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.
Agree! There are these unreasonable associations we make and sometimes it is so hard to make them go away. We have tried our bit to not pass on stereotypes from our generation to our kids. Teaching a bunch of fishermen to knit and the location for those knitting classes... Lol!!! That must have been a lot of fun. I've been teaching at my LYS for the past year and half and I must have taught a handful of men to knit/crochet/brioche over the period. There was a 11 year old and his mom in the crochet class last week, it was fun. Oh, this was my first Hamish MacBeth I enjoyed it a lot! :)
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
It was apparently a quiet kind of concert, and not a loud one. So this person could hear the clicking of the needles. There were a few free seats available nearby, so they requested to move. I have had mostly positive reactions too. But this one made me wonder!!
I feel for both the individuals in the concert confrontation! On the one hand, I have frequently practiced "knitting in public" as a way to stay calm and centered -- particularly when I'm riding public transportation, also in meetings. On the other hand, I've been terribly distracted at concerts or plays by a neighbor's small repeated motions, even if they're perfectly silent -- a tapping foot, a jiggling knee; I've never gone so far as to ask someone to stop, but I've shifted in my seat to avoid having the "twitch" in my sightline. I don't believe I'd find a nearby knitter's activity so distracting, but then those are motions that are familiar to me. I admit some concern (without having read their own words) for the knitter who chose to leave the concert rather than put away their knitting; certainly there's nothing wrong with knitting in public, but there's nothing wrong either with accommodating a neighbor who has trouble concentrating.
The "twitching" did come up in the discussion. Exactly! If possible I would have shifted too rather than approaching someone with such a request. At the end of the day, a little bit of consideration from either parties could help.
I've experienced someone being very affronted when I pulled out my knitting and continued to chat with them. They said curtly "can't you just not knit, you bring it everywhere with you!" As though I was not interested enough in the conversation. My attention needed to be focused solely on them. It hadn't occurred to me, that my knitting would cause someone else annoyance! It's been so interesting reading this Kavitha and what others have shared.
Jodie, sorry you had that experience. I agree, getting / giving attention is tricky matter. One other thing I have observed is we can have different set of expectations when it comes to seeking our loved ones' attention vs. someone not closely related. I have learnt a lot here from other responses too. Again, surprising to think about how talking about knitting can unearth a few deeper things!
I only knit at home. It took my husband a while to understand that I could talk to him and knit at the same time. The reason I don't knit in public will be an odd one to you. I was a deputy sheriff and having it drilled into me to situationally aware I don't divide my attention while in public and I feel that looking at my knitting vs watching people and activity would be detrimental to me and others with me if something bad happens. I have no problem with others around me knitting in public and have had very pleasant conversations with those who are.
That's truly fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing this! Your town had been lucky to have someone like you in charge. It isn't odd at all. It just tells us that the identity we take on earlier in life tends to stick with us longer.
I knit in public. Church is the hardest for me though. I definitely feel like I'll be judged as dismissive or bored. It honestly helps me listen better. I hope to get passed this one day. Though, I sometimes wonder if there is a time to put aside my desire to keep knitting that project. But as a mom of young children, I also see value in seizing what moments I can to do something else I love.
I hear you. Moms of young children have to depend on seized moments for pretty much everything. Firstly, kudos to you for keeping up your knitting. May be sticking to only certain types of projects where you don't have to look at your knitting often will help. Hope you are able to sort out the inner dilemma and find something that works.
I knit in public sometimes. Alone in a coffee shop, whilst waiting just about anywhere, if I’m relaxed with family and friends. Socks or sleeves are my go to portable projects.
I don’t knit at concerts or in theatres. It wouldn’t occur to me. I like to immerse myself in the moment and knitting would slightly distract me. Just to get psychological for a moment I’m tempted to think it’s about levels of sensory input. For me the music or the play would be enough, some other people need additional tactile or physical sensation to be fully present. Tricky to navigate though as in a dark quiet theatre I do find peripheral movement and noise distracting be it phone or needles clicking.
My partner is a performer and until he met my knitting friends he’d have been insulted by someone pulling out their knitting at a gig. Now he’s happy for them to knit and always please to see them.
Oh Linda, you bring up such a good point about the levels of sensory input. I can relate my own behavior to some extent. I love to keep my hands busy especially while listening and watching things. But I think most of learn to adjust these things to current lifestyles and contexts. I love how you are fully receptive to music and your partner understands the knittters' world a bit.
It’s fascinating what’s acceptable and what’s not. People pull out their phones everywhere, and many times do not engage in conversation. Yet knitters who can talk and knit are thought rude or odd.
I take knitting or reading with me everywhere. I read on the Kindle app on my phone. That seems more acceptable even than a physical book, especially with family. I can be on my phone (reading a book) and that’s okay when holding a physical book wouldn’t be. I do have to say my family is perfectly fine with me knitting. They expect it.
It is alarming how acceptable phones/headphones are compared to knitting or books. I was once asked "Are we boring you that much?", when I pulled out my knitting in a group. There were others freely browsing on their phones while sliding in and out of conversation.
I've only recently started bring knitting with me where I go. My allergy shot appointments are perfect because I have 20 minutes where I have to wait and make sure I don't have a bad reaction so why not knit? I don't think I'd bring it to a concert or something I'd want my full attention on just because I'd be choosing that activity to enjoy it and take a break from knitting. I will say, though, I've been knitting long enough that I can talk and engaged with other things and most people notice that and tend to be impressed I can multitask that way.
20 minute is a perfect timeslot to get a few rows in! Yes, mostly people are impressed and have a kind thing or two to say. It makes sense to consider the situation and decide about whether to bring knitting or not. I used to think it was trivial but over time I have realized it is an important decision for serious knitting pursuits.
The first time I knit in public was in 8th grade - inside the cover of my lift top desk, using string or yarn & two pencils. It was right after I taught myself to knit. It was to help keep myself awake during class where the subject matter was about two years behind where I had been in my previous school. I frequently carry a project with me if I plan to be out of the house for a period of time - a series of doctor's appointments, a plane flight, in a hotel. Other shorter times, I bring a book or my Kindle. I can see where, if the seating is very close, that a person knitting could infringe on another's personal space - depending on their knitting style. But I wouldn't have left - I paid for that admission and have as much right to enjoy myself as the other person. Sad how intolerant we have become of others.
Using pencils!! Wow. :) Yes knitting & books seem to be the popular choice to bring around. I love to hear about how people make use of those small moments to pursue interests. You are right Barbara, that intolerance was the saddest part of the whole thing. A little bit of consideration from either parties could have helped.
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.
Agree! There are these unreasonable associations we make and sometimes it is so hard to make them go away. We have tried our bit to not pass on stereotypes from our generation to our kids. Teaching a bunch of fishermen to knit and the location for those knitting classes... Lol!!! That must have been a lot of fun. I've been teaching at my LYS for the past year and half and I must have taught a handful of men to knit/crochet/brioche over the period. There was a 11 year old and his mom in the crochet class last week, it was fun. Oh, this was my first Hamish MacBeth I enjoyed it a lot! :)
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
It was apparently a quiet kind of concert, and not a loud one. So this person could hear the clicking of the needles. There were a few free seats available nearby, so they requested to move. I have had mostly positive reactions too. But this one made me wonder!!
I feel for both the individuals in the concert confrontation! On the one hand, I have frequently practiced "knitting in public" as a way to stay calm and centered -- particularly when I'm riding public transportation, also in meetings. On the other hand, I've been terribly distracted at concerts or plays by a neighbor's small repeated motions, even if they're perfectly silent -- a tapping foot, a jiggling knee; I've never gone so far as to ask someone to stop, but I've shifted in my seat to avoid having the "twitch" in my sightline. I don't believe I'd find a nearby knitter's activity so distracting, but then those are motions that are familiar to me. I admit some concern (without having read their own words) for the knitter who chose to leave the concert rather than put away their knitting; certainly there's nothing wrong with knitting in public, but there's nothing wrong either with accommodating a neighbor who has trouble concentrating.
The "twitching" did come up in the discussion. Exactly! If possible I would have shifted too rather than approaching someone with such a request. At the end of the day, a little bit of consideration from either parties could help.
I've experienced someone being very affronted when I pulled out my knitting and continued to chat with them. They said curtly "can't you just not knit, you bring it everywhere with you!" As though I was not interested enough in the conversation. My attention needed to be focused solely on them. It hadn't occurred to me, that my knitting would cause someone else annoyance! It's been so interesting reading this Kavitha and what others have shared.
Jodie, sorry you had that experience. I agree, getting / giving attention is tricky matter. One other thing I have observed is we can have different set of expectations when it comes to seeking our loved ones' attention vs. someone not closely related. I have learnt a lot here from other responses too. Again, surprising to think about how talking about knitting can unearth a few deeper things!
I only knit at home. It took my husband a while to understand that I could talk to him and knit at the same time. The reason I don't knit in public will be an odd one to you. I was a deputy sheriff and having it drilled into me to situationally aware I don't divide my attention while in public and I feel that looking at my knitting vs watching people and activity would be detrimental to me and others with me if something bad happens. I have no problem with others around me knitting in public and have had very pleasant conversations with those who are.
That's truly fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing this! Your town had been lucky to have someone like you in charge. It isn't odd at all. It just tells us that the identity we take on earlier in life tends to stick with us longer.
Thank you very much. Some things are so ingrained it's all muscle memory. Whether it's knitting or being aware of surroundings!
I knit in public. Church is the hardest for me though. I definitely feel like I'll be judged as dismissive or bored. It honestly helps me listen better. I hope to get passed this one day. Though, I sometimes wonder if there is a time to put aside my desire to keep knitting that project. But as a mom of young children, I also see value in seizing what moments I can to do something else I love.
I hear you. Moms of young children have to depend on seized moments for pretty much everything. Firstly, kudos to you for keeping up your knitting. May be sticking to only certain types of projects where you don't have to look at your knitting often will help. Hope you are able to sort out the inner dilemma and find something that works.
I knit in public sometimes. Alone in a coffee shop, whilst waiting just about anywhere, if I’m relaxed with family and friends. Socks or sleeves are my go to portable projects.
I don’t knit at concerts or in theatres. It wouldn’t occur to me. I like to immerse myself in the moment and knitting would slightly distract me. Just to get psychological for a moment I’m tempted to think it’s about levels of sensory input. For me the music or the play would be enough, some other people need additional tactile or physical sensation to be fully present. Tricky to navigate though as in a dark quiet theatre I do find peripheral movement and noise distracting be it phone or needles clicking.
My partner is a performer and until he met my knitting friends he’d have been insulted by someone pulling out their knitting at a gig. Now he’s happy for them to knit and always please to see them.
Oh Linda, you bring up such a good point about the levels of sensory input. I can relate my own behavior to some extent. I love to keep my hands busy especially while listening and watching things. But I think most of learn to adjust these things to current lifestyles and contexts. I love how you are fully receptive to music and your partner understands the knittters' world a bit.
It’s fascinating what’s acceptable and what’s not. People pull out their phones everywhere, and many times do not engage in conversation. Yet knitters who can talk and knit are thought rude or odd.
I take knitting or reading with me everywhere. I read on the Kindle app on my phone. That seems more acceptable even than a physical book, especially with family. I can be on my phone (reading a book) and that’s okay when holding a physical book wouldn’t be. I do have to say my family is perfectly fine with me knitting. They expect it.
It is alarming how acceptable phones/headphones are compared to knitting or books. I was once asked "Are we boring you that much?", when I pulled out my knitting in a group. There were others freely browsing on their phones while sliding in and out of conversation.
Good point!
I've only recently started bring knitting with me where I go. My allergy shot appointments are perfect because I have 20 minutes where I have to wait and make sure I don't have a bad reaction so why not knit? I don't think I'd bring it to a concert or something I'd want my full attention on just because I'd be choosing that activity to enjoy it and take a break from knitting. I will say, though, I've been knitting long enough that I can talk and engaged with other things and most people notice that and tend to be impressed I can multitask that way.
20 minute is a perfect timeslot to get a few rows in! Yes, mostly people are impressed and have a kind thing or two to say. It makes sense to consider the situation and decide about whether to bring knitting or not. I used to think it was trivial but over time I have realized it is an important decision for serious knitting pursuits.
The first time I knit in public was in 8th grade - inside the cover of my lift top desk, using string or yarn & two pencils. It was right after I taught myself to knit. It was to help keep myself awake during class where the subject matter was about two years behind where I had been in my previous school. I frequently carry a project with me if I plan to be out of the house for a period of time - a series of doctor's appointments, a plane flight, in a hotel. Other shorter times, I bring a book or my Kindle. I can see where, if the seating is very close, that a person knitting could infringe on another's personal space - depending on their knitting style. But I wouldn't have left - I paid for that admission and have as much right to enjoy myself as the other person. Sad how intolerant we have become of others.
Using pencils!! Wow. :) Yes knitting & books seem to be the popular choice to bring around. I love to hear about how people make use of those small moments to pursue interests. You are right Barbara, that intolerance was the saddest part of the whole thing. A little bit of consideration from either parties could have helped.