Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Woman Knitting at Wimbledon Causes a Stir

by

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.]

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?

Knits for the Table for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long. 

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders. 

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well. 

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn. 

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions. 

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table. 

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter. 

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.