If you’ve been a knitter, or done any kind of crafting in front of other people, for any length of time, you’ve probably had someone say something to you along the lines of “I wish I had the patience for that.”
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has written and spoken a lot on this topic, and today I found this from her book Knitting Rules
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I have the attention span of a three-year-old full of chocolate bars at a birthday party…Knitting grants patience to those who do it. Ask around. Most knitters will tell you they’re at their most patient with needles in their hands, and that this practice maker them more tolerant of ordinary setbacks.
Felicia from the Craft Sessions recently wrote about patience in crafting, too, saying that knitting is about the process more than the product (for her, anyway, I know some knitters are not like that), so patience doesn’t really play into it in the sense that we’re antsy to finish a project so we can wear or use it.
Indeed, we tend to be knitters because we need something to do in order to make us more patient in situations in which we would rather not be.
But the thing is I’m not patient. I need knitting because I’m not patient. I can’t sit through a school concert, or hours of book reading to small people, or a two hour trip to the park, without knitting.
Can. Not. Do. It.
Without knitting all I can think is run away run away. Because I lack patience.
I definitely feel that way. I need to knit when I have to go to a meeting, or hang out at the library with my daughter, or, yes, at the park or waiting for an appointment.
I do like having the products of my knitting to use and to give to others, but it really is more about the process, having something to do, to fill space that would otherwise be spent waiting most impatiently.
What do you think? Are you “patient” as a crafter or does knitting make you more patient? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
[Photo via the Craft Sessions.]
I am definitely more patient when I am knitting. It is funny; I can walk up and down the hall wondering what to do next. Then I pick up my knitting, and, two hours later, I realize that I have just been sitting, patiently, seeing the rows grow on my project. Yay! Knitting; my favorite hobby.
I fidget. Which makes me antsy and easily distracted. When I knit, that smooth repetitive action uses up the urge to fidget, and that allows me to relax and pay fuller attention to everything. Plus, I end up with cool things.
I’m not a knitter…but I’ve quilted and done other crafts and I’ve started sketching… and it has the same effect – and people all still say that line about patience! Or they talk about talent….no, really, it’s just sitting down and doing…finding the thing that works for you and doing it.
I think we are all patient in certain ways and in other ways not so patient. I could sit and knit a sweater from start to finish, but to me, that has nothing to do with patience. I just like doing it. At the same time, I can be SO impatient when my computer doesn’t do something fast enough. Patience can be said in many ways, I guess!
I am known as the impatient cajun. So knitting and crocheting is totally against everything I am. Recently I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Knitting has been my answer to a mind that goes to worry mode.
I’ve always thought of knitting and crocheting as my personal Zen experience. I can knit while I talk and in the dark. Ive been doing it so long that it’s in my muscle memory. I mention this because you asked about reactions when people see me knitting I took my knitting with me when my husband and I went to the movies. Everything was fine until there was a very quiet scene and the only sound heard in the theater was “click, click, click …” The man behind me stood up and yelled, “YOU’RE KNITTING IN THE DARK?” I turned around, smiled and VERY quietly whispered “Yes.” It was an easy question to answrr! Lol.
I am absolutely more patient because I knit . I find that knitting is hypnotic to me . It calms me , takes away my physical pain ,and gives me something in common with some really great people.
Thanks for all the great comments! I agree. 🙂
I knit because I need something to do while watching TV with my husband. I love the beautiful things I can make with all the energy. I would say nervous energy not patience.