All controversy about Ravelympics and using the term Olympics aside, I have to admit the Olympics are great for knitting at home. They have long periods of inactivity and then times one should look up. In my home Paul and Mike understand my obsession and accept my sometimes distracted attention span.
There are plenty of activities where public knitting either doesn't work or is just inappropriate: 1) when driving, 2) at work, 3) in darkened theatres, 4) at a funeral, 5) watching a movie or TV program with subtitles, 6) during a lectures (sometimes it is OK, depends), you get the idea. Then there are times just made for knitting in public, all generally requiring waiting: 1) at the doctor's office, 2) riding buses, 3) when flying across the country, 4) working your way through a government bureaucracy, 5) riding along in a vehicle with someone else driving on a long road trip and so on.
I am quite happy to knit in public to fill time, but unlike many of my fellow knitters I am rarely asked about what I'm doing or how I do it or anything, which I find interesting. When I walk around Vancouver or on campus, I am often (too often) asked about directions to get somewhere, which is laughable. I'm the type of person who can get lost in my own backyard without my trusty GPS. If Paul's with me I just turn the conversation over to him. If I'm alone I pity the poor direction seeker; I do my best, but well, honestly they asked the wrong person. So on a street or sidewalk I appear intelligent or approachable enough to ask for directions.
But when I knit in public I am rarely interrupted with a question. Do I look like I'm concentrating, do I wear a scowl, or have those wrinkles on my forehead? Perhaps I am just knitting something that doesn't ignite a conversation because I tend to choose pretty simple jobs to knit out of the house. They may lack pizzazz and thus don't inspire questions. I very seldom have to answer annoying questions that many other knitters complain about when they knit in public.
It is one of those questions that will remain unanswered, I suppose. Or do you think I should I leave that Do Not Disturb sign I carry with me when I knit publicly at home instead??
There are plenty of activities where public knitting either doesn't work or is just inappropriate: 1) when driving, 2) at work, 3) in darkened theatres, 4) at a funeral, 5) watching a movie or TV program with subtitles, 6) during a lectures (sometimes it is OK, depends), you get the idea. Then there are times just made for knitting in public, all generally requiring waiting: 1) at the doctor's office, 2) riding buses, 3) when flying across the country, 4) working your way through a government bureaucracy, 5) riding along in a vehicle with someone else driving on a long road trip and so on.
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| Reenactment of me knitting in public |
I am quite happy to knit in public to fill time, but unlike many of my fellow knitters I am rarely asked about what I'm doing or how I do it or anything, which I find interesting. When I walk around Vancouver or on campus, I am often (too often) asked about directions to get somewhere, which is laughable. I'm the type of person who can get lost in my own backyard without my trusty GPS. If Paul's with me I just turn the conversation over to him. If I'm alone I pity the poor direction seeker; I do my best, but well, honestly they asked the wrong person. So on a street or sidewalk I appear intelligent or approachable enough to ask for directions.
But when I knit in public I am rarely interrupted with a question. Do I look like I'm concentrating, do I wear a scowl, or have those wrinkles on my forehead? Perhaps I am just knitting something that doesn't ignite a conversation because I tend to choose pretty simple jobs to knit out of the house. They may lack pizzazz and thus don't inspire questions. I very seldom have to answer annoying questions that many other knitters complain about when they knit in public.
It is one of those questions that will remain unanswered, I suppose. Or do you think I should I leave that Do Not Disturb sign I carry with me when I knit publicly at home instead??
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