to spend it where it’s not needed - unless we enjoy the task.’

Some domestic skills continue to thrive against the odds. Surprisingly, given the advent of fitted sheets, 64% say they are competent at hospital corners. Creased clothes and scuffed shoes are a no for most of us - 91% told us they could confidently or adequately iron a shirt and 88% feel the same way about shoe-shining. Seven out of ten are also at home building and lighting a fire. Other kitchen skills continue to thrive, too: three quarters of respondents can happily poach an egg while 65% can make a roux for a white sauce, and 60% dust off their rolling pins to make shortcut pastry from scratch. Nearly two in three can make a loaf of bread by hand – 37% confidently so. And 57% of respondents are happy to create a home-made stock.

While domestic creativity might not solve the world’s ills, it can soothe our minds and help forge connections, easing loneliness. ‘Cooking, sewing and knitting can be very relaxing and better than scrolling down a phone,’ Faye, 51, told us. ‘It’s huge fun making jam, and can be social, too,’ says Diana, 75. ‘Mending clothes encourages you to take care of, and gives you pride in, what you have,’ adds Laura, 45. ‘It gives you a sense of respect for possessions, as well as the environment.’ 

And lots of you pointed out the benefits that sewing, knitting and mending can have for mental health. ‘Many of these skills are therapeutic activities and creative – so good for our mental health,’ says Karen, 60. ‘They are also a link to shared experience with people in the past.’

 But despite this, a huge 96% of you say you value the passing on of homemaking skills – with most adding the proviso that these should be taught equally to girls and boys. The reasons we should make sure we keep these skills alive? For self-reliance (87%); to save money (78%) and to build confidence (52%).

‘I think any skill which can bring you peace and help with mindfulness is essential for life,’ says Katie. ‘Focusing on a needle and thread can bring your attention to what’s in front of you, here and now, and give you a physical reward for your efforts at the end. Even polishing silver can give you a sense of satisfaction when you look at the gleaming results.’