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yarnspin
New Pal
18 Posts |
 Posted - 01/04/2005 : 2:23:53 PM
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Is there a consensus out there about the etiquette of knitting in classes or meetings? I'm in a class of about 25 people, and I'd like to knit in there. I'm a quiet knitter, so the noise shouldn't be a problem. Should I ask the teacher? Or should I just go for it? Any thoughts? Any experiences I can learn from?
Thanks!
Yarnspin
yarnspin.blogspot.com |
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ClaireG
Seriously Hooked
600 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 2:29:34 PM
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I would ask the teacher if it is okay that you can.
Claire |
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vicky by the bay
Permanent Resident
USA
4768 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 4:06:39 PM
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Be sure to let the instructer know that there are studies that show knitting helps increase our ability to listen and retention of what we hear.
Vicky (Queen O'Yarn archivist-QYA) |
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Tam
Permanent Resident
Australia
2810 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 4:07:05 PM
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I'd just do it, and stop if anyone has any objections.
Happy Knitting,
Tam in Melbourne
http://photos.yahoo.com/lillysmum2002
2004 Stats: 24 FOs, 2 WIPs, 1 frog, 1 on hold
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dragonmom
Seriously Hooked
USA
956 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 5:26:23 PM
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i would ask the teacher. but do point out that you pay better attention when your hands are occupied. i knit at work when it's not busy season, right through phone calls, and my supervisors don't even know it unless i tell them! just know when you need to put it down (i will knit during an order, but a service issue gets the knitting put down)
Minnie
the world is knitted from one beautifully variegated skein and it's up to us not to drop a stitch. |
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 7:32:39 PM
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In a class that small I would definitley ask and explain. I knit in a large meeting but there are 400 people there and I doubt I'm noticed. It's better than falling asleep like some people do.
Anita
See my completed projects!
http://www.picturetrail.com/achrisvet |
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~rosie~
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2005 : 9:02:59 PM
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I'd say ask the instructor. Before I was a knitter, I used to think it was rude to knit in class. I likened to reading while in class; something that would divide your attention. So, better to make sure the teacher understands that it does not distract your attention from the instruction, and doesn't mind.
I'm hopelessly addicted. I'm strung out on yarn. |
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cat.k.
Chatty Knitter
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 05:59:09 AM
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You might like to read Perri Klass's new book, "Two Sweaters for My Father."
It's a collection of essays, but a lot of it deals with her need to knit in meetings, both as a med student and now as a doctor and teacher, and how she deals with it, how people react to her.
I had read some of the essays before, but most were new to me, and I really enjoyed the book. A good Christmas present.
Cat |
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jaw
Seriously Hooked
USA
669 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 07:47:36 AM
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From the teacher perspective I would say ask. I used to get really irritated when students doodled in class when I was trying to get information to them. Then I realized that I do the same thing and am able to concentrate better when my hands are busy. However, I was called on the carpet recently for knitting during breaks at an inservice. I made sure that when the presentation was going on I was taking notes, but when we had breaks I would pick up my knitting. It evidentially made one of the administrators unhappy and they did not have the courtesy to talk to me themselves, but delegated it to someone who wasn't even at that meeting. |
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RachelKnitter
Permanent Resident
USA
2995 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 08:38:28 AM
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| I think it could be potentially distracting for other students in the class as well. If someone decided to start polishing silverware next to me in class, I'd be pretty distracted by it. While this example may sound absurd to us, I use it because non-knitters would probably see knitting as just as peculiar and out-of-place. Even if it does help with concentration, I would never knit in a class out of respect for both the teacher and the other students. That's why I am a copious note-taker--not because I will necessarily understand or study what I wrote later, but because it helps me process the information to be actively doing something. |
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franna724
Seriously Hooked
USA
633 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 10:34:06 AM
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Personally, I wouldn't knit in classes or meetings because I would feel that the teacher/supervisor would think I was rude and inattentive. However, I'm always itching to knit in these situations and spend much of my time thinking about what project to pick up as soon as I get home. I think it would be polite to ask so as not to offend the instructor and let them know from the get-go that you are serious about the class and that knitting helps you during the learning process.
Anna |
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RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 10:41:02 AM
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Gotta say I agree with Rachel, Donna and Anna... It's one thing if the group is very informal, and each of them know you well, or large and it wouldn't get noticed at all, but in most instances I would say it could be perceived as being rude, even if it's not your intention. I knit at work, but only when I'm alone in my office, and rarely do others see it. I wouldn't do it in a meeting because non-knitters tend to think it takes a lot of focus on the knitting (which it can) and they would perceive that I wasn't paying attention.
"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
http://RoseByAny.BlogSpot.Com |
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TracyKnits
Chatty Knitter
324 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 10:50:27 AM
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| When I knit in public, which is often - I always notice people watching me. In that way, it may be seen as distracting. Could you sit in the back to avoid that? |
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toucanknit1
Warming Up
75 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2005 : 7:33:40 PM
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The managers in my office allow us to knit or crochet during our twice monthly staff meetings, unless we have a guest speaker.
Six of the twenty two staff members who attend knit and/or crochet and those who don't knit or crochet are so used to the rest of us enjoying our hobby at breaks and lunch that it isn't a distraction. Two of the six have picked up their needles after years away from knitting, after seeing the four of us "regulars" knit. |
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Lis S
Chatty Knitter
219 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 05:18:33 AM
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As a teacher, it used to bug me when I'm trying to get through a lesson and my students are doodling, but I now realize that many people need to keep moving in order to pay attention. However, I don't think it is appropriate to knit at a meeting. I'd love to do it, and I often will knit during my planning time at school, but I don't think it would send a positive message to whoever is speaking. Unfortunately, inservice days are pretty much a waste, and it would be nice to get something constructive done - like a few UFOs! So, my opinion is don't do it.
A
http://mebylis.blogspot.com |
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lemons
Permanent Resident
1692 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 08:09:30 AM
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i find that people who are, say, over 60, aren't distracted when I knit in a meeting or class. Younger ones - say, college students - don't appear to be, either. It's the folks in between, the age group I'm just now leaving, who are usually the ones standing up talking that seem distracted. But maybe it's just because they may have more of a view. I ALWAYS have mindless knitting for such things, a sock that doesn't need shaping at that point, usually. And it's always small, so there isn't a bright red baby afghan spread out on my lap or table.
For what it's worth,
lemons of missouri |
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englishtch
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
400 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 08:44:17 AM
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I always have knitting for breaks during inservices, but I have made sure to explain to whoever is responsible for the meeting that I will not knit during the presentations. Most of the administrators at my school know that knitting keeps me still and quiet. I trying not to be offensive by fidgeting.
Although, I have to admit that I sneaked a few rows on a sock Monday, but I was in a large group and the speaker could not see me. She also was speaking on a subject that I have heard too many times - so I gave in to temptation.
I knit at the front of my classes while waiting for students to finish assignments also. They might watch for a few minutes the first time, but then they get used to it and just ignore me. I justify this because we are knitting beanies to send to a former student currently in Iraq.  |
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kdcrowley
Permanent Resident
USA
4773 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 2:48:05 PM
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I have knit before in training classes, and have had the speaker approach me later to find out what I was doing. I usually make the comment about worrying that people will think I am not paying attention, but that it helps me do so. Several speakers have actually commented that they thought that until they realized that my level of participation was one of the highest in the audience.
I would gauge the approach on the environment, and the people's reactions. I tend to think of the saying...."it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission."
Besides better the click of needles than the chime of cell phones, PDAs and other devices which is way more distracting.
Kelley
Everywhere you go, there you are! Imagine that.... |
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pecorino
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 3:26:11 PM
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I'm a beginner knitter, but I tend to take a small project with me everywhere I go. It seems that the polite thing would be to ask the teacher or presenter if she has a problem with knitting during the lecture.
My therapist told me that it wasn't acceptable during our therapy sessions.... eventually I realized the knitting was better for me than she was.
I must admit that I did not ask permission of the Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate when he came to town last October. A friend spotted me in a newspaper photograph of the event (crowd picture) and asked, with a mixture of curiousity and horror, "Were you knitting during his speech?". Umm, yes, I was...
~Amy |
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claudiam
Chatty Knitter
USA
144 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 3:30:29 PM
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Like Englistich, (I Hope that was spelled right) I knit in class, and I knit in meetings. I knit in the doctor's office. I can't stand to have my hands unoccupied. I spend some time during the day knitting. When I don't knit I'm unhappy. I have not asked permission to knit, most people are fascinated, the principle doesn't say anything and they love the stuff I knit.
Claudiam |
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Notorius_MEG
New Pal
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2005 : 3:35:39 PM
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"My therapist told me that it wasn't acceptable during our therapy sessions.... eventually I realized the knitting was better for me than she was."
::giggle:: My fiance' and I have decided that knitting is just as good as therapy, even better in some respects (like having something to show for it at the end) and even with the price of yarn, less expensive.
Now to figure out how to claim it from my health care spending account! hehehehehe |
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