We're Not Gonna Take It: Public Knitting, Crocheting, etc.

When I told Mother of Ken about my idea for a series of posts about things that annoy me, she said "that's going to take a while." Well, I'm back with the second installment, gentle readers: people who knit, crochet, spin, weave, forge iron, blow glass, and/or whittle in public.

I have no problem with people having hobbies, but I do have a problem with people bringing them into public places. For example, a few weeks ago, I attended a production of Godspell. There was a woman sitting in the back row with a bag full of yarn, knitting during the show. Have we really gotten to a point when you can't even go to a show without taking something with you to do? How do people who do this enjoy shows? If you're looking at your craft, how can you watch the show?

I used to ride the bus with a woman who would crochet for the five minutes between her two stops. Almost every day, her ball of yarn would go rolling down the floor of the bus and/or she would poke someone in the arm with one of her hooks.

I have been to happy hour with people who brought along their knitting or other sewing projects. Can't you have a drink with friends without bringing your knitting? If you're making the effort to go out with your friends, don't you think they deserve your undivided attention? [Before Mother of Ken asks, yes, I do believe that this applies to incessant texting, too.]

I'm not clear on the purpose of this practice or the motivation behind it--are you trying to tell everyone that you are so busy, you have to multitask, even in public situations? Are you trying to prove that you are superior because you're always doing something--no "idle hands"? Are you just that bored with the rest of the world that you have to isolate yourself by being absorbed in your knitting?

For anyone who does this--please consider the message it sends to the rest of the world. I think that we all get distracted too easily these days and there is something to be said for enjoying what you are doing at a particular moment. Knit, crochet, or whittle when you're sitting in your own home without guests in front of the fireplace or TV. Leave the tote bag at home and allow yourself to enjoy life one thing at a time. Have a drink with friends and give them your attention, go to a movie or a play and just enjoy the show with your hands in your lap, go to a meeting and be present in both body and mind.