| Author |
 Topic  |
|
HawthorneRose
Warming Up
66 Posts |
 Posted - 06/17/2008 : 7:05:11 PM
|
Most knitters I know enjoy knitting in a group--their LYS, church parlor, friends' homes with brunch, wherever that special gang hangs out. It lends technical and moral support, and it's fun to connect. Me, I could knit forever in my own little corner, just bringing a pattern to life and feeling the creative juices flowing. Social conversation would only add stress and probably derail my concentration. (Incipient Alzheimer's, maybe?  )
My guess is that our preferred knitting environment reflects our personality in general. Either social-and-lovin' it, or private and pensive. Which are you--a Circle knitter or a Cave knitter?
HawthorneRose |
|
|
Sara Sue
Permanent Resident
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 7:30:03 PM
|
| It's the cave for me. I can't talk and knit at the same time yet. I'm a fairly new knitter and am now to the point where it is relaxing, but I'm not interested in carrying on a conversation. Actually, since I retired in September from a career spent in retail and dealing with the public all day, I'd just as soon not leave the cave at all. I'm really enjoying the solitude. |
 |
|
|
beedee
Seriously Hooked
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 7:40:06 PM
|
Hmmm. On the one hand "groupie", on the other hand "solitary". I love to "show and tell", and often take my knittig, Armenian needle lace, or spindling with me wherever I go (local coffee shop, Greek and Kolo Festivals, library.....
However, I am hearing-impaired. Not enough to be considered "deaf", but enough to require me to sit at the front of the class, auditorium, gatherings of any kind. If I can't read lips, I can't comprehend the goings-on. Really, I am not a recluse. So, I am often perceived by others as being "loud and pushy" -- and I ask too many questions! As you can see for yourself from my answer, I'm mostly at ease with myself at home. But I do get out now and then -- and bring my latest creative activity with me. I love to share my interests. |
|
|
|
Cheerleader9
Permanent Resident
USA
1563 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 7:47:36 PM
|
It's cave knitting for me altho I'm a very social person. I just need my power of concentration when I'm knitting. I can make enough mistakes even in the quiet times and chatting, listening to others would really have me frogging :-) I have to do one or the other,knit or socialize but not both.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheerleader9/]
[http://www.ravelry.com/people/Cheerleader9]
Barb in AZ
Nothing ventured, Nothing gained. |
|
|
|
anderknit
Permanent Resident
USA
2549 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 7:54:40 PM
|
I only have time to knit in the evenings, and at that point, I'm too tired to go out and/or I like to spend time with my family. So knitting at home in our cave it is.
I like the idea of group knitting, but it just doesn't fit into my life right now.
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' " |
|
|
|
Gelliott
Seriously Hooked
USA
910 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 8:31:35 PM
|
Cave, definitely.
I love talking to people about knitting and/or teaching them to knit, and i often take out my needles in situations where others are present, but my greatest pleasure is to sit in my comfy chair at home, listening to music or NPR and letting the rhythm of kntting put me in a sort of zen state. I also like knitting at a local coffee shop--that's not exactly a cave, but I am by myself.
Gelliott |
|
|
|
pyewackett
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 8:51:22 PM
|
Cave AND circle for me. I think I'm bi-purler.
I have projects best suited when I'm by my lonesome and can concentrate on the pattern and give my all to the ebbs and flows of the piece. I love my Zen knitting! But I've always got something to bring to the Wednesday a.m. knitting circle at my LYS. There's usually 5 of us, and rarely more than 8, so it's not a big group. I'm not a social bird, and it was definitely work for me to be comfortable joining a group of any sort. I've been with this group for 15 months and wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
But it's not the projects that dictate my comfort zones. It's however I feel about my place in the world on any given day. Luckily, knitting has proven to be a bridge between me and the world (unfortunately, I don't always bring exact change for the tollbooth). |
|
|
|
SR5Rfan
Permanent Resident
USA
1232 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 9:19:08 PM
|
Bi-Purler!! I actually snorted when I read that ...
But, as for the subject. I'm generally a cave-dweller, but it is more because there isn't really anywhere nearby that I can go with a group. Sis and I try on occasion to get some people together (in fact, we're meeting on Saturday, but it will probably just be the two of us). I enjoy knitting both alone and with others (not much gets accomplished in a group setting). I guess I'm bi-purler too!
Beth
http://sr5rfan.blogspot.com/ Not much knitting on it, but it's a start ...
"I was taught to respect my elders, but it is getting harder and harder to find one"
|
|
|
|
Shelia
Permanent Resident
USA
2315 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 9:43:36 PM
|
Definitely circle, whenever I get the chance. I don't knit quite as fast in a group, but I don't have any other problems. There are times where being with a group saves my knitting sanity, such as last night when I was casting on 375 stitches using a knitted cast on. Having people to talk to made it a LOT less annoying.
Shelia
www.letstalkstash.blogspot.com
ravelry name - sheliaknits |
|
|
|
Sara Sue
Permanent Resident
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 10:06:02 PM
|
| Shelia - Impressive. I can't even cast on 37 stitches with someone else around without having to count stitches over and over. How in the world did you remember how many you'd done? Maybe the fact that I'm 61 has something to do with my counting cast on stitches - ya think? |
|
|
|
MindyO
Permanent Resident
USA
2493 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 11:28:45 PM
|
I can't even hit 37 without losing track and I'm 31! lol I like to knit around my family, around others I still feel a little self concious about it.
I'm definitely a cave knitter. yay me! Actually I would prefer to do everything "cave" style. I'm one of those people that just doesn't like to leave home unless I have to. Not a shut in, just not a get up and go kind of person. I'm comfy here, I don't like crowds, lots of noise (like malls), pushy people, I'm not too good at small talk, I get very nervous around people I don't know well, or don't feel comfortable around and I babble when I'm nervous, so I say stupid things without even thinking, so I'm scared to death of new people and situations. I used to throw up the first day of school every year I was so nervous (almost did it at my new job last year) I also make funny faces and mumble when I knit. If it's something I need to think about I concentrate too much and wouldn't really be a team player, if it's simple I can chat away like crazy, but won't get much done.
So I'm a face making, mumbling, nervous, babbling, shy, scared cave knitter. Funny thing is in all my weirdness, I can still be (or appear to be) a very social, outgoing, talkative, friendly person.
My Flickr pics
|
|
|
|
Ratbag
Chatty Knitter
United Kingdom
318 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 02:07:43 AM
|
Too be honest I'm a cave and circle person. Although I have to confess, I always make sure I've got simple on the go for social occassions - that way it reduces the amount of frogging lol
Sandra
I don't suffer fron insanity, I enjoy it. |
|
|
|
GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 02:54:04 AM
|
I knit at home. I can't imagine sitting in an LYS and knitting at one of those communal tables. I went to a knit night (not at a store) once or twice but I am a solitary knitter. The only place I like to knit in public is on the beach or, once in a while, in the park.
GFTC of NYC
my knitting photos on Flickr
|
|
|
|
hillstreetmama
Permanent Resident
USA
3448 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 04:00:22 AM
|
Bi-purler! I love the term!! I guess that would be me, too. I do most of my knitting alone, but also enjoy the group thing, sharing and all that. When my knitting DD's are around, we enjoy knitting together. Christmas time was a blast - they hadn't brought their knitting because they figured they'd be too busy, but got the itch, so I provided my stash and my bounty of needles, and the both went home with WIP's.
Jan
|
|
|
|
socker
Chatty Knitter
258 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 05:14:25 AM
|
Cave AND circle for me. I think I'm bi-purler
I love that.
I'm bi-purler also. I really enjoy knitting in my little cave most of the time. But I also enjoy knitting at my LYS circle, making sure I have something simple to work on. |
|
|
|
knitz2
Permanent Resident
USA
1800 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 06:22:44 AM
|
although I usually wind up in the cave, my preference depends on the project. if I'm doing lace I'll do it in a cave then take it to the circle for show & tell. most anything else and I like a circle but unfortunately don't currently have one.
there are 3 circles in my town. one is during hours I'm at work. one is invitation only and although I requested an invitation from the group coordinator it has not been forthcoming. the third is one I have attended in the past but it was moved to a night I have other commitments. debating whether to try forming a 4th one or doing something novel for the area and trying to form a crochet circle. actually, my preference would be a circle where all fiber arts are welcome like the one I attended in the state where I used to live
Keep knitting, this too shall pass. |
|
|
|
dothead
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
492 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 06:50:14 AM
|
Cave for me. I did go to a knitting group once and while it was nice to be with other knitters, I didn't have enough room to spread out so it was a bit uncomfortable for me.
Vicki, the Constant Lurker(who sometimes stops lurking and actually posts) |
|
|
|
adalton124
Seriously Hooked
659 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 06:50:32 AM
|
I'm both. I love my solitary knitting, but I also adore seeing other knitters and their projects and just talking and connecting with others. My job tends toward the solitary very often, as do most of my hobbies - reading, knitting, walking the dogs, so it's nice when I get a chance to be social and do something I enjoy.
Angela |
|
|
|
Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
|
|
AngieSue
Permanent Resident
USA
1606 Posts |
|
|
amosellie
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
433 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 08:53:49 AM
|
I guess I am Bi-Purler as well! I enjoy both. I just work on the more difficult projects in my cave and "idiot knitting" when there is lots of conversation.
Amosellie
www.antiqueclocksandysprings.com |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Cave or Circle?
