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| Toddler Leafy Hat |
I am a knitter. I am not a particularly good knitter nor am I an accomplished knitter. I am a pick-up-easy-projects-when-I-can knitter. You know, little easy baby hats in the round, that kind of thing.
Most of the knitting I do, I do outside my home. When I am home, my responsibilities demand my hands so I don't often pick up my knitting.
So most of my knitting happens in groups of women. Places where women are talking. I sit, and chat or listen, and I knit.
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| Little Newborn Beanie |
I just learned something that totally surprised me. I can't believe I am learning this in my forties.
I learned that knitting in public is considered rude by many, if not most, people. I don't quite know how to handle this information.
Part of what is so upsetting to me is realizing that I have unknowingly been rude for years. I can't believe I have actually been going around offending people and not knowing it. And by knitting!
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| Itty Bitty Teddy Bear Dress |
So I googled it and learned some of the reasons why people feel that it is socially unacceptable to knit in public. Some believe that the knitter is more interested in her project than in what the other person has to say. That it is rude not to make eye contact when someone is speaking to you. That by knitting you are distracting people around you. That knitting in public is all about the knitter and her yarn and therefore selfish.
And if I try to put myself in someone else's shoes I actually think I can see how people might think all that.
So why did I not grasp this until now? I just have no idea. Other than the fact that knitting does not distract me from fully engaging. And it does not distract me from listening when other people are knitting. I have had countless deeply meaningful conversations with people who are knitting.
I feel so unsettled by this. It is very disturbing to think back over the many many times I have knit in public and wonder who I have offended.
And I wonder now when I will knit.
Please give me your thoughts... do you knit in public?... if you're not a knitter do you find it distracting for someone to be knitting?... should I just knit at home?
