Knitting in Public

#1

Where are some of your favorite places to sit and knit (other than the yarn shop)?

Right now I drive to work 2 hours early to avoid the rushhour traffic I would otherwise be forced to endure. I work about 25 mins from home, but in rush hour that can take 1.5 to 1.75 hours!! So I choose to drive to the area I work early and I usually pick a wifi spot and surf the internet until it’s time to start.

I would MUCH rather be spending this time productively knitting(… I’m at Starbucks right now typing this lol). I’ve never really thought about where I would feel comfortable whipping out my needles and yarn before and unfortunately all of the yarn shops are on the other side of the river where I live :o/

Hopefully someone will have a fun suggestion … otherwise I might just chill in my car with the radio lol! :o)

#2

Cafe over coffee. Pub over beer or a Bailey’s on the rocks.

#3

I would knit right there in Starbucks. I knit everywhere–doctor’s offices, dentists, lawyers. It’s who I am and what I do and I just don’t care what anyone thinks of it. Most people however are enthralled with it and think you are some sort of wizard:teehee: Most of my work friends accept my little yarn obsession with a smile, because I accept their strange obsessions, too. (Even though yarn is not a strange obsession.)

#4

I take my knitting anywhere where I even think I might have a wait on my hands. Doctor’s offices, appointments, travelling, etc… I was in an investment club for a while and I’d take my knitting to the meetings, too! And I agree w/the other poster - I get almost complete positive feedback and admiration when I’m knitting. Ppl are interested in what you’re making, etc…

#5

I knit anywhere I have to wait…doctor’s, dentist…doesn’t matter. I’d much rather be knitting with MY yarn and MY needles than thumbing through some dog-eared magazine that’s been handled by hundreds of people whose hands I don’t know where they have been :aww: . Plus, I’m being productive!

#6

Thanks everyone!!!

@farmgirl - LOL!!! My partner totally thinks I’m some sort of wizard… able to make cool things with pointy sticks and animal hair lol.

I think I’ll try the starbucks in the borders near my work next time. They have lots of comfy couches… looks like the perfect spot to set up my knitting and laptop :o)

#7

Just do it! People will either be interested, amused, bemused, think you are crazy, but more than likely will not even notice. Who cares what people think anyway.

When one stops worrying what people will think, life is so much easier. (But it has taken me over 40 years to realise that)

#8

yup, I rock out with my needles where ever I think I’ll have to wait for a while. It’s weird, I’m living in Italy at the moment so I’ve had to learn new words to tell people what I’m doing, they’ve given me some of the weirdest looks, even moreso than in Sydney Australia!

Most of my current scarf has been made on trains, but in Australia I’ll do it on my lunch break, in the local starbucks, cafes, wherever.

If they don’t like it then they can deal with it, people are constantly doing things I don’t like in public, so I have no compunction about knitting if I feel like it.

I’ve done it in a bar even, but I got shut down by a friend’s bf who thought it was rude, he claimed I can’t listen when I’m knitting. Uhh… WTF? I can listen better than he can when he’s watching sports at a bar, I think it’s less rude than that!

Don’t you wish people would mind their own business? if it’s not harming them, then why should they care? :knitting:

I should say that i’ve also had some people come and tell me how much they like what I’m making, or who are frankly just curious and interested in a flattering way, so don’t be shy about knitting in public :slight_smile:

#9

The only problem with knitting in pubs and bars I ever have is that often the light is too low, and I’m not one of those knitters who can knit while not looking – I always have to look. :slight_smile: Also, I’ve found that I make more mistakes while talking and laughing with friends, so I try not to take lace or something that is a big ol’ pain to frog back on.

I usually don’t knit on social nights out, though – only when I’m on a deadline (which I’ve been the last week or so, so I’ve been knitting a lot even when out with friends).

I always take the knitting out while I’m chatting and making jokes and such, to make it clear that I can do both at the same time – also, if the conversation becomes important to the person I am speaking with, I often stop knitting and just hold it in my lap so I can make eye contact with them while talking about something that means a lot to them or such. What’s more important, people or knitting? :wink:

#10

The only problem with knitting in pubs and bars I ever have is that often the light is too low, and I’m not one of those knitters who can knit while not looking – I always have to look. :slight_smile: Also, I’ve found that I make more mistakes while talking and laughing with friends, so I try not to take lace or something that is a big ol’ pain to frog back on.

I usually don’t knit on social nights out, though – only when I’m on a deadline (which I’ve been the last week or so, so I’ve been knitting a lot even when out with friends).

I always take the knitting out while I’m chatting and making jokes and such, to make it clear that I can do both at the same time – also, if the conversation becomes important to the person I am speaking with, I often stop knitting and just hold it in my lap so I can make eye contact with them while talking about something that means a lot to them or such. What’s more important, people or knitting? :wink:

#11

Yup I, too, will take out my knitting just about anywhere. If I know I’m only going to have to wait 5-10 min I will usually take a book instead though. But honestly, I’ll take it out anywhere and knit. It’s amazing the conversations that can start up when you are KIP. :slight_smile:

#12

KIP, Irish style:

#13

KIP, Irish style:

#14

That’s a lovely place to knit, Zina!

I’ve knit in coffee shops like Starbucks, doctors offices and on a bench in front of a store waiting for my daughter to show up as well as my LYS on Friday nights and always in front of the TV. I’ve never knit in a restaurant because that’s a time I focus on whoever is there with me. I try to balance my knitting with personal attention like that.

I’ve never come across anyone who things it’s rude or anything. Most people are very intrigued and interested in what you’re doing.

#15

I was in the doctor’s office with my Dad in Puerto Rico, and knitting a sock, and this man (in his fifties) came up to me, and he was so amazed: He said he hadn’t seen anyone knit a sock since he was a child at his grandmother’s knee! He was thrilled to see it!

#16

believe it or not, people WILL eventually get used to seeing you with your knitting. And the moment you show up somewhere without it, they will invariably ask, “where’s your knitting?!” LOL! =))

#17

True!

#18

Yep! I spent a tremendous amount of time waiting for my dd in band rehearsals last year. I heard through the grapevine that a rather famous conductor that she studied under, who teaches a guy who knows my son…anyway, my name came up in a lesson and the guy said, “That woman is always knitting!” :rofl:

The kids at my kids’ college (where I waited for rehearsals) were always interested. In fact, at one concert, I saw a girl across the concert hall knitting. My dd said, “She said you gave her courage to knit in the concert hall.” Soon there were a couple of them doing it. So, it can spread, too.

I do try to be considerate in social situations. No clicking needles during a concert, or elbowing the people next to me, and though I knit at a restaurant when my dh and I go out, I wouldn’t with other people, most likely.

As someone upthread said, people are more important and if someone feels they don’t have my full attention, I’d rather just not knit.

But any waiting time always has me knitting.

#19

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While waiting in the dentist office for my children’s to be done with their cleanings, the receptionist nearly vaulted over the counter to see what I was knitting.

She was an older lady and from her pleasantly surprised expression, I gathered she had not seen a man knit at least not in a long time. I would guess she could be old enough to remember WW II as a child. So male knitters might have been known to her among her older siblings, uncles, or grand parents.

At least it looked to me like she was reacting like she was seeing me practice a “long lost craft.”

Other places:
I knit at soccer practice, but not at games.
I’ve knit while my wife drives.
I’ve knit in church with the minister’s permission. :thumbsup:
I’ve knit during break times at work.
I’ve knit in the back yard, on our deck.
I’ve knit in our front yard, while watching my children ride bikes back and forth on the street.
I’ve tried to knit at in the waiting room at my eye doctor, but they called me back too soon. :sad:

:roll: I can’t think of any other places at this time.
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#20

Now, Jack, would that be your minister’s permission, or his blessing? :wink: