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Nubiwan
Warming Up
80 Posts |
 Posted - 04/07/2008 : 3:24:20 PM
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I want to - I really do. Somehow though, my midwestern upbringing has resurged as a hesitancy to be SEEN knitting.
There is a once-a-week lunchtime knitting group at work (IT Group), I have sat in with them but always keep my back to the door[:00] As a newbie, this is a good thing for me 'cause I see that even experienced knitters don't always produce the best looking stitches.
Anyway, I have a lot of travel coming up over the next half-year or so - it would be nice to take a project along. I could have done it last week but I wussed-out.
Is it just me?
"I am just going outside and may be some time." |
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MindyO
Permanent Resident
USA
2493 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2008 : 7:21:05 PM
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I still feel really weird knitting in non related situations, like at work, family gatherings. There have been tons of public knitting posts here if you have the time to search for them. Even though pretty much everyone I know (work related) knows I knit, but I still feel weird breaking it out at my desk during breaks. I'm sure the "WTF?" looks are just trying to figure out what I'm doing, but it still makes me feel self concious.
I have this thing with being stared at, and people, and public, and fear of attention, but at the same time I like the attention that knitting sometimes gets. Weird huh? But, I do it anyway, I have two small projects in my bag right now!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeeks76/
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GGKnits
Chatty Knitter
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2008 : 9:03:22 PM
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| I've been knitting for just over a year now and since there just aren't enough hours in the day, my knitting has been coming to more places with me --- DARE graduation at my daughters school last year, had to get to the band concert a half hour early to get a good seat, last year Mother's Day at my parents; the "mom's" sat outside in the warm weather and solved world problems. All of these were knitting in public times. I've heard of others taking their knitting to the movies but that's my favorite time for buttered popcorn :) |
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yarnlover
Permanent Resident
1730 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2008 : 06:38:27 AM
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Since you posted this in the Boys Who Knit section, can we assume you are a "Boy Who Knits?"
I have a male friend who I met when he joined the knitting group I started at the local library. He really wanted to learn how to knit socks, so we would meet at the coffee shop in the local Barnes & Noble, and have our lessons. He'd pull out his knitting, we'd get coffee, and start to work on the socks. It took about 4 such meetings to go through the entire pair of socks, and he had absolutely no inhibitions about pulling out the knitting and working on it in the coffee shop.
I never noticed anyone staring at either of us, and he was approached only once. I'd gone to the ladies room, and came back and found him in conversation with another man. Turns out this man and his wife owned a yarn shop elsewhere in the state, and they were talking yarn.
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SFMichael
Gabber Extraordinaire
437 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2008 : 10:23:43 AM
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I have always knit in public, from class when I first learned in college (in the later 80's) to my brief stint in Lubbock, TX to my current life here in the City. I have never had problems other than two untoward comments. One elderly man once told me that he thought knitting was a woman's activity -- I just put it down to a generational difference, smiled and nodded and ignored him.
Another time an a** on the bus glared at me a called me a f-ggot. I smiled, said, "of course I am" (which angered him even more) and went on knitting. He was a regular on my bus and I was not the first person he'd picked out to give a hard time so I doubt that the fact I was knitting was really what he was attacking. He was just a bitter lonely worthless piece of wasted genetic material and the only way he could find any self worth was to paint everyone around him as worse than he felt himself to be.
99.9% of the attention that I have ever received has been positive if not downright supportive and encouraging.
Don't worry about what other people think. The fact is that very few people in public are going to be thinking about you at all.
Michael
http://pages.prodigy.net/maecooper/ |
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Nubiwan
Warming Up
80 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2008 : 12:17:56 PM
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Asking dumb questions is a good thing. Seeing the responses, I re-read my post and my own feelings are now clearer.
Yes, I am a guy. (BTW, I am a black man of boomer-age who is offended by the name of this sub-forum)
I generally go my own way though I apparently wish I were the Invisible Man. I have this idea that people will pay more attention to my knitting because I'm a man and believe me, my technique is not a thing of beauty.
I do have this feeling that a guy will have more difficulty getting his set of interchangeable circular needles through an airport security check. I've tried bamboo - didn't like 'em.
And - yeah, undoubtedly I worry about strangers assuming that I'm not straight. I thought doing the AIDs and Breast Cancer walks last year would have cured me of that - but, I guess not. If I saw a lot of people knitting everywhere I probably wouldn't feel I need ... permission(?).
Here's the deal I have made with myself - NEXT trip as long as I am traveling alone, I will bring a little project with me. Right now, I really cannot see myself in a business situation and breaking out the yarn and needles. Funny thing, I know at least one woman who feels the same way.
Thanks folks. |
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 11:33:11 AM
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In business, there is often the question of looking unprofessional, whether you are a man or a woman. Other than that, I say go for it. Who cares what others think?
And I agree, that "Guys Who Knit" would be a better forum title to avoid offense.
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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OB1Gnomie
Chatty Knitter
145 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 12:00:27 PM
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I have knit or crocheted in public since my teen years, and I find the older I get the fewer unpleasant looks I get, still mostly from guys. I also have fewer pretty young women strike up conversations with me. Sigh.
...there was nothing wrong with her a good dose of distance wouldn't cure. - A. Christie |
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Janbie
Chatty Knitter
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 5:30:31 PM
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I pretty much "do it" anywhere I can. Two exceptions are church and in restaurants. Although the latter I sometimes want to try, especially when I heard about Knitpick's Kelley Petkun talking about going out to dinner and knitting. My own husband thinks a bit rude, but he's probably surprised that I haven't done it by now.
The KnitWit Copywriter
http://www.knitwitcopywriter.com
http://janbie.blogspot.com
http://knitwitcopywriter.blogspot.com
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"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and take a look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller
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SR5Rfan
Permanent Resident
USA
1232 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 8:27:26 PM
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My sister told me about a male knitter on this forum who will KIP. When questioned, he just tells people that it is a "condition of his parole" and they don't give him a hard time. [:00] On the serious side, I can understand you being nervous about knitting in public, but I think that after you've tried it a couple times you'll get comfortable with it. Maybe sit in with a group at your LYS? Or on a business trip where you don't know anyone ... that way, you may not be as self-conscious. Of course, this is coming from a woman who feels weird knitting in public at times. Didn't mean to gab on so long. I'd say "go for it!"
Beth
http://sr5rfan.blogspot.com/ Not much knitting on it, but it's a start ...
"I was taught to respect my elders, but it is getting harder and harder to find one"
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Nubiwan
Warming Up
80 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 10:46:20 AM
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| Update: One trip so far - almost no issues. Ran into a TSA guy who apparently hadn't seen circular needles before but, he did quickly figure what it was when they opened my bag. Knitting is cool while you're in the terminal - on a full plane it gets kinda tricky. A couple folks asked - "Oh you are a knitter?" - I replied "Yeah, I am pretty new at it" - while thinking "Here's your Sign!". |
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gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7254 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 2:01:15 PM
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Congrats on KIP. For me, it got easier to KIP the more I KIP. Airports are a great place to get some knitting done, what else is there to do.
Wanda
My Blog
Ravelry - gwtreece
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Queen Knitsalot
Permanent Resident
USA
1331 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2008 : 05:04:42 AM
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I have gotten to that point in life's journey when a lot of my thinking runs along the lives of this. One only goes around once in life. Why waste time letting others have power over you? Don't give it to them. As long as what you do is not causing any one or anything harm, be it mental, physical, environmental, whatever; then do what you wish to.
Perhaps this is an oversimplification of life, but since I took this stance I have become much happier.
Suzanne
I'm not crazy.....I'm colourful. Sounds better on a resume. |
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gryffin2007
Warming Up
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2008 : 10:57:16 AM
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| I will occasionally KIP, but I am mindful where I am at the time. For example, I don't think twice about knitting in the park, or at festivals, etc. But I certainly think twice (and don't KIP) when I'm at a hockey game or Nascar race. |
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4364 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2008 : 11:45:39 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by NubiwanYes, I am a guy. (BTW, I am a black man of boomer-age who is offended by the name of this sub-forum)
Hi there! I just wanted to jump in here and thank you for expressing your honest thoughts about the name for this section. I meant absolutely no offense or denigration when I chose that title - quite honestly it was solely an attempt to bring a little lighthearted levity to the section name.
Because of database issues I cannot rename the section now (until I find a SQL DBA who has sympathy for knitters - know any?) but please know I heard what you said and I apologize for any offense that name may have caused.
And finally, welcome to the forums! I am glad you found us.
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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Nubiwan
Warming Up
80 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2008 : 11:25:57 AM
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One more update - went on a short cruise (my first!) to the Caribbean last week which meant LOTS of time in airports for a guy from Seattle. Knitting was one of the sanity savers on the way back - but, I really missed my Addi turbos. Wooden needles, especially the ones from Knitpicks are nice but they just aren't as slick as good metal needles. However, I carried my knitting through 4 security checkpoints last week - no problems at all.
Plus - I am getting better. I can almost watch a movie and knit stockinette at the same time. |
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5159 Posts |
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donnawatk
Seriously Hooked
673 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2008 : 2:36:32 PM
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| Anytime I leave my house I have my knitting needles. I was at church waiting on my daughter when I notice a man watching me. It took about a half a hour when he can over and ask me if I knew how to do cables, He wanted to make his Mom a scarf. I showed how how and we have been knitting every Saturday at church. I don't thinks he cares who see him knit. Donna |
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creeko
New Pal
42 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 12:29:04 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Nubiwan
A couple folks asked - "Oh you are a knitter?" - I replied "Yeah, I am pretty new at it" - while thinking "Here's your Sign!".
I had to reply to this because I get this question all the time! I think we should come up with some clever answers when people ask if we knit WHILE we are obviously knitting!
I often do have problems knitting in public. I am self taught and have a tendency to stick my tongue out while I concentrate so that itself was a bit embarassing but I still did it. Now I am more hooked on knitting than ever but somehow less courageous. I have been knitting for about two years and am now 24 years old and get some interesting looks. "How old are you?...and you knit?" "My great aunt used to do that" etc etc. I'm trying to get over it and knit with pride because I really do just love it so much! |
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jeanhal
Warming Up
51 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 06:38:39 AM
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| I always talk about how men in my humble opinion are better knitters-knitting is a numbers game after all, and so many of us non-men are intimidated by math. After that I talk about how in WW1 and 2 (maybe before & after, but I KNOW those wars) knitting was used as a therapy-there are many articles about this, for the wounded men. And last I mention the taxi driver who took my aunt to work each evening and knit - he made beautiful, complicated sweaters one years for each of her b-i-l's- one being my father. Knit in Public- why not? Beats the cell phone yakkers. |
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knits_for_preemies
Permanent Resident
USA
1957 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2008 : 01:36:38 AM
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I fully agree with Suzanne...you only go around once in life, so most definitely, go for it.
I knit a lot in doctor's and hospital waiting rooms, but also when I'm having to wait on someone elsewhere. I do a lot of charity knitting and quite often someone inquires as to what I'm doing...the conversation quickly goes to the charity info.
I appreciate that one should be conscious of where to knit (and where not to knit). You don't want to be perceived as being rude. If I am in a situation where I should be giving someone my undivided attention, then I leave the knitting at home or set it aside for that portion of time. I'm retired now, but definitely you should use careful judgment in work-related situations.
Enjoy the knitting.
 Barbara
Ravelry Name: KnitsForPreemies
www.southernfriedknittin.blogspot.com |
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Do YOU do it in Public?
