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knitting_wounded
Gabber Extraordinaire
365 Posts |
 Posted - 02/03/2007 : 9:23:15 PM
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I miss my commute knitting. Since I started driving my knitting progress has slowed considerably 
Check out the Knitting Wounded Tent: http://knittingwounded.blogspot.com |
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MissMarple
Chatty Knitter
110 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 2:57:07 PM
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So what do you guys say to the semi-acquaintance when she says, "I wish I had the patinece to do that. I've always wanted to know how." Do you offer to teach her or assume that she's just making conversation. I mean there are things I'd like to learn to do too, but I'm not at a point where I want to put the time in on learning it right now.
As for other comments people make it's usually a positive experience and I really enjoy it. One woman did say, "I can't just sit." I thought, I can't either, that's why I'm knitting. We were sitting in a waiting room at the time! |
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Catlover
Gabber Extraordinaire
370 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2007 : 3:34:25 PM
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| I love to see other people knitting in public although for some unknown reason I rarely do it myself. I nearly always start a conversation and usually ask about the yarn, which is often beautiful. Just last week I saw a woman knitting as we leaving the physical therapy office where I'm going for hand therapy. I asked about the beautiful yarn and found out about a brand I'd never heard of. It's just lovely and I plan to find out if I can get some. She got hers on a trip and commented that she had never seen it in local shops. Knitters always seem to appreciate fellow knitters. |
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Knittlin
Warming Up
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 09:03:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by MissMarple
So what do you guys say to the semi-acquaintance when she says, "I wish I had the patinece to do that. I've always wanted to know how." Do you offer to teach her or assume that she's just making conversation. I mean there are things I'd like to learn to do too, but I'm not at a point where I want to put the time in on learning it right now.
If I know her well enough that I wouldn't mind teaching her, I'll offer to teach her. I make it a point to say something that doesn't back the person into a corner just in case they were simply making conversation, something like, "Well, if you ever find the time to learn, I wouldn't mind teaching you. Just let me know." That'd leave it open for them, so if they're serious they'll take me up on it, but if they're not they don't have to make any excuses.
But if they're not someone I'd really like to spend that much time with, I'd tell them that it wasn't that hard and that there are tons of sites online with videos showing how, or if they're better at learning in person, they might could find a local yarn store that gives classes. Then they can do with that info whatever they want to and have time for.
I've even thought about going so far as printing a few website urls on business card stock to hand out to anyone who expresses an interest. KR would be on there of course, as well as some of those sites with how-to videos. I find myself rattling off KR's url and a couple others whenever I'm kiping and someone asks me about it, but it's a pita to drag out the paper and hunt for a pen. Having them already printed up would be SO much easier!
~ Linda ~
Love thy neighbor ... and if he happens to be tall, debonair and devastating, it will be that much easier. ~ Mae West |
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YarnAndCoffee
Seriously Hooked
786 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 09:52:47 AM
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| I knit in public all the time; my daughters never had a problem with it, and my son has become resigned. At the hockey rinks I'm described as "the one who's always knitting." I've had scores of people ask about the knitting and about a dozen who have asked seriously about learning, but none of them followed up. I did manage to drag a part-time knitter (who had only used acrylics from Wal-Mart) to a LYS and get her hooked on serious yarn, though. Just think -- if each of us enabled just *one* new yarn addict per year, the ranks of knitters would grow exponentially! |
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Redrobin
Chatty Knitter
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 12:29:19 PM
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Ha, I was working on a pair of ribbed socks on an airplane, and the flight attendant was hypnotized. I was doing the leg, and she exclaimed, "You're not even looking at the pattern! That's amazing!"
I tried to explain that since there was nothing fancy going on, I wouldn't need the pattern until the heel, but she was having none of it. As far as she was concerned, it was the most amazing thing. Ever. Period.
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DaniW
Chatty Knitter
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 1:46:44 PM
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I KIP every chance I get.
I often wait for my kids at school, so I am never without a project. Kids and teachers all like to stop and ask about it and share their skills or stories.
I knit in the car, waiting for food at a restaurant, waiting for the kids at the library, at the park, etc. The kids like it, DH not so much.
My projects have been great conversation pieces, esp. right now while I am knitting a Noro Kureyon sweater. The colorways just seem to mesmerize people, esp. since I deliberately mixed very different colorways in the sweater.
Socks are another great ice breaker and also makes me look very impressive to non knitters.
What is fun is when I take in different WIPs on different days and I hear over and over "WOW, you are so fast! I see you making something different every day!" LOL
Yep, fast impressive knitter. That's me!
(if only) LOL
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 2:31:54 PM
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When people say they don't have the patience, I tell them that knitting produces patience in you. I am a more patient person since I started knitting.
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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knitwitt
Seriously Hooked
USA
700 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 3:32:13 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by achrisvet
When people say they don't have the patience, I tell them that knitting produces patience in you. I am a more patient person since I started knitting.
[purple] Anita
I am, too. I can wait almost anywhere for any length of time as long as I have my socks-in-progress. :)
I really enjoy knitting during my commute, and I have seen a few other ladies knitting as well. It's a great way to relax right after work.
--Jennifer
http://impatientknitter.blogspot.com |
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Teresa_G
Chatty Knitter
132 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2007 : 5:48:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MissMarple
So what do you guys say to the semi-acquaintance when she says, "I wish I had the patinece to do that. I've always wanted to know how." Do you offer to teach her or assume that she's just making conversation.
If it's someone I know well enough to want to teach, I say, "Do you want to learn? If you do, I'll teach you!" If they say no, I was just kidding, or anything along those lines, I say, "OK!" If they say yes, I say, "Great!" and tell them what kind of needles and yarn to buy. If it's somebody I've never seen before, I refer them to knittinghelp.com!
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Polka-dot sweater is DONE!! Now I need to knit a matching one for my 3yo sister since they look so much alike! |
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Sabrina Fair
Seriously Hooked
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 04:05:47 AM
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To the 'I don't have the patience to knit' I always say I don't have the patience to sit and do nothing.
My girls told me they saw a woman knitting on the train yesterday. They were amused because she was a mega gossip and was knitting something that they considered out of style and ugly.
Hint if you knit in public don't give knitters a bad name!
Sabrina
Sabrina fair,
Listen where thou art sitting
Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave,
In twisted braids of lilies knitting
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sabrina_fair1/album?.dir=/7ab3 |
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Knotty_Knitter
Warming Up
Canada
80 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 08:18:22 AM
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I have found a number of people will comment to me about kip.....although I think I might have been a bit rude once. In a doctors office, there I sat....working diligently on my sock with the self-striping yarn....and a lady asked what I was working on.
I told her, and she said, "Well, you should be doing them on 3 needles, not those dangly things, and socks are so cheap now, why waste your time??"
(I do socks on 2 circs, lol)
I gave her a dumfounded look (I'm blonde, so that was easy, lol) and said, "You can BUY socks???"
My name was called, and I left her staring after me.
justine
"Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble wrap is cheap. You choose." |
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MissMarple
Chatty Knitter
110 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 08:39:20 AM
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| Thanks everyone for the tips on offering (or not) to teach someone. I like the no pressure approach. Who wants to be bullied into learning something new! Even if we all know it's the best thing ever! Thanks again. |
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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 09:08:18 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by achrisvet
I am a more patient person since I started knitting.
I am too (sort of), but only if I can knit while waiting. If there's nothing to do for a long time and I can't knit, I get antsy.
I think I have an addictive personality. I used to have to smoke, then I had to garden, and now I have to knit, or I undergo withdrawal.
I don't care where I am unless it's disruptive to others, then I won't knit. And I don't mind questions. At least people notice, and I try to pique their curiosity and get them interested in it. |
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Lis S
Chatty Knitter
219 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 09:35:48 AM
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I was browsing through the knitting-related items on Cafe Press the other day and found a t-shirt that really sums it all up:
1. Yes, I am knitting.
2. NO, not crocheting.
3. No, it doesn't require a lot of patience.
4. Yes, you could do it. Really. Want to learn?
5. Yes, I know you can buy sweaters, socks, etc., for not that much money.
6. Yes, I'm sure your grandmother did knit for you. That's nice.
7. Well, yes it does require some concentration, depending on the pattern. So could you shut up and let me knit now. Thanks!
I think I need to purchase this shirt!
Knit on!
Lis
http://lisknits.typepad.com/the_world_of_lis/ |
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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 10:08:10 AM
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[:00][:00][:00]
Lis, that's rich. Sort of a short guide to knitters on a t-shirt - and hopefully helps you get some knitting done.
I need one that says "I'm counting, Don't bug me!" because I can usually talk with people about it unless I'm counting.
Wendy |
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YarnAndCoffee
Seriously Hooked
786 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 10:21:08 AM
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Lis, that is funny stuff. I don't wear t-shirts with slogans/writing, but if I did that would be the one. IMHO, at least 90% of being-approached-by-a-non-knitter conversations go exactly like that!
Don't you hate it when you've settled nicely into your plane/train/rink/waiting room seat and started to knit, and someone plops down next to you and wants to chat? It's a fine line to tread -- I don't want to give knitters a bad rap or <gasp of horror> appear rude but my knitting time is pretty precious to me. I'll gladly give it up to talk to a friend or someone special, but I'm just petty enough to resent giving it up to talk to strangers that I will never meet again, who are just chatting to pass the time.
Does that make me a bad person?
-Elizabeth in Alabama |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 11:13:53 AM
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Doesn't make anyone a bad person. I'm Canadian and from what I've experienced, Americans think nothing of starting up conversations with total strangers, especially in the South. When it happens and I don't feel like talking I have no problems saying "I appreciate your friendliness but I just don't feel like chatting." If they think I'm rude, so be it.
Brought to you by the tongue in cheek-y monkey
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http://www.femiknits.blog-city.com/knitting_for_canadian_troops.htm
http://greenfishoutofwater.blogspot.com |
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lella
Permanent Resident
9697 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 11:30:00 AM
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I've always loved to talk to people if they give a little smile, or seem friendly and lively so much the better. A little hello and a tiny chat about current weather might start a conversation, and that is all to the good usually. People are lots more interesting than staring out the window in most cases. However, having said that, I don't mind if it never goes farther than that because I've got my knitting or a magazine or book, too. I prefer my knitting because it does get people to reminisce.
Lella
[img]http://www.geocities.com/zippianna/turtle.gif[/img]
Blabbity blog
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Kimmie
New Pal
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2007 : 1:56:42 PM
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I used to crochet all kinds of critters. Your dinos are soooo cute! Any chance it is a pattern--or do you just make them up as you go?
(hint, hint, hint) :) |
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Knitting in public
