Is It Rude?
Here's Carmie, checking out my one finished Jaywalker sock... but the 2nd sock IS casted on, and the cuff (hate working the cuff) is done, so it's all good. This Jaywalker pattern is sure fun to knit.It's been a BUSY last few days here with the inlaws visiting. Lots of shopping, and cooking, and visiting, and family around. Love it.
So, here's my question - while sitting around, visiting with family or friends, do you knit? When we're all lazin' around in front of the TV it's different, in front of the TV is fair game... but, say, everyone's sitting in the living room, "visiting."
We were all sitting in the living room the other day, the hubby and I, my parents, his parents, all visiting, and I picked up my 2nd sock.... but I couldn't bring myself to knit more than a row or two. I had to put it down. It felt like I was being rude, somehow. No one said anything, or gave me a look, it was totally me - I don't know.... what do you think?
Same thing at "Monday Night Dinner," at my mom's. Now, we do this dinner every week, and it's just my family, my sister's family, occasionally my brother, and my parents, having our weekly dinner and visiting for an hour or so. Nothing formal, believe me. But, I don't bring my knitting. I would feel rude. I don't really know why. I CAN talk and knit at the same time - I'm not ignoring anyone.... hmmm. I do, from time to time, think about how much knitting I could be getting done, though!
Tonight I may take a break from the 2nd Jaywalker and start this scarf for my MIL's birthday. They left for home today - so she won't see me knitting it. Maybe tomorrow I'll have some progress to show you. It's a cold and windy, rainy day.... just great for curling up in front of a fire and knitting.
posted by Lynda @ 12:42 PM
5 Pair - hey, it's a start
First Place, Gospel Light
The Way of the Master
13 Comments:
Keep at it Devrie! If my daughter can teach me, anyone can learn to knit! Beware though, it'll take over your life!
I take my knitting to family outings. Sometimes I work on my knitting and sometimes I don't. It actually depends on the situation and more importantly if there is good lighting!! I think it's ok to knit and visit. Like you said, you CAN still talk while you knit. I purposefully don't work on complicated patterns - that can get you in trouble! I started a sock for my hubby and took it yesterday - had to frog all the way to the ribbing though because I had made a mistake. It's a fun pattern - a "cable" pattern that is made without using a cable needle. I'm also making my first pair of "toe-up, 2 at a time on 2 circs". I'm doing the ribbing now. It has an "afterthought heel" - I haven't done that before either.
Marsha
yea, i've had to "feel" out certain circumstances to see whether knitting (or bringing knitting) would be rude. sometimes i ask my hubby what he thinks (as a nonknitter) and he'll give his honest opinion on whether people (who are mostly nonknitters) would take offense.
i personally think that if everyone is watching TV together and casually hanging out, knitting is ok. but if i'm visiting with some friends whom i haven't seen/talked with in awhile or we're in a pretty engaging or sensitive discussion, i'll put the knitting down (to show the other person that they have 110% of my attention). i've noticed that sometimes when my nonknitter friends see me pick up my needles, they feel like i'm not paying attention to them as much, so the conversation falters a bit. =P
Love the picture of the Jaywalker and Carmie - you're right, she does look a lot like Chaos!
I'm with Ruth - sometimes it's ok and sometimes it isn't - and it's not always easy to tell. I actually knit in meetings with my immediate team at work - they've learned that it helps me stay focused and doodle less... But I would never knit in any other work setting, because it doesn't feel "right."
I totally blogged about this exact issue! I had many comments, and almost all of them said "not rude". Of course, it has to be mindless knitting so that you can pay attention to the conversation.
Cool Jaywalkers!
BTW, I linked to your blog in my latest post. :)
The Jaywalker looks great, Lynda. I never worry about knitting when amongst family. I hesitate with other people, although I have knit in mind-numbing meetings.
I agree with most of the previous comments. It depends on the situation and the people. Lately, I take my knitting with me most of the time. At least I can knit while my husband and I are driving to wherever we are going. It is at least 15 minutes from our house to anywhere. You can get a lot done in 15 minutes (30 if you count there and back). I have knit in meetings. I go to a lot for church and no one seems to mind. It is volunteer time anyway. I have knit complicated patterns if I am with family and everyone is watching TV ( this is especially good if the TV is a sports event which everyone but me wants to watch.) In general, just use common sense.
Sometimes when a few of my friends and I get together there are a couple of us who will knit and one that will do cross stitch. The others don't do anything, but they don't mind (they've said so in the past) because we can keep up with the conversation, etc. while we knit. I haven't taken my knitting to family functions yet though.
This is a tough question. I guess you trust your gut feel. For me, it's not so much how I feel, it's how others feel about it. My husband and kids have gotten used to me knitting, but initially they felt like I wasn't listening to them too. I knit sometimes when I'm with my parents, but not at family gatherings with my in-laws. I think they won't understand and will think I'm being rude. So out of respect for them, I don't knit. Look forward to seeing the colour and yarn for your mil's scarf - you're knitting for some one else again!
Lyn; You can always knit at my house, didn't you notice your sis does? And I even knit instead of quilting some thursday-quilting-days.
I have the same dilemma. I often knit in family situations out of self-defense! I find that if I can keep my hands busy, I can better keep my mouth SHUT!!
I have a friend who knits at meetings, and I just can't seem to do that and concentrate well enough to keep track of what the meeting is suppose to accomplish.
I did have a wonderful couple of hours the other night: DH was watching TV in one room, Sweetpea was reading on the floor in front of the fire, and I was sitting on the new couch, in front of the fireplace, just knitting away. Nobody yelled "Mom!", the dog didn't need to go out (she hates rain), and the football scores were all going DH's "way". Ahhhh...bliss.
I guess it depends on your family. My family would expect me to knit. That being said, I always select projects that I don't have to consult a pattern at all or very little, so I can still talk. You also can always ask, do you mind if I work on this? And hope they give an honest answer.
Fab jaywalkers, BTW!
I knit. I'm not sure if they think it's rude or not, but so far no one's said anything to me about it or given me any looks either. I say if you're not sure, ask. If they give you the go ahead, then go ahead!
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