Occupying space as a knitter
Communicating and coexisting with others
I have been a knitter for most of my adult life and have become quite set in my ways. I am fortunate to have an understanding family, an extended family, and very close friends. Also, wherever I have lived, I've been lucky to find a group of knitting friends.
As a knitter, it has become second nature for me to knit in somewhat public settings, such as waiting for my kids to finish a class or at the dentist's office. Like many other knitters, I always keep a small project handy for such moments outside my home and I am eager to get a few rows in while I can. I even set aside a few minutes to snap a picture and share it on social media, as if it's part of a ritual.📸
Inside my house, whether I'm watching TV alone or with my family, I always have a project in my hand. 🧶 I knit during casual family conversations. I also knit while waiting at restaurants, and even before a movie starts in a theater when the lights are still on.
This reflection was prompted by an online discussion I came across about someone who was asked to stop knitting or move to the next seat during a concert. Despite the person making the request being polite and considerate, the knitter decided to make a scene, ultimately leaving the concert and leaving their partner behind. The online discussion was filled with comments either justifying or criticizing both parties involved.
This incident made me contemplate how we, as knitters, occupy, move through and engage with spaces around us.
For some of us, knitting helps us be present in the moment, even during work meetings or lectures.
Many of us carry our knitting to cope with slightly anxious situations.
Knitting is not just a hobby; it's a way for us to observe, process, enjoy, and record our lives to create memories.
We knit alongside TV shows, while listening to audiobooks or music, seamlessly integrating knitting into activities we enjoy. 📺
Knitting also becomes a comforting companion during times of sadness and grief, and stories abound of people using knitting as a means to overcome addictions like smoking.
When I knit in public spaces, such as parks or parking lots, I often encounter people who strike up pleasant conversations. However, I've also experienced surprise reactions and, at times, hurtful comments. Often, knitting in the presence of company is considered to imply that you're bored by them. Knitting during a game or concert may be seen as lack of attention and being rude.
Knitters have learned to integrate knitting into most bits of life and wouldn't think twice about pulling out a project the moment both our hands are free. But non-knitters may struggle to understand its significance. The added stereotypes of knitting as a mundane, tedious, domestic activity associated with a specific age group further complicate perceptions.
Over time, I have learnt to gauge a given situation before deciding to knit or put it away. Even in small concerts, if I am not elbowing people and not being noisy, I have knitted. I have also managed to politely explain that I can hold a conversation while knitting, and field further curious questions while knitting among people who are not close friends or family.
When people understand that knitting actually helps us to engage and not disconnect from a situation, things have changed for the better.
Have you attempted to knit in social situations? How did it go for you? I'd love to hear about your experiences in comments.
Though I've centered this discussion on knitting, I couldn't help thinking that being mindful of other’s perspectives and open communication are important in broader contexts - especially the multicultural societies we navigate today.
FEATURED PATTERN
Tuberose Mitts is designed for DK weight yarn, featuring a pleasing twisted stitch pattern and comes in five sizes.
You can find the pattern here in Ravelry.
OTHER THINGS I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
At this time of year, independent fiber art designers participate in group events and hold pattern sales and knit-alongs. Fasten Off Y’all is one such event hosted outside of Ravelry. Check out more details here.
I enjoyed reading Louise Tilbrook’s Start where you are and Sky’s Knitting is hope we stitch together, here in Substack.
📚I just finished reading Death of a Snob (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries) by M.C. Beaton.
Until next time,
Kavitha. ♡
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Aren't we humans a strange lot!? Our gift of associating this and that without rhyme or reason is among our curious habits. Grammas knit. Dads do not knit. And so it goes for many who believe such unreasoned thoughts. I love poking holes in the unfounded "You can't do two things at once." Tell that to the man or woman who is doing the laundry, fixing breakfast and sending the kids out the door in time to catch their bus!
To get a feel for whether knitting will be accepted, I sometimes do ask if anyone would mind if I knit while we talk. At other times, like when I don't want the topic to become knitting, I will not knit. I was lucky enough to live in a small town for a while that loved its knitters! We were welcome to knit at town council meetings and other such regular gatherings. Loved that! One winter I taught a group of 6 local fishermen how to knit. Some of the men already knew how to knit but wanted help doing socks. That was fun! We had our classes at the local bar with beer and peanuts!
There is some magical association that happens for me with sounds while I knit. I can sometimes hear whatever I was listening to the next time I pick-up my knitting.
All of this said, I have been mostly a home knitter because it is a comfort to knit with music or an audiobook. And yes, I have enjoyed many, if not most of MC Beaton's audiobooks and her Hamish MacBeth books are among my favorites.
I can't see what the problem is when knitting at a concert. Did the person give a reason? I knit absolutely everywhere and have only had positive reactions from people. Personally I don't find it reasonable to ask someone to move to another seat, just because they're knitting