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Woman Knitting at Wimbledon Causes a Stir

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knitting wimbledonAll eyes were on center court for the dramatic conclusion of the Wimbledon tennis match in which Andy Murray defeated Marcos Baghdatis in a contest that ran into the night, but the commentators were briefly more interested in a mystery woman and a bit of pink knitting.

The cameras found the woman in a crowd shot, wearing a smart green shawlette and knitting a pink rectangle on long, straight needles (it appears to be ribbing; there’s a brief video of it on YouTube). The commentators said she looked more interested in her knitting than the match, and that knitting was one way to deal with nerves and the cold at the match, with one saying “she’s knitting herself a jumper to warm up with.”

The commentator said it was the first time he’d seen anyone knitting in the stands, and wondered what the players would think if they looked up and saw it.

If the players or the commentators knew anything about knitting, they wouldn’t have worried. They would know that knitting is a great multitasking activity that actually allows some of us to focus better on what’s going on around us than if our hands were unoccupied.

She clearly brought some simple knitting so she could knit without paying much attention to it, and her row mates don’t seem too bothered by it, so why should anyone else be?

Next time, though, I think she should use circular needles. They’re a little friendlier for cramped seating.

What do you think? Are there some places that should be off-limits for knitting in public? Where’s the strangest place you’ve taken your knitting? Spill it!

[Photo from the BBC broadcast via the Daily Mail.]

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Comments

  1. Gee imagine being able to multi task!! It’s not like she’s got a fair isle pattern or anything. I watch foreign films with subtitles and knit so a) I have to read subtitles, b) I have to watch the film and c) I still knit away to my hearts content!!
    So how much of the match did the commentators miss since they were busy watching the knitter…lol

  2. I did knitting in church a few months back, and everyone kept asking me if I was pregnant!!!! (I guess they thought I was knitting bootees!!)

    But I’ve also knitted in the library, car journeys & hospital waiting room.

    No where is off limits.

  3. Ive been known to take my crochet projects with me to the pub quiz. People look like Im a bit strange. But if someone else writes and the husband brings me a straw with my drink I feel content.

    I also take it with me in the car while my husband drives.

    I can just imagine someone knitting at a snooker game though where its usually quiet.

  4. Nothing wrong with knitting at a tennis match. People do things all the time to get themselves centered and pay attention, like kicking their foot or tapping on something or doodling. Knitting can serve the same purpose. Sitting in one spot in one position for a long time is boring. Prima dona tennis players and rabid fans can just get over it. (I read books at football games. Drives my spouse nuts! I only read between plays, though.)

  5. Haha I think it’s wonderful! Why not?! What’s the big deal!? As long as she’s just sitting there, may as well make good use of your time! I did cross stitch once at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game! I don’t think my date appreciated but….ohhhh wellll! I think it’s great! Good for her!

  6. I have knit and crocheted all over the place. Drs offices, riding in cars, classes (high school, college and teaching), church, while walking.. Even in the NICU where my son was for 5.5 months. The one that shocks most people is when I was knitting a preemie hat (very basic pattern) while on magnisium (severe Pre-eclampsia) on the L&D floor before he was born. The mag made me feel like I was on fire and light sensitive. We kept the curtains drawn and the lights off. I also was wearing an eye mask the whole time, so essentially blind. Later I also crocheted him some preemie booties as well, but I don’t think I was on the mag at the time. He is now 2years old and has a healthy full term little sister. 🙂

  7. I can only think a funeral might be disrespectful as a place to knit. I’ve done it everywhere else,I think. Car rides,when I’m not driving obviously are a must. I’m about to embark on a 2000 mile round trip car excusion and what I’ll take to knit is a priority!

  9. I was only critised once badly at a recovery convention for making a lap robe during a discussion group. The lady went off on me and she wouldn’t stop until I gave a group apology and I stopped my work.

    When I saw this woman afterwards, there was a wide path between us.

  10. I knit everywhere! From middleschool to college I knit at all m daughters performances. Last month my daughters best friend was in his first Broadway show, Mama Mia, and I knit before and during the show. I felt like it was a closure of a circle.

  11. I have almost an hour commute to work every morning so I always knit in the car pool. In Church, I make scarves for charity. Dr’s offices, school plays, etc.

  12. I have no problem with knitting at any sporting match. It’s a recreational venue.

    I draw the line at church, however. It seems disrespectful. Sure, some people say they can concentrate better while knitting, but for an hour I really think they could bear it.

    I wouldn’t want to see a seamstress hemming a pair of pants or a beader making earrings in church, either.

    As much as I feel it’s disrespectful and inappropriate, I also wouldn’t be so rude as to point it out to the person.

Have you read?

How To Do Kitchener Stitch: A Beginner-Friendly Guide To Grafting Knitting Seamlessly

Kitchener stitch is one of those knitting techniques that feels a little bit mysterious until you finally sit down and do it. It is often used to close the toes of socks, but it is also a wonderfully neat way to join two sets of live stitches together without making a bulky seam.

If you have ever finished a beautiful sock and then paused at the toe because the pattern says “graft remaining stitches,” this is the tutorial you want to keep handy.

Kitchener stitch, also called grafting, creates a row of stitches between two pieces of knitting so the join looks almost invisible. Instead of binding off and sewing two edges together, you use a tapestry needle and yarn to form a new row of knitting between the live stitches.

It is one of the most useful finishing techniques for knitters, especially if you enjoy knitting socks, mittens, cowls, loop scarves, or garments where a smooth join matters.

You might also like this older CraftGossip post on grafting with Kitchener stitch, and if you want to go deeper into finishing techniques, this post on mastering grafting in knitting is another helpful read.

What Is Kitchener Stitch?

Kitchener stitch is a method of grafting two sets of live stitches together. The stitches stay on two needles, usually held parallel to each other, and you use a threaded tapestry needle to work through the stitches in a specific order.

When done well, the finished join looks like one continuous piece of knitting.

This is why Kitchener stitch is so popular for:

  • sock toes
  • mitten tips
  • shoulder joins
  • cowls
  • loop scarves
  • seamless tube projects
  • underarm stitches on some sweaters
  • small knitted bags and pouches

It is most commonly used on stockinette stitch, but grafting can also be adapted for other stitch patterns once you understand the basic idea.

Why Use Kitchener Stitch Instead Of Sewing A Seam?

The biggest benefit of Kitchener stitch is that it creates a smooth, almost invisible join. That matters most in places where you do not want a bulky seam, such as the toe of a sock.

A sewn seam across a sock toe can feel uncomfortable inside a shoe. Kitchener stitch avoids that by creating a flat, flexible finish.

It also gives knitted items a more polished look. If you are making gifts, charity knits, socks, or heirloom-style projects, learning this one technique can make your finished pieces look much neater.

For knitters who enjoy socks, you may also like this roundup of knitting patterns using sock yarn, especially if you have leftover yarn after finishing a pair.

Supplies You Need

To work Kitchener stitch, you will need:

  • two knitting needles holding live stitches
  • a tapestry needle or darning needle
  • yarn tail or matching yarn
  • scissors
  • good lighting
  • a little patience the first time

If you are working sock toes, most patterns will tell you how many stitches to leave on each needle before grafting.

As a general guide, leave a yarn tail at least three times the width of the stitches you are grafting. If you are unsure, leave a little extra. It is much easier to weave in a longer tail than to run out halfway across.

A blunt-tip tapestry needle is easier to control than a sharp sewing needle because it slides between yarn strands without splitting them as much. You can find tapestry needles, sock knitting tools, stitch markers, and finishing supplies through places such as Amazon, Mary Maxim, or your favorite local yarn store.

Before You Start: Set Up Your Stitches

For standard Kitchener stitch on stockinette:

Hold the two needles parallel, with the wrong sides of the knitting facing each other.

The right side of the knitting should be facing out.

The needle closest to you is the front needle.

The needle farther away from you is the back needle.

Thread your yarn tail onto a tapestry needle.

Try to keep the stitches sitting neatly on the needles and avoid twisting them before you begin.

The Kitchener Stitch Mantra

Many knitters remember Kitchener stitch with this little rhythm:

Front needle: knit off, purl on.
Back needle: purl off, knit on.

That means:

On the front needle, go into the first stitch knitwise and take it off. Then go into the next stitch purlwise and leave it on.

On the back needle, go into the first stitch purlwise and take it off. Then go into the next stitch knitwise and leave it on.

Once you get into the rhythm, it becomes much less intimidating.

Kitchener Stitch Step-By-Step

Setup Step 1

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave the stitch on the knitting needle.

Setup Step 2

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave the stitch on the knitting needle.

Now you are ready to begin the repeating sequence.

Step 1: Front Needle, Knitwise, Off

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit.

Pull the yarn through.

Slip that stitch off the knitting needle.

Step 2: Front Needle, Purlwise, On

Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave that stitch on the knitting needle.

Step 3: Back Needle, Purlwise, Off

Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl.

Pull the yarn through.

Slip that stitch off the knitting needle.

Step 4: Back Needle, Knitwise, On

Insert the tapestry needle into the next stitch on the back needle as if to knit.

Pull the yarn through.

Leave that stitch on the knitting needle.

Repeat these four steps until all stitches have been grafted.

A Simple Way To Remember It

Say this out loud as you work:

Knit off, purl on.
Purl off, knit on.

It feels silly the first few times, but it works. Many knitters mutter this little phrase while closing sock toes, and honestly, anything that helps you avoid losing your place is worth doing.

How Tight Should Kitchener Stitch Be?

One of the most common mistakes with Kitchener stitch is pulling the yarn too tightly.

You are not sewing a seam closed. You are creating a new row of knitting.

After every few stitches, gently adjust the tension so the grafted row matches the surrounding stitches. If you pull too tightly, the join may pucker. If you leave it too loose, the grafted row may look stretched out.

A good trick is to look at the stitches beside the graft and try to match their size.

Do not panic if it looks a little uneven while it is still on the needles. Kitchener stitch often looks better once everything is off the needles and the tension has been gently adjusted.

How To Finish The Last Stitches

When you get to the final stitches, continue the sequence as closely as possible.

If there is only one stitch left on a needle, work the “off” part of the sequence for that stitch.

Pull the yarn through gently and then weave the tail into the inside or wrong side of the project.

For socks, weave the end into the inside of the toe so it will not be visible.

Troubleshooting Kitchener Stitch

My graft looks too tight

You probably pulled the yarn too firmly as you worked. Use the tip of your tapestry needle to gently loosen each grafted stitch, working from one side to the other.

My graft looks loose

Gently snug up the grafted stitches one at a time. Do not yank the working yarn all at once, as this can make one area tight and another loose.

I lost my place

Pause and look at the stitches. If the last stitch was removed from the front needle, you are probably ready to work the “purl on” part on the front needle or move to the back needle. If you are a beginner, it helps to say the mantra out loud every single time.

I split the yarn

A blunt tapestry needle helps prevent splitting. If a stitch looks split and messy, carefully undo that part before continuing.

The join looks like a seam, not a row of knitting

This usually means the tension is too tight or the needle was inserted in the wrong direction on some stitches. Practice on a swatch before using Kitchener stitch on a special project.

Practice Before Grafting A Real Project

If Kitchener stitch makes you nervous, knit two small stockinette swatches and place the live stitches on two needles. Use a contrasting yarn to practice grafting across the stitches.

Practicing with a different color makes it easier to see what the grafted row is doing. Once you understand the movement, try again with matching yarn.

This is especially useful before grafting handmade socks, because sock toes are small and can feel fiddly the first few times.

When Else Can You Use Kitchener Stitch?

Kitchener stitch is most famous for sock toes, but it is helpful in many other knitting projects.

Use it for joining the ends of a cowl or loop scarf, especially when you start with a provisional cast on. This CraftGossip post on making loop scarves from stash yarn mentions using a provisional cast on so the ends can be grafted together neatly.

You can also use Kitchener stitch for small bags, seamless headbands, mitten tips, and some garment joins.

If you are brushing up on knitting basics, this post on favorite ways to cast on is a good companion read, especially if you are learning how different beginnings and endings affect the finish of a project.

Kitchener Stitch For Sock Knitters

If you knit socks from the cuff down, Kitchener stitch is one of the most useful finishing techniques you can learn.

Most cuff-down sock patterns end with a small number of stitches divided between two needles. Kitchener stitch closes those stitches without creating a ridge across the toe.

For a comfortable sock toe:

Keep the stitches evenly divided.

Do not pull the graft too tightly.

Check that the toe lies flat before weaving in the end.

Use matching yarn whenever possible.

Once the sock is finished, blocking can also help smooth the stitches and even out the graft.

If you enjoy knitting small accessories, you might also like these easy headband knitting patterns, which are great projects for practicing finishing techniques on something smaller than a sweater.

Kitchener stitch has a reputation for being tricky, but it is really just a short sequence repeated across two needles. Once you remember the rhythm — knit off, purl on, purl off, knit on — it becomes much easier.

The real secret is to slow down, keep your tension relaxed, and remember that you are creating a row of knitting, not stitching a seam shut.

It may not feel natural the first time, but after a few sock toes or practice swatches, Kitchener stitch becomes one of those finishing skills you will be glad to have in your knitting toolkit.