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Why It’s Important To Celebrate World Wide Knit In Public Day

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Why It’s Important To Celebrate World Wide Knit In Public Day

- Ilana
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:: Please note this post was written in 2014. In 2015, World Wide Knit in Public Day takes place Saturday, June 13. ::

wwkpWorld Wide Knit In Public Day takes place June 14-June 22 this year. Now, you might think, “Why do I need a holiday to knit (or crochet) in public?” The reason is that in many peoples’ brains, knitting  and crocheting still reside in a section labeled “old fashioned.” Believe it or not, 10-15 years ago, people were actually ridiculed for pulling out their yarn, needles and hooks in public and they hesitated to do it.

We’ve come a long way. But we’re not there yet.  I was knitting at an airport a couple of weeks ago and a man watching intently spoke up after a while and said, “I haven’t seen anyone do that since my grandmother.”  The man was in his 60s! I wanted to ask him where he’s been but obviously, he hasn’t been anywhere where he has seen people who don’t look old fashioned knitting or crocheting in public.

That’s where you come in.  Make your presence known. Promote your hobby on the train, the subway, the airport, the doctor’s office, the beach, the park,  the hockey game, the local coffee shop or bar. You know how great it is that you have this craft.  It helps you relax. It offers you the opportunity to give meaningful gifts. It allows you to be creative and productive in a tangible way.  Go out. Knit in public.  People will talk to you and you’ll have an opportunity to tell them what they’re missing.

Visit World Wide Knit (&Crochet) In Public Day’s Facebook page to find or lead a group and use the hashtag #wwkipday to find information and share images and info about knitting in public.

Then, let us know how it goes.  We’d love to hear your stories!

 

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83 Comments

  • “obviously, he hasn’t been anywhere where he has seen people who don’t look old fashioned knitting or crocheting in public.”

    Why would you assume that his grandmother looked, in your words, “old fashioned”? Maybe his grandmother was the hippest person in the world. Isn’t that older-person based stereotyping and how is that different from the stereotyping of people who knit or crochet? I’m a grandmother and I can assure you that I neither look nor am I “old fashioned”. For those of us who aren’t young, should we refrain from needlecrafts in public so we don’t feed the stereotype you’re trying to break?

    It’s important when you’re making a point about acceptance of one group of people not to include comments that are themselves exclusionary of others.

    • Agree one this point…absolutely right! Young grandma here too & I feel let down by the implications of the article. So for me, today will be business as usual.

      • I think what that statement means is that knitting and crocheting itself looks old fashioned, rather than the person doing it.

        If I am correct, it might have caused less confusion to have written, “he hasn’t been anywhere where he has seen people who don’t look old fashioned WHILE knitting or crocheting in public,” but that’s just my opinion.

    • That was 60 years ago.. grandmas were quite different back then on the whole.

      • All groups are composed of individuals.

      • Good point scramblinRose. I am in my 60’s and I can attest that both my grandmothers were old looking and old-fashioned looking as far as dress goes. They were all like that back in those days. Nowadays, grammies run around in skinny jeans and tank tops with painted nails and toenails. The times have changed.

    • I agree with you that the author should not have assumed the man’s grandmother looked “old-fashioned” because there is no evidence one way or another.

      But I also find it interesting that so many people assume “old-fashioned” is always and everywhere an insult. If the man’s grandmother was old-fashioned in appearance, so what? “Old-fashioned” is only an insult to people who think the winds of fashion are always blowing in the right direction.

      • Good point, Suzanne!

      • Agree, even tho at first I kinda had mixed feelings 😉

  • I crochet in public all the time and think nothing of it. People around me though, are so judgmental about it. One time at the mall I was crocheting and someone from security told me that I couldn’t crochet there. When I asked him why, he gave me a ‘tude about going to arrest me if I didn’t put the yarn, hook, and scissors away. So, I shut up and never drew them out in that mall again. When I ride the buses, I crochet and no one says anything.

    • Hay I would ask to see the rules on this because its just not true. I would just have a big fit on this one I am sorry but you go back and just do it any where you want to and make a printing of this have it in your purse and tell him that he is wrong and that you now have the rights to do it any where you want to. and there’s nothing he can do about it. Honey STICK to the rules. and anyone else out there. you tell them people if they have a ditty with it. tell them it is good for your mine. and it beats talking on the phone and all texting and any thing else you can thro in there. Keep it up. I am behine you .
      And may the good Lord Bless you allways! Just Keep it up!!! Nancy

      • YES!!! go to the Administration office and tell them when “dum ass” said.
        HE was wrong to insist you put them away.

      • Amen to that!

    • Really? last time I’d go to that Mall! I have been knitting in public for years! Fellow I run into once in a while at the doctor’s office is also a knitter and we have a great time comparing projects!

    • I would have told him to go ahead and arrest me and when the squad got done laughing at him, I might knit him a scarf. But it would be ugly and wool and scratchy.

    • I’d like to point out that mall security types don’t have the power to arrest you – the most they can do is detain you until police show up. Maybe he has ‘mall’ confused with ‘airplane’ – they are so alike, after all, if you have the IQ of a tapestry needle, that is.

  • I will knit or crochet while waiting in doctor’s offices or for tests. I usually will be told – ” My grandmother use to crochet. ” I’ve never been told “My mother, or aunt or sister use to crochet.” I’m not sure how to take that remark, but they aren’t being disrespectful. I am waiting for the day when someone reading a book in public is told, ” My grandmother use to read books.”

    • So true! (about the books) ☺

      • I still read books in public. It’s just that these days the books are on my kindle.

    • Lol about the books!

    • My husband used to get embarrassed when I’d pull out the crochet hook or knitting needles in public and he’d make “grandma” jokes because of his embarrassment, but not anymore! He’s learnt that I don’t care about what others think of my chosen craft. And he’s now seen my modern-looking, fashionable projects and encourages me or helps pick out my next project. I’m 27 and love seeing people’s reactions when they find out the clothes myself and my kids are wearing (that they just complimented us on) were made by yours truly!!

  • I knit and crochet where ever I go.A little girl asked me what I was knitting the other day at the dr’s office it is a pinafore for a friends granddaughter due in July!My dr loves to see what projects I am working on every time I see her.

  • I look for opportunities to bring my knitting or crochet with me whenever I know I’ll have some time to wait or just time to let people see what I love. I especially like to take it with me when waiting for my car to be serviced and I ALWAYS get warm smiles from women especially but also from men. I’m a 67 year old Grandma with 5 grandkids but I’m often making something colorful and pretty for myself. I’m wearing my jeans, cool shirts, colorful, comfortable shoes and proud to show everyone that “this is what 67 looks like!” My smile and my attitude has everything to do with the way others react to me, I’ve learned, and it’s always a great conversation starter. I’m also the crochet instructor at my local Michael’s store so it helps generate interest and future customers! For me, every day is knit/crochet in public day!

    • I have been knitting for a long time…When I was about 35-40 (and that was a long time ago) my friend asked me to go to a bar with her and I said no I was busy! She replied”what…knitting ….like an old lady!” I thought how stupid she was at the time and never bothered with her again….I have knit in public ever since I could knit. I don’t mind waiting at the doc’s office or any other place for that matter…as long as I have my needle work. It is my meditation and I guess I could go on and on ….one more thing i will mention here is that when my son invites me to go along for the ride he always says that maybe you will want to bring along some knitting in case it gets boring…..

    • I love your attitude!

  • I have a bag of knitting in my car where ever I go. My husband had surgery and I brought my knitting, I saw some people looking at me and intrigued at what I was doing but they did not say anything.

    • Me too! I had to go in to town for treatments for breast cancer a couple of years ago and each trip I would take a different color of wool and I knitted myself a ‘coat of many colors’ .. it was a fun project and is a constant reminder of how lucky I am.

      • I knit all the time in public, ecspecialy at doctors appointments and the laundry matt ,its really good therapy for me ,some people walk to get their adrenalin going,while some of us have other methods that work for us, the only drawback I ever had was that it really draws a lot of attention to me when I kntt in public, and they always want to know what im making,and im a grandmother in my fifties,

  • When I was 6 years old (Was that really 58 years ago?) one of my Xmas gifts was a kit to “Crochet Your Own Potholders”. Well, I made potholders until the cows came home. Round ones, square ones and everything in between. My Aunt Helen helped me expand my stitch library and a few other techniques. I’ve advanced quite a bit since then but I still wonder – What would a 6 year old do with her own potholders and why would she want them?

    Whenever I have a Dr.’s appointment I take along my crochet bag with my “Dr.’s office baby blanket”. When it’s finished, if I don’t have a recipient for it, I donate it to the Linus Project.

    Once while I was in a Dr.’s exam room waiting for the Dr. I pulled out my crocheting and started working on the blanket. When the Dr. came in he asked me about “that thing” I was doing and was it relaxing. Seems he does counted cross stitch to relax and ease his stress. I showed him a few basic stitches and within 5 minutes he was crocheting. He liked it and said he would get himself a crocheting book and some yarn. A scarf for his daughter would be his first project.

    While waiting and crocheting in another Dr.’s office a lady came over to me, asked what I was doing and commented on the beautiful blanket. By the time I was called in to see the Dr. that lady had made plans to get herself some yarn and a basic crocheting book.

    It seems that once someone has that yarn and hook in their hands and they see themselves making stitches they are hooked. Pun intended.

    A few years ago I volunteered to teach crocheting to some of the girls in my town’s summer day camp. Fifteen (!!!) 4th, 5th and 6th graders signed up for the class. We had to get another lady to help. Our first project was shoelaces (chain stitches). Our second project was hair scrunchies and introduced single crochet along with the chain stitches and they fell in love with crocheting.

    Although I love crocheting and the feeling of satisfaction when a project is finished, nothing is more satisfying than teaching someone else to create something with their own hands.

  • I remember getting all kinds of stick for knitting during the lunch hour in high school back in the 80s. The same girls who used to make fun of me I regularly see on Facebook posting photos of their latest trendy knitting project. I always say something nice, and I’ve helped a few out when they’ve made the step from scarves to something more complicated, but there’s always a little part of me that quietly laughs at them. Guess I was just 20 years ahead of my time 😉

    • I love crochet and don’t care what other people think about it. I will crochet anywhere I have some spare time. I have met people who told me that they used to do it a long time ago but stopped because they got bored doing the same thing over and over. Others thought it was too hard to learn. Others wished that they had learned how to do it. Some had mothers, sisters, grandmothers, or aunts who did it but unfortunately passed away.

  • OMGOSH!!! I can’t think of a place where I haven’t taken my knitting!!! Knitting has kept my sanity under stressful situations. The hours I’ve spent knitting by the side of a family member in the hospital or waiting while they were in surgery are unbelievable…I’ve even talked of wishing I had my knitting bag in the golf cart during a slow round on the course, taken it to movies (be careful you don’t drop a needle!). I’ve had many people ask me what I’m doing. I’ll be knitting away and look up and find many people watching me intently….knitting is like my Master Card…I don’t leave home without it!!!!

    • You can’t drop a circular needle. But I’m sure I caused a few giggles the day I had to chase a ball of yarn down the aisle.

  • I crochet at all of my family’s appointments and people compliment me on my work. I never knew there was a knit or crochet in public day!

  • I also do crochet for baby’s at a nearby hospital, Hat’s, kosey’s, Blankets, and for the homeless I make hats, scarfs. and for the vets.I make lap blanket’s for wheelchairs people. also I try to learn as meny different kinds of stiches that I can this is where u-tube comes in handy and Lion Brand Yarn they have thinks that teaches you new thing to make every month. I just joined the e-mail club and I try to make something from this for someone every month and then as I do all this it gives me a great and wonderful feeling that I made someone’s day. that can not do what I do.I don’t work any more so I feel I can do something for me and others also. now that I can make my days realy count for something . that I did. to make the world a better place well it will all come togather as its supposed to. the way the God above said it would.

  • I knit purple hats for Cook Children’s Medical Center http://clickforbabies.org/ . I keep my bag in the car, so have it handy anytime I have to do some waiting (doctor’s office, etc). I get a lot of questions about what I am knitting and I take the opportunity to explain why I am knitting purple baby hats. When I am knitting, I don’t seem to mind waiting.

    • Agreed! I knit and crochet preemie hats for our local hospital, and I’m starting up a whole group of girls to do it with me. Whenever anyone asks what I’m making, I get the opportunity to tell briefly about the need for hats. It’s so cool how everyone, from men to little girls get so interested when they see you knitting and crocheting in public! 🙂

  • I crochet and knit anywhere and everywhere(except in Church)– so what’s the problem…most people in Texas anywhere especially in East Texas do each and all…and often ask whats you making and sometimes get orders from visiting with them or they want to learn also..thanks to good yarn and needles….right on….bd

    • I’ve been knitting outside my home for ages, whenever I’m waiting for a flight or appointment. People are interested and many times I’ve given instruction on how I hold the yarn, letting them practice on what I’ve been working on. When volunteering in the canteen at the blood center people have shared their projects with me. I’m gratified to see that youngsters are now learning to knit and crochet – it’s not a dying art.

  • If I am feeling antisocial in public, I read. If I feel like talking to people, I pull out one of my needlework projects, whether it is knitting or crocheting or cross stitching. Someone always comes up and wants to see what I am doing and talk about handwork. It’s nice. Especially in airports – total strangers come up and talk to me!

  • Have been knitting since high school. Can’t imagine not having it in my life. Wonderful stress reliever, and chance to volunteer without leaving home. Have made newborn hats,chemo caps, hats, scarves, mitts for homeless and needy,toys& stuffed critters for kids for the police& firemen. There are countless ways & places to donate,makes me smile& others also.

  • I crochet in the car, in my Sunday School class, in the office at work, at home, I crocheted on the plane to and from Panama…when I took a cruise, however, I had people stop by while I was crocheting on the deck, or in side and they would tell me that they USED to crochet/knit, or that they had not seen anyone do it for years! That amazed me! The cruise ship had one morning for all the knitters and crocheters to meet in one of the lounges! We had the best time – and come to find out, the activity director was a crocheter – he had learned it from his grandmother!

  • i took my project to the bar last nite, and no it wasn’t too dark to do what i was doing, but the lady running the keroke (sp) machine rushed over to ask me about it! I am going back next friday with lots of projects for her to pick from and will meet her later and teach her to do it!. Oh, I don’t drink either, but I can’t sit still without something to work on…some people think i am rude, but i just explain that i am kinda hyperactive and can’t sit still, and i actually can pay better attention when doin it! I have taught my handiwork to girl scouts andy anyone who asks trying to bring this activity back to life…and have gotten my knitting needles taken away on a airplane, but it was okay cause i had crochet hooks in my purse…ha!

  • I am part of a group of ladies who meets at our local Starbucks two or three nights a month to work on our knit/crochet projects or any other handwork they choose. We have garnered a lot of attention this way and have added new people to our group in the process. Some already have the skills others want to learn and all are welcome!

  • I must get infusion treatments for my metastatic cancer every three weeks for the rest of my life and I always take my craft tote with me. One of the nurses knits. Another one crochets. I do both, plus sew. We’re always talking needlework and they frequently make photocopies of my patterns.

  • There are the ignorant people that think it is “old fashioned” to knit and crochet but the wiser people are envious that they don’t possess the talent or skill create beautiful things from yarn. I never think twice about knitting in public. Even on short road trips, I try to make that I take a project with me to work on.

    When I was in my teens yearsss ago I used to babysit my cousins. Quit often I’d bring a crochet project along with me. My uncle always teased me about being like an old lady. We had a lot of new babies coming into the family during that time. For a while, I was crocheting an average of one baby blanket a week. My grandma was so proud of me.

    It is a good thing that I didn’t let my uncle get me down because there would have been a lot of treasured gifts missed by my family and friends. Even today my friends and family have a long list of I want, will you make?….

    One last bit of babble: About a year ago one of friend’s teen age sons asked me if I could make beardo hats for he and a friend. They were so excited when I gave them their hats. They wore them to school and as Jackson wrote in his thank you letter “only one teacher made him take his hat off.” I received thank cards from both of the boys. That was icing on the cake for doing something I really enjoy!

  • Every day is crochet in public day for me. I even take it hiking when my husband takes his camera as I know they’ll be a lot of waiting while he takes pictures

  • It’s interesting to hear all the public places people knit in and I think i’ve tried just about all of them, but I have a different one to report. The grocery store! Take that small, garter stitch/stockinette stitch project (circular needles are great) and knit while you’re in line! I don’t always have the opportunity to do it, but it’s kind of cool (says this very cool grandma-ex hippie) to use my time constructively!

    • I am 70 and I take my knitting with me everywhere and knit every chance I get. I never take offense to age remarks or any such comment. I only wish everyone in the world would do handwork to pass on instead of texting or whatever everyone seems to be doing these days. I love this quote”knitting is a gift that lasts a lifetime. It is a hobby that quickly
      becomes therapy, meditation and a healthy addition.” Let’s pass it on!!

    • I also like to have my knitting when I go to the supermarket; if I have to queue up, out comes the knitting! I use circular needles, which are easier to put away as soon as I have to move. Though actually I use circulars for everything; my 2-at-a-time Magic Loop socks draw many curious and interested onlookers on public transport 🙂 P.S. Magic loop is much better for socks than DPNs; if you’ve ever dropped a DPN on the bus you’ll know what I mean!

    • I also knit while riding in a car. I will take my knitting when there is enough time to finish a row. With certain knit patterns I prefer not to leave a row unfinished.I enjoy answering questions about my knitting. By the way, I am 58 and don’t look it!! So are people thinking ‘she is too young to be knitting’? I don’t care. I’ve not taken my knitting while flying because I thought metal needles were not allowed in carry on bags?

  • I don’t think the man in the airport was necessarily making a statement about knitting being old-fashioned. I’m 61, and I wonder where people have been knitting that they got negative comments. I’ve knitted or crocheted in public ever since I learned at about age 9, and have never had anyone make a negative comment. People are consistently fascinated, want to know what I’m making, and publicly wish they knew how to knit themselves!!! This is especially so when I’m in a place that requires waiting for long periods like doctor’s offices, airports (Denise Interchangeable Needles were airline approved when I bought mine a few years ago), or even on some interminable driving trips. If people think it’s old-fashioned, well at least I’m not bored, can carry on an intelligent conversation, and can look other people in the eye while I’m doing it (unlike video games)–plus I have a useful object I’ve created in the end. Knitting in public? Why not!!!

  • I knit in public all the time. I am constantly surprised at the stupid things people say to me. People have offered to buy yarn and pay me $20 if I would knit a sweater for them. Some people assume I am homeless or poor. Many people tell me that they could never knit anything. I tell them that if they knew how easy it is, they would not speak so negatively about themselves. I am surprised how many people tell me that they can crochet afghans but could never knit a sweater. KNITTING SWEATERS IS EASY.

  • I always have yarn in my purse and work on stuff ( I crochet) whenever I have a few moments to wait. The dolls I complete speak for themselves and people get curious about them. My six year old granddaughter wants to know what I’m yarning next! My mother taught me how to crochet as a child and I had the longest chain stitch ever….till I learned how to turn and go back the other way. Some people feel like it’s a lost art, but others appreciate that they have something created from bits of yarn just for them. Knitting is another story, one if can do but nowhere near as relaxing to me as crochet. That’s my therapy….my sanity….my stress reliever!

  • why does everyone take every little thing so personally….take the point of the article and knit or crochet in public and forget all the silly stuff.

  • I feel like it is a growing trend. A LOT of my friends, who are in post secondary school or have just graduated, have gotten into it and do it all the time.

    My mom taught my sisters and I when we were young, and I still do stuff off and on. My mom has always brought knitting with her to work to do when she does has to wait for clients who have perm solution setting or are under the drier or anywhere that she has to wait for someone (dr’s office, pickung up my siblings and I from school trips, while someone else is driving the car, etc).

    I used to do it in class when I was in college. My friends who sat behind me would stare and ask me to knit them mittens.

    I found that it helped me to stay focused on the lesson. I would write stuff down as I needed, but when I was only luste ing, having my hands occupied and my brain slightly focused on something, I wasn’t as likely to get distracted.

  • I’ve always crocheted in public and have never heard a negative comment. People usually seem to be fascinated by it. Many people have asked about what I’m making, or made note of how fast my project “grows”. One time I had a nurse ask if she could make a copy of the pattern I was using and another time a man wanted to hire me to make afghans for his six grown and married children. When my husband wanted to go to a casino, I would bring my crocheting. Even there it was always a conversation starter.

  • I used to knit and crochet during my lunch break in the break room where I worked. People would come up all the time and ask about my work and ooh and ahh over it. I’ve had several people ask me if I could make them something. I’m 24 years old and I’ve never felt like people have given me the impression that I’m doing something old-fashioned or uncool. In fact, I’ve managed to get my 10 year old niece into it, and am even teaching a couple of my teenager cousins to knit as well. They all love it. There’s nothing wrong with being old-fashioned, and if that’s what I am, I’m proud to be it. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than knit. There are a lot worse things I could do with my time, and I’m sure my parents are happy that I have a much safer hobby than other adults my age.

  • I’ve been crocheting in public for years! I even crochet in Menard’s, while my husband shops! I’ve made friends with several of the sales people, and lots of customers!

  • I take my work wherever I go. I’ve even had a 5 year old girl ask me once if the afghan I was making was for my daughter. I told her no, it was for a little girl that didn’t have a blanket. She asked me if I would make her one and even took her to the store to pick out her colors. She would constantly ask me how far I was, and if she could see it, so when I gave her the finished product, she was ecstatic! I love crocheting in public. I’m a nerd anyway so I don’t care what anyone thinks. Most of the time I get into interesting conversations with people about it. LOVE IT!

  • I take my knitting with me anytime I know I’ll be waiting for a while. My husband is going thru treatment for lung cancer so we spend a lot time in waiting rooms and chemo treatments. I find it helps to reduce the stress – my 8 year old granddaughter recently took a knitting class so there is really nothing “old fashion” about it!!

  • Knitting in public as a way to pass the time is great. But knitting during a group lunch, an office meeting, or during a public function has always been, is still, and will always be rude.

  • My favorite way to combat the “old fashioned” comments? By making my friends, & as gifts for others, amazing things like hats, coffee sleeves, and scarves… They see I can make quality items, and almost immediately stop with the negative/rude comments when they get something one of a kind. And then they start lining up for more 😉
    I should say too… no one is ever malicious in the things they say, or at least I don’t take it that way. I used to think it was an “old fashioned” hobby too! Until I picked up a crochet hook and made my first infitity scarf… Now? I cannot be stopped! I LOVE IT

  • I get annoyed and hurt feelings over my dh family laughing at my “quaint, old fashioned and cheap” gifts I used to crochet for them. I would spend hours looking for just the right slipper, scarf or that pattern and search thru tons of yarn for the perfect colour and softness only to reach our Holiday dinners and gift exchange to see my hours of work tossed carelessly aside and the comments about how thrifty our gift giving was that year. I refuse to participate in their gift exchange now and my dh and I had to discuss it in therapy before he understood how upset I was. Then we had friends from a poverty stricken new to the EU country who went on and on about a couple of palettes I had crochet for a local orphanage. The young men were full of praise about my work, attention to detail and choice of soft cotton instead of something scratchy. So those who make fun of our lovingly handcrafted items get boring gift certificates to local shops while others get lovely slippers to wear, hats to cradle kittens in and scarves to lasso loved ones for a quick smooch.

  • Our group knits in public at the library every week and I have no hesitation knitting where ever I have some spare time. This week our group is being even more public by knitting downtown on Main Street.

  • I knit in public all the time. My kids are in sports and it is a very productive way to pass the time on bleachers. People are always interested in what I’m working on. The fellow knitters always have to “pet” the work. I once compared work with a group of abuelas watching grandchildren and crocheting at the swimming pool. Knitting spanned the language barrier. I’m very flattered to be held in the same company as a grandma or other relative who is or was a knitter.

  • I crochet at a variety of activities at my synagogue, in-service days at my school, and at professional meetings. Sometimes they are projects for a specific person, but often not–I know eventually I will find a recipient For the last 3 years in early fall, the women’s group at my synagogue has had “It’s a Knitzvah” to knit or crochet scarves for the homeless women we house 1 night a week over the winter. Women who participate vary from young professionals to senior citizens and people who don’t know how to knit or crochet are encouraged to come to learn.

  • There was a letter in the advice column of the paper Sunday about someone who found others’ knitting at a bridal shower offensive. I had a college professor that refused to let me knit in her class (that I was PAYING to be in). I just don’t see why it bothers people so much. Would they have as much trouble if I doodled on a pad? Or whipped out my phone and started texting? I just don’t understand why knitting or crocheting upsets people so much.

  • Yes, when I told my new boyfriend I liked to crochet he started teasing saying “that’s what old women do” and calling me “grandma” and ‘old lady”. Then I showed him a bedspread I was finishing (actually enlarging to fit a king size bed),and he just stopped went, “Wow, you made that? really? Cool colors, I like that.” He then admitted that when he was a kid he wanted one of those snowflake knitty things and his Dad had a fit. Sad that boys are not allowed to express themselves with needle arts without ridicule. We don’t date now, but when we talked recently, he asked if I had finished my granny blanket yet. Then said, Nah, just joking. I’m just jealous I can’t do that.” 😉

  • When I first started crocheting I used to do it before work when I would walk to my morning job I would sit in the Starbucks inside Farm Fresh and would get so many comments, most of them being its nice to see young people crochet and who taught you, the looks on their faces when I would tell them I’m self taught were awesome.

  • I knit in public more often than I knit in private. I have only once had a negative comment about knitting in public. I had asked the pastor if he minded if I knit during the church service. He made it clear that he would be delighted if I chose to do that. One of the women who was very active in the church complained. Interestingly she was also a knitter and had been knitting a lot longer than I had and was extremely good at it but did not think it was appropriate during the service. The pastor felt that it was appropriate as a form of meditation. I made sure to use needles that were quiet, so that the sound would not disturb anyone and knit quietly in my lap. Quite a few people commented pleasantly and favorably about it. So i talked to the woman who had complained, and asked her if it would bother her if we sat further apart from each other, and she said that she would be just fine with that.

    I try to be courteous when knitting in public to make sure that I am not making anyone uncomfortable in any way, even though there are often people smoking or playing loud music or otherwise being far more distracting than I would expect my knitting to be, and that is the only person that ever seemed to be bothered.

    Several of my professors have commented that it is relaxing to watch someone knit, which was a great response to get.

  • I’ve been crocheting for about 20 years. My grandmother taught me when I was 9 years old, one rainy weekend. I saw here use this funny hook to make slip knots, and I asked her “Nana can you teach me how do that. To make those knots stay together?
    I would love to show you, she said.” That’s when I guess you can say, “I got hooked on crocheting”. My grandmother has past. But I have shown others both children to adults how to crochet.

    Most people think still that knitting, loom knitting, and crocheting are those that are older age. Not those that are just 9. I still crochet public. Many people look at me and think its odd for a young women to know how to this type of art. Others come up and ask me how do you know how that? I laugh and tell them the story.

    When I was in college many of my classmates and professors asked me to teach them or make items for them. And I did. In my speech class we have to do an informative speech, and of course I did it on this subject. My classmate and my professor Dr. Pillow could not believe I made a baby blanket from a hook and some yarn. I guess they didn’t think a young lady out of high school knew how to crochet.

  • I have been doing exactly that since my 20’s, am 71 now. Never go anywhere without my, now knitting, back then my crochet. My wedding dress was made on the bus to and from work. I cannot sit with idle hands.

  • I won’t be taking part in Knitting in Public Day. Got nothing against it, sounds like a fab idea! The thing is that I knit in public all the time! So in fact, I might inadvertantly take part but not as a planned thing, just depends what I’m doing on the day 🙂
    I take my knitting everywhere I go, I have a special knitting bag that isn’t too heavy or too big and fits into my handbag so I don’t have to lug loads of bags around. I find that it really gets people talking to you! I love that part of it! The best conversation I had was in the doctors waiting room and an elderly lady was telling me about the work she did during the war with a member of the royal family, I think she said Princess Alexandra. Really amazing. Would never have got to hear all that if I wasn’t knitting!
    My tips for knitting in public are:
    – use circular needles, much easier to carry around, they won’t stick out of your bag and jab you in uncomfortable places while you are going about your day, and you don’t have to worry about one of them falling out of your bag.
    – keep your yarn in your knitting bag and hook the knitting bag over your wrist, this makes it less easy for the yarn to jump out of the bag and roll off, after having to untangle it from the chair I’m sitting on in the waiting room at the doctors or hospital, chase the escaping ball across the airport, from the floor of the car when i’m knitting in the car, and all sorts of other adventures the ball of yarn decided to go on, this is the best method I’ve found! If you don’t want the weight on your wrist, just rest it in your lap, but gravity will still keep the ball in the bag!

  • I hope you don’t mind but I’ve included a link to this post in my blog about Worldwide Knit in Public Day https://thesequinnedsheep.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/happy-worldwide-knit-in-public-day/

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