One thing that’s great about knitting is that it is usually pretty portable. We can knit when someone else is driving a car (or flying on an airplane), in waiting rooms and all sorts of places that might otherwise be tiresome without it. I made a lot of progress on my Hitchhiker shawl yesterday while my daughter played at the gymnastics place and an indoor playground. Better than looking at my phone the whole time!
And while no one would question my right to knit in these situations, there are times when people might consider knitting rude. At a work meeting, for instance. Or a lecture. Or at church.
I think this is mostly because of the perception of other people that knitting is rude, that it means you’re not paying attention, when in fact moving our hands can bring us more focus.
Posts often pop up talking about whether and when it is rude to knit; this one says it’s not OK at times when it might be perceived as not paying attention.
What do you think? Are there times when you think it is rude to knit or places you won’t take your knitting? I’d love to hear your thoughts! And you can check out more on knitting etiquette over at About.
I find when I knit during church I hear and retain so much more than when I don’t. Unfortunately I get funny looks from strangers.
I don’t think its rude when having casual conversations with friends and family or when having coffee. If someone really had a problem or needed sage advise, I think they would want me truely present and to be truely present, I can’t be knitting at the same time. That is my guideline for when I knit around others.
You aren’t bothering anyone when ou are knitting in public. Unlike when you are talking on the phone.
It’s a great conversation starter. I often get questions about my projects (knitting or crocheting) and always try to ask questions when I see someone working on a craft project. The response I get is always positive.
As long as it is not at a business related doing, or church or function where you should be giving someone your attention I think it is okey. I stop knitting if someone ask me a question or needs my assistance with a problem or something like that but I think it a lot less rude then all these people talking on their darn phones especially when you are trying to carry on a conversation with them.
I’m a cross stitcher but I think the same thing applies. Doctor’s office, dentist office, bus, wherever I don’t have to be paying much attention. Meetings, church …, etc where I have to pay attention then I don’t cross stitch. How would this be different than someone playing video games or going online? None really.
I definitely would not take my knitting to a business meeting at work or to church. Other than that, I would take my work. I always carry my projects for when I am waiting for a dr or dental appt, when I am waiting for my car to be serviced, or when someone else is driving. I get a lot of work accomplished that way.
any function that requires you to take notes is not a place to knit. I would not consider it rude for a person to knit at church, kids or adults games or any where else in public. I think knitting or doing a craft in a waiting room is a lot more productive then pacing the floors or being on the phone.
I must be a rude knitter as I knit in church every Sunday during the sermon. ???? Knitting gives my hands something to do as I am listening. I am able to have a discussion with my pastor most sundays regarding the sermon and he knows I am knitting. In fact the lady who sits in front of me is jealous I can knit without looking at my work most of the time she wishes she could. It is not rude to knit and listen or talk as I can do more than one thing at a time. People are so funny
I wouldn’t knit, crochet or x-stitch during a business meeting, church or something requiring my full attention. However, in waiting rooms, on the road with my husband driving or something like that, it’s a different story. I usually have several projects going and when I’m in public, I’ve got a small project – scarf, potholder, etc. going with a pattern that’s “mindless” so I can keep track of what’s going on around me while I’m doing something constructive. It must be genetic – my grandmother never went ANYWHERE with out a “bit of something” in her hands. She crocheted bookmarks, edged hankies, etc. When my kids were little, I always had some kind of handwork when we were in a dr’s waiting room and with 5 kids, it seemed as if we were at the dr a lot! People always commented, “you have to have so much patience to do that.” I’d always reply with a laugh, “it prevents child abuse!” I’m sad that my daughters and daughters in law don’t do handcrafts, but my granddaughters (and grandsons) are getting old enough for their Grammy to teach THEM! 🙂
It is great to knit around other knitters because they realize it’s possible to knit and have a conversation without making eyecontact.
I picked up on that you were working on a hitchhiker shawl, there are about four of us in my knitting group working on that also! It is taking me forever, I should be knitting in public more often.
I find knitting during meetings helps me focus on the words being spoken because it helps my mind not wander into other things: “I hope the kids gave fresh water to the goats.” “I wonder if I can work on my quilt tomorrow.” “I can’t forget to pay that bill!” However, I do refrain because of others thinking I’m rude even though it would greatly benefit my retention.
I sew/knit/crochet when I do not need to interact. Church works because I am just listening, or if we are hanging out at grammas, but work is a big no. I have too much to do and I do not have many meetings to attend. Just piles of paperwork.
I’m a knitter for 43 years and a Christian theologian and preacher for 18. I knit anywhere that my hands have no other occupation. That sometimes includes church. As far as seeing people knitting from the pulpit goes, we preachers see people snoozing far more often! Go ahead!
I don’t think it’s rude at all! I’ve knit in lectures before, and it makes the lecture more enjoyable, and I take in so much more. I can see it might be rude if the knitter was working on a project needing intense focus, but if it’s relatively easy to work on and talk at the same time, then go for it! Our craft needs more publicity anyway 🙂
No you should be able to knit any where.
We could all look back to President Roosevelt’s wife Eleanor Roosevelt. She would sit with him as he conducted important business with dignitaries and she would listen. I bet once they were in private she could discuss those meetings at length with him. I even knit when I am driving if I am stopped at a long stop light or have a train going by where I have to wait. I knit when I am on phone calls a lot and while watching TV since I was raised calling it the boob tube and can follow both my knitting or crocheting as well as most shows at the same time. At the end of a show I have something positive to show for my time. I made 72 pair of baby booties a couple years ago watching the Jodi Arias trial so I didn’t feel crummy watching such trash then donated them to my local hospital. Half were regular size and hardware preemie so a lot of babies had something special.