Knitting in Public - It's What I Do

[@marsy1480]

Crocheted up the Eiffel Tower a few years back and my knitting goes everywhere with me and I will knit whilst waiting for appointments or whilst I was studying at university (in my 40’s)

[@krazedvintagemodel]

I look forward to the time when knitting or crocheting in public is an acceptable norm. I watched this because of your interaction with the cat in the beginning. Enjoyable. Peace 🧶

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

My cats are the real stars in my videos! 🙂

[@doro5419]

I love your pets and also how you interact with them. ❤ Adorable!

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@doro5419 Thank you so much!

[@PossumMedic]

*Ember* 🥰 "They don't mind me knitting" reminds me of a Dr Suss quote "Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter" I just put together an "on the go bag" 🤘

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@PossumMedic That's awesome, I hope the bag brings you some knitting joy!

[@recreationalknittingpodcast]

I knit without looking on stockinette in the round. Purling is a bit more difficult so a sneaky peek once in a while occurs. I knit while waiting for old faithful, at a baseball game and post surgery in the hospital. Lots of places. ❤

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@recreationalknittingpodcast It's freeing to be able to knit by feel!

[@ReginaSalm-of2ln]

Kann mich noch gut an die 80er und 90er Jahre erinnern. Zu der Zeit haben "die Grünen " sogar im Bundestag gestrickt. Ich häkle, stricke, sticke seit der Grundschule. Allerdings immer mit langen Pausen. Noch nie habe ich so gerne gestrickt ( überwiegend Socken und Norwegerpullover) wie heute. So wundervolle Menschen wie Du geben mir sooo viel Inspiration für neue Projekte! Und das ist gaaanz schlimm, weil ich nicht genug Zeit habe 😂😅. Frage: ist die Jacke im Video auch selbst gestrickt? Liebe Grüße von Regina

[@angelika3974]

Mir geht es auch so. Die Jacke ist sehr schön. Wollte auch fragen da las ich aber deine Frage. Eine gute Zeit Gruß Angelika

[@ReginaSalm-of2ln]

@angelika3974 freut mich.

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@ReginaSalm-of2ln Socken und Norwegerpullover - mir geht's ähnlich! Die Strickjacke habe ich im Secondhandladen erworben. Sie ist nicht handgestrickt, ist aber trotzdem schön 😀

[@ReginaSalm-of2ln]

@@VirginiaLLewisAuthor ja, wunderschön. Der Musterwechsel gefällt mir sehr. Vielleicht sollte ich versuchen nachzustricken.

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@ReginaSalm-of2ln Gute Idee!

[@KraftyKc]

I always have my knitting or crochet in my purse. I bring almost everything I'm making on. I don't care if anyone sees me. I was waiting to see a concert once and pulled it out. I even thought if I had my small and short knitting needles to take into court one time. I need something in my hands out of anxiety and force. If it's an easy project why not. Times I've had people ask what I'm doing or making and anyone that approaches me about it has always been positive. I go almost everyday day to a Cafe and work on my knitting. Let's normalize knitting anywhere and for any age. 😊

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

Yes indeed, normalize knitting, and also for any gender. My son was the one who got me started! 🙂

[@bauhausprincess]

I have my small-scale knitting with me at all times, I actually get nervous if I don't. I didn't restart knitting until I had finished my Masters, so knitting in University wasn't a thing for me, and it was frowned upon anyway (that was in the 90s and early 2000s). When I restarted knitting, I realised that most non-knitters don't get the principle of actually creating calmness via knitting or the fact that I'm actually able to focus WAY better if I knit while I listen. One person that I educated on that is my (Prof) father, who was always wondering about women knitting in his lectures. He didn't like that at all - until I explained and he realised that I ALWAYS knit when I listen to him (he's... a talker. I even got my mom to restart knitting when she realised it calmed her when she had to listening to on of his excursi 😂). It's different if I have to take a lot of notes - which is why at the time I rarely knit during lectures or in Uni during my PhD. Same when watching something with subtitles. I also realised there are people who actually get nervous if I knit while watching something where they think I should be 100% focused on the TV and "I could miss something". I tend to knit easy stuff in those cases, keeping the colourwork or lace etc stuff for time I'm alone. I pretty much knit everywhere if I have more than 5 minutes to wait - bus, train, metro, sitting in the passenger seat (I'd go crazy otherwise), doctors office, coffee shop... you name it. Since I read an article of knitting tweaking the same areas in the brain as yoga and meditation and that there is even evidence of it reducing early dementia, I have enough reasons to silence most people, even if they think it's rude. I don't knit in concerts (I might while waiting before) or Cinema though. It's rare that I go anyway, it's too dark in case something would happen to my stitches, and I actually love the complete immersion in that situation. That was a whole essay, sorry.😆 Btw - I love the yarns that give the race of the sheep in their content! It''s rare to find these here in Germany.

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@bauhausprincess I love all these details! It's just so comforting to know there are so many good reasons to do what we do as knitters. Thank you for sharing about that yoga connection. I feel blessed that no one questions my knitting at the school for the blind. Blind children are often prescribed fidget devices to keep them focused, so those teachers probably get exactly why I feel the need to knit!

[@callmeaftercoffee]

I take my knitting to church when we have early mornings. Most of the time in the car if it's any sort of drive. Also at our homeschool group meet ups. I made a cabled tank top last spring/into the summer (albeit, it needs some altering because I was making up the pattern as I went and it needs some tweaking- now I want to try another one lol)

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@callmeaftercoffee I love knowing I'm not alone! Thank you!

[@Sheryl0705]

Hello, Virginia, I notice that you knit your socks on dps. Your sweaters on fixed circulars?! Ember’s beautiful! Splitting yarn is devilish to work with.☺️

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@Sheryl0705 That's right, although I knit my sweater sleeves on dpn's. Sometimes I use the circulars like dpn's as well. Whatever works!

[@jayeclements6452]

My knitting friends call me the Knitty Professor because they always come to me with their questions and niggles! I knit in public all the time. I have a grab-n-go bag with a laminated A5 pattern (although I don't need the pattern, I know it by heart) together with my grab project of a dog coat that I knit for a dog rescue charity. Passes the time waiting at appointments or gives me something to do with my hands at the cinema or concerts. I don't knit at work - I wish I had the time! - and I think it would be commented on but, after a stressful day, I come straight in, put the coffee maker on and knock off a couple of rows and my tranquility is restored. For trips I have my usual project bag although I try to be at the start of a larger project such as a sweater rather than towards the end simply because it's less to carry. The pattern (not the book - scan and print off the pattern if it's in a book) is in a see-through A4 folder and I use a page marker to mark the row. Circular needles in the length/s required in a small case. I don't need much else other than my usual pouch containing a crochet hook, stitch markers, couple of DP short needles, scissors, small nail clippers and nail file. In my handbag will be my preferred hand cream. Knitting in an airport or on a flight, I can absolutely 100% guarantee that SOMEONE will ask me what I am doing. If my husband is with me and we are BOTH knitting, people simply cannot resist asking us about it. Most people want a brief conversation that usually starts "Are you knitting? My mother/grandmother used to knit....." although occasionally someone will say "It's nice to see someone crocheting...." "No, we're knitting." "Are you sure? It looks like crochet...." Once in a while someone in extra-curious, especially if they are bored on a flight, and I try to be polite but actually it's irritating. I got stuck with a lady for 3 HOURS a while ago on a flight to Singapore. Be prepared for the chatty ones if you're knitting in a situation where you can't get away such as a plane or train.

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@jayeclements6452 I love these anecdotes and stories - so relatable! Thank you, fellow Knitty Professor, for sharing!

[@doro5419]

I haven't knitted in university or at work, yet. But I knit(/spin/needlebind) in public transportation or cafés all the time. And I also got green light to do medieval crafts (mostly spinning) in our local open air museum.

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@doro5419 The open air museum sounds awesome!

[@doro5419]

@VirginiaLLewisAuthor if we ever meet in northern Germany, I'll give you a tour. 😃

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@doro5419 I would love that - I'll keep you posted. I love northern Germany. Lüneburg is one of my favorite towns. And Celle is beautiful!

[@doro5419]

@VirginiaLLewisAuthor awesome!

[@bgtsy]

🐈‍⬛♥️

[@bgtsy]

I crochet in church, at friends houses, etc. thx for sharing. Especially showing bebeeee. Maybe the husky and kitty can take turns being in the main part of the house. If you wait for a kid to move out it’s my observation from friends…they aren’t going anywhere. Haha

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@bgtsy Church - that's another great place. I have kitty on my lap now - she's a happy camper 😀

[@KYERRN]

I work from home and knit during meetings all the time... no one can see me! ;)

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@KYERRN I love that!!

[@kathrinschweiger9735]

Hallo Virginia, ich stricke in Sommer in meinem Garten! Tag und Nacht! LG,Kathrin

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@kathrinschweiger9735 Das hört sich echt schön an! 😀

[@kathrinschweiger9735]

@VirginiaLLewisAuthor jaaa! Mein Mann sagt, ich stricke in geheimen über Nacht!

[@christinaheesakacowden-wut3809]

Lol, if I had 500 gramm to knit a sock with, it would be probably for a pet elefant. Hihi. I think you meant 50 Gramm. 🙂Knitting in public was always totally acepted back in the 80s and 90s here in Germany. I remember when I was a student, everybody was knitting everywhere: On the bus, in class, at the train station, at the auditorium, at the theatre (only easy knits, one colour projects) even some politicians (mainly the Green Party) knitted while debating. 🙂Of course those where the times, when Germany got into the Green movement and recycling and bio and ecofriendly were in everybodie`s thoughts. We where way ahead of the rest of the world then. Now it seems, that the new generation is different once more. Instead of knitting needles they carry I-Phones and earplugs. If I knit in public now, people look strangely at me. The face of the population changed as well. With all the refuges living here now, the picture of the public street changed as well. But I still keep on knitting, everywhere I go. And who knows, maybe I inspire somebody to give it a try, keep the craft alive. 🙂 P.S. I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 10 years ago: Knitting helps my fingers and keeps them moving and bending. It really is a good exercise for the joints. 🙂

[@ReginaSalm-of2ln]

Hallo Christina, danke für deinen Beitrag. Schön zu wissen, daß ich nicht die einzige bin, die dieses wunderschönes Handwerk ausübt. Versuche es zumindest. Meist werde ich belächelt. Meine Antwort darauf.....ja schaut nur, DAS kann ich auch!!!😂 liebe Grüße

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@christinaheesakacowden-wut3809 I love reading about all this history - thanks so much for sharing it! It's awesome that knitting helps with your arthritis - one more reason why it's such a great craft! 😀

[@christinaheesakacowden-wut3809]

@ReginaSalm-of2ln 🥰💖

[@christinaheesakacowden-wut3809]

@@VirginiaLLewisAuthor 🥰💖

[@josephchreim1185]

I live in Germany and also knit and crochet in public, at friends houses, restaurants sometimes, on the tram 😃. I want to “normalise” it again with my generation (born 1990) and younger people. Although I think the younger people are getting into crochet and knitting again so I’m predicting we’ll see more people knitting in public again soon 🤩

[@angelika3974]

Guten Morgen schaue dir gerne beim Frühstücken zu. Deine Katze sowie deine Hunde sind glücklich bei dir. Was mich wundert wie du strickst und zwar wickelst du den Faden um die Nadel. Lustig das Kätzchen läuft gerade vor die Kamera. Einfach zum knuddeln. Dauert da das Stricken nicht länger, wenn man so strickt? Wird da das Maschenbild gleichmäßiger? Einen schönen Tag wünscht dir Angelika

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@@angelika3974 Ich stricke auf englische Weise. Ich könnte mir gut vorstellen, dass es so langsamer geht. Ich habe die sogenannte kontinentale Methode versucht, das war aber für mich noch langsamer! 😆

[@angelika3974]

​@@VirginiaLLewisAuthorich danke dir für deine Antwort. Bin gerne hier bei dir. Einen schönen Tag

[@VirginiaLLewisAuthor]

@angelika3974 Danke vielmals! 😸