Sunday, August 26, 2007

Doing (Knitting) Time

My Saturday schedule:

9:00-9:45: karate

10:00-11:00: music lessons

11:00-1:00: football

Fours solid hours of sitting and waiting/watching. What in the world do parents do if they don't knit? You can't really read a book, because you do have to watch your kid and be ready to clap and cheer (lots of cheering). Ditto for handheld video games and phones, if your inclinations lean that way. I suppose you could sit and make small talk with the other parents, but four hours worth? Every week?

Under other circumstances (that is to say, if I didn't knit), my natural impatience would make it virtually impossible for me to sit still that long, and certainly to do so with good grace. But with a knitting project handy, I'm not only able to sit and wait, but happy to do so. I've knitted my way through school field trips, PTA meetings, doctors' appointments, kids' movies, car trips (when I'm not driving, of course), and any number of games, matches, and practices of various sorts. The only places I don't knit, because I think it would be rude, are at live performances of any sort, including kids' recitals and plays, weddings, funerals, religious services, and at the table. Pretty much everything else is fair game, as far as I'm concerned.

What about you? Do you knit in public, and if so, what are your favorite places or events? Are there times or places you won't knit? Is there anywhere you consider it inappropriate or rude to knit? Where is the strangest place you've ever knitted? Feel free to leave lengthy comments, if you're inspired. I'll bet there are some interesting stories out there!

23 comments:

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

Well, I also knit while waiting for the kiddie winkies during tennis, archery, orchestra. The other mothers I'm sure think I'm semi anti-social, which I don't mind. I keep a stockinette sock next to me for traffic jams. I am DYING to knit in church during the readings, but feel like I would be drawing attention to myself in a negative way. I NEVER knit at work during meetings, although I know some academics do--I am too paranoid and afraid to do so.

Romi said...

I definitely knit in public. Stockinette in the round is my favorite because I don't have to look at all. :g:

knitwitmama said...

I have knit for years through swim team, ballet, soccer, piano, every type of medical office,in the car (not while driving!) in pubs, and jazz clubs, in church but not during the service, but definitely through any meeting where I don't have to be taking notes. My family and good friends don't even bat an eye anymore, but I do get comments from some people. I always keep a small portable project going that I don't need to pay attention to . My current favorite is socks or hats, but I did go through a baby blanket phase when many of my loved ones were producing babies. I think of it a bit like breast feeding in public, it is perfectly natural if done without fanfare and most people are not offended.

Haley said...

i always take my knitting with me whenever i have a doctor's appointment. i'm always a little disappointed when the doctor is running on time.

Anonymous said...

I knit pretty much anywhere and everywhere. On the train, on the ferry, at sporting events, in waiting rooms, at family gatherings, etc. No knitting during work meetings. I probably wouldn't knit at a wedding or funeral, but I might while waiting for "things" to get started. I've knit in bars and on the beach. Tried to knit at the movies, but not enough light. I do not knit on the toilet, but I've given it serious thought.

sophanne said...

i'm with everyone else- I've found bringing knitting to the dr's office makes them a little bit more on time-or at least it feels like it.

I knit in meetings where I know I'll be sitting. If anyone asks I tell them I have the "jimmy legs" in my hands- restless hand syndrome(?)- and that they should be glad I'm knitting to keep it under control. A few insightful questions during any presentation shuts up any critics.

My thoughts are- if I can knit then they aren't asking me to use my full brain capacity and they may want to think about what/how they are presenting.

sophanne said...

also- as far as knitting at recitals/performances- as the music teacher, I give you permission. The only distraction for me would be the time I'd have to spend stopping by and seeing what you're working on.

Fran Pike said...

I knit in public all the time. I have knitted only once in church, and that was because we had to get there 2 hours before mass on Christmas eve, so we could get a seat.
I know this is not knitting, but I used a drop spindle in the hospital waiting room. People were watching, but no one dared to asked me what I was doing!

sophanne said...

Can't you just imagine what the people in the waiting room were thinking- "That poor lady is entertaining herself with a tinker toy and some string- PSYCH WARD 911!"

Sarah said...

I can't knit during a movie -- maybe if I had a plain stockinette sock, but I don't know that I'd want to. I need my hands for popcorn. I don't knit in class while a professor is talking, but I knit until they come in, and knit during breaks. Once my son is old enough for sports and lessons, I'm sure I'll be knitting right through them!

Jen said...

I knit everywhere. Appointments with doctors, at the grocery store, the bus stop waiting for the kids, all kid activities, on the trampoline in my backyard, at a water park in Iowa, in the car, at other people's houses, when we go out for dinner, in church between Sunday school and church services... I would never knit at a funeral or wedding, or during church services, but any other time is knitting time for me.

Anonymous said...

The best reason for knitting in public is that you get to meet other knitters. I was knitting at the beach - Yes, it was sandy, but -
and I met a lady who was a very experienced knitter. It was great, she helped me with my project and we bonded in a way that wouldn't have be possible without the help of the "Yarn".

MelissaKnits said...

I knit in church. I sit in a subtle location. Everyone knows, no one minds. I knit yesterday at a Work at What You Love seminar during which I was on the hot seat during a Mastermind session. I knit at parties. I knit in the grocery store if Mr W's pushing the cart. I knit everywhere, anywhere. I once knit at the county fair during the horse draw, and again while waiting a the gate for one of the kids to arrive. I knit in line at Disney World. No place, IMHO, is off-limits.

Sharon said...

I knit in church, and as far as I know, everyone's cool with it. We're Unitarian Universalist--the church sanctions Wicca, Paganism and all forms of alternative lifestyles and relationships--so nobody's going to get their panties in a bunch over a little knitting.

But then again, you never know...^o^

...Sarah said...

I love these stories. I have such a poor attention span that i can't knit in public long. Too distracting. Maybe I can practice it more. Like knit wit mama said, it took me a while to get comfortable nursing in public, maybe knitting requires the same endurance.

a friend to knit with said...

oh, i knit everywhere....except weddings, funerals or dining out with others.......i have knit while waiting for a performance to begin and like the add knitter, always have a small project next to me in the car......i think my favorite is the airport...all of the odd looks and odd comments just make me chuckle! you know, like "what are you sewing"? or...you don't look the type to knit!....Hmmm....what? are knitters still only grandmothers! come on people! :)

Anonymous said...

I too knit everywhere -- waiting for our order to come in a restaurant, in the car (riding), in extreme traffic jams (driving), waiting for the school play to begin.

I even knit while on jury duty, although I was careful to stop whenever there was testimony or the judge was addressing us. Not that I couldn't probably have paid (nearly) full attention, but I didn't want to give anyone cause to yell at me.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... I do knit in public. I knit while getting my car serviced, at work (Lunch of course), while waiting at the doc's office. Sometimes I'll just sit at a coffee shop and knit. I don't have kids yet so I can knit in front of the TV as much as I want. Oh, and I'm going to bring my knitting when I'm serving as a doula. There is down time for everyone except the mom during a birth.

Anonymous said...

This is so my life. Just substitute soccer for football. I get most of my knitting done while at my kids events. It used to be the playground when they were at that 'go play' age and I didn't have to chase them around. I even decided I would write a knitting book called Playground Knits with all projects that could be knit while sitting at the playground!

Olga said...

I knit in a dark closet .Might explain why I don't have many FO's. But I think I may be going to Sharons church, sounds like a happening place for knitters.

Bea said...

Before Robby, I used to knit in public ALL the time, my husband used to call me spider woman because I would be wearing some knitted or crocheted object and be knitting something and yarn would be everywhere. I've knit in bars, coffee shops, restaurants, doctors offices, etc.. I haven't knit at church, I used to knit at work during meetings. Now the only place I can knit outside of the house is the car when my hubby is driving :P

Thanks for the compliment on the Swallowtail! It was wonderful!

Patty said...

Yes, I knit in public. My favourite? When I'm in a line, waiting. I feel so proud of my multi-tasking abilities and the fact that I'm not wasting a minute. It also keeps me patient because, after all, I am knitting in a line up/queue and that can require patience sometimes!

Mel said...

My knitting goes everywhere I do. I knit on my breaks at work, and long red lights during rush hour, at the park while my son plays. I would knit everywhere it wasn't taking away from something else, although I guess that isn't totally true of knitting at the park. My son is still young enough to need a lot of supervision. But if he's napping in his carseat, I'm knitting.