Saturday, December 4, 2010

When is it not OK to knit or crochet?

Helen was telling us a story earlier about how she got chatting with a gentleman at the garage while waiting for her car to be serviced. The two of them chatted along for a while as Helen was knitting a new design. In the course of conversation he asked if she brings her knitting when she goes to someone's house. She replied that she always has knitting with her. He told her that if she came to his house and knitted he would be offended and feel that he wasn't holding her interest.

This has us wondering, when is it OK or not OK to knit? We all regularly knit when we're out visiting friends, drinking in our local pub, have company over, waiting in the doctor's office, etc. Obviously we wouldn't bust out the yarn and needles at a wedding, but rarely do we feel it's inappropriate. In fact, for many of us knitting while visiting friends helps us to focus on them!

So, what do you think? When do you knit or not knit?

11 comments:

  1. This is very interesting because my experience with someone that knitted at all times was a little offending to me. But when I picked up crochet, I understood what it was all about. It is not about being rude, it's about the fact that you can knit/crochet during just about anything, so why not get something accomplished. I rarely go anywhere without my yarn and hook now, however, I don't take it and do it anywhere because I remember the feeling similar to the man at the car shop. But if were up to me I would crochet anywhere and everywhere! I have crocheted in the car, at family's house, in lines, doctors office. Where I have wanted to..my kids soccer practice, a family reunion, playdates, movie theatre (to dark), lectures. I have not at these places for fear of offending someone. But I always have my crochet on the brain no matter where I am at. :)

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  2. as a teacher, I can assure you that it does help some people to listen and focus. Right with a broken hand it is killing me to not knit. I can't type well, or finish Christmas knitting! (or focus LOL)

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  3. I don't buy the argument that knitting helps you focus on something or someone else.That's just a cop-out to justify putting your own wants ahead of others. I look at it like this: if I would read a book in that setting, then I would knit in that setting. Knitting is no different than reading. If you feel that you would feel it's OK to read a book in a certain situation, then you should feel it's OK to knit in that situation.

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  4. I love to knit & crochet. Do it all the time and everywhere. But I put it down if I'm In conversation with someone who doesn't. And I also disagree that it promotes concentration.

    @sohoskirt

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  5. This was discussed in one of my knitting groups yesterday. The general consensus seemed to be that it does promote concentration. I am one who is selective about where I knit. I knit almost anywhere, but when spoken to I will set my knitting down in my lap. I always have a somewhat mindless rote style project available when I need to focus on something else at the same time. I think multi-tasking isn't entirely true. I just have to keep my hands busy. If I had been born a generation earlier I probably would have been a smoker. Instead I knit and/or eat. Knitting is better for me. CarolK

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  6. I couldn't disagree with Mari more. You have to concentrate to read, you really don't most of the time with knitting (even on lace, once you know what your repeat is, you don't have to think about it, or at least I don't).
    I often read and knit at the same time - in fact, I get bored if I'm *just* knitting.
    Often I solve problems when I'm knitting as it gives me the opportunity to focus my brain on something else.
    I knit at gigs, people's houses (many friends are knitters though), on the train, on the underground, pretty much anywhere.

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  7. Sara Lady is correct. Itis a proven fact that there are brains that function better when they multi task, and those that don't. There are tactal learners, they will remember more during a lecture, if they are doing something with their hands. A visual learner must watch, audio..., so please, before you make opinion statements learn the facts. BUT, manners is a different topic. If I offend someone, I am sorry, and will not knit in their presence.

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  8. I knit everywhere - movie theatres, dinner parties, pubs, restaurants, even formal events. I don't have to look at it or concentrate on it, so why should anyone care what my hands are doing under the table? And I HAVE to be doing something with my hands to concentrate properly. If I'm in a business meeting and I don't knit, I doodle incessantly instead so I can keep my focus. Because that is pointless and a waste of time, I just explain that knitting helps me focus and I've never had a problem with people thinking I'm being disrespectful. Of course, now my job is teaching crafts full time, so I don't have to go to business meetings anymore. :)

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  9. As long as the knitter feels comfortable knitting then it's appropriate to knit. Personally I would not knit at a wedding ceremony, but I certainly would at the reception. We all have to draw our own lines in regards to our own comfort levels. What we do not have to do is draw lines for ourselves in regards to the comfort levels of others. If someone decides to take offense at my decision to knit then that reaction is their problem, and not mine.

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  10. I think it's a matter of the project, more than anything else. If I'm doing a lace project of any kind, it's @ home with earplugs in or instrumental music.

    Stockinette or ribbing is a go for walking & general conversation & a few drinks, 3 @ most. I do think knitting @ a business meeting can be a bit much, but it depends on the company/business relationship the knitter has.

    I listen with my ears & occasional glance for visual nuance. The rest of my body can be doing something while I do so. People who constantly *need* to be looked @ while in a convo are no different IMO than children getting in people's face chanting "lookit! Lookit me! Are you watching?! Lookit meeee!".

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  11. I am thrilled that this subject matter has created so many posts to our blog. Here is my personal view on social knitting.

    I believe knitting is a social activity. Knitting brings people together and actually helps create conversations. You can knit and make eye contact, you can knit and watch a baseball game, you can knit and have a conversation with someone. This type of knitting has to be basic and easy. I also believe that each one of us is different in how we interact with others. For ME it is true that knitting (easy knitting like garter stitch or stockinette stitch with no shaping or color work) helps me focus on a conversation or what I am watching such as a child's baseball game. If I have a cable pattern or color work then I would not work on this in a social setting. I would not knit during a wedding or a funeral. I will knit in my own house regardless of who is visiting, but I will pick my work in progress with care.

    I do not think we should judge people regarding when and where they are knitting. I think the gentleman I met at the dealership was a person that could not multi task so he could not possibly understand what it is like to have your hands busy but your ears and mind wide open. The bottom line: If it were not for my knitting, he and I would not have had the wonderful 40 minute conversation that we had.

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