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knittingCross-posting this to knitting and crocheting.
I take my knitting and/or crocheting with me when I take public transportation, and I can no longer tell myself "Your imagining it," particularly when I ride BART in the SF Bay area:
People tend to back away and put space between me and my knitting. They don't do it so much when I sitting there with my crocheting, but I get more open staring at what I'm doing with crochet.
I don't think I swing my needles around like those ninja sticks, so I can't be putting people in fear of putting their eyes out. The crochet, I think, is just that it's not as familiar to lots of people as knitting is, so they're probably wondering how where my other needle is. But still, the "let me slide on down a little further away from her on this bench on the platform until I almost fall off" (which a woman in a shockingly pink coat did this morning) is a bit puzzling to me. It's almost like they think I'm going to go ballistic, which is particularly funny since I actually knit and crochet for the associated stress-reduction benefits as well as the good feeling that comes from making something with your hands.
Oh, and just to be clear, I don't get the same reaction when I'm talking on the phone or reading a book or simply sitting there. Needles and hooks are seemingly necessary components.
Does anyone else get this?
knitting and crocheting.I take my knitting and/or crocheting with me when I take public transportation, and I can no longer tell myself "Your imagining it," particularly when I ride BART in the SF Bay area:
People tend to back away and put space between me and my knitting. They don't do it so much when I sitting there with my crocheting, but I get more open staring at what I'm doing with crochet.
I don't think I swing my needles around like those ninja sticks, so I can't be putting people in fear of putting their eyes out. The crochet, I think, is just that it's not as familiar to lots of people as knitting is, so they're probably wondering how where my other needle is. But still, the "let me slide on down a little further away from her on this bench on the platform until I almost fall off" (which a woman in a shockingly pink coat did this morning) is a bit puzzling to me. It's almost like they think I'm going to go ballistic, which is particularly funny since I actually knit and crochet for the associated stress-reduction benefits as well as the good feeling that comes from making something with your hands.
Oh, and just to be clear, I don't get the same reaction when I'm talking on the phone or reading a book or simply sitting there. Needles and hooks are seemingly necessary components.
Does anyone else get this?
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-17 06:51 am (UTC)Most of the time, too, I have my iPod so I'm not encouraging conversation, and unless I'm feeling super chatty, I'll answer a question or two, and then put the headphones back in with a "'scuse me, gotta get back to listening to this thing" look - doesn't seem to be a problem.
Funny story - This one time I was finishing a sock, and as I was darning the ends, had someone ask if that was the first or second sock.
"The first," I said.
"So now you have to do another?"
"Yeah, unless I find someone with one leg."
This cracked up several people around me. But hey, sock knitters all know, the second sock is a drag that takes forever. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-17 05:40 pm (UTC)Unless the goal is achieving that defensive space. ;) Too bad that the train distractions in general would lead me to make too many mistakes, or all of my sweaters would be finished.
"So now you have to do another?"
Hah! They so didn't think it would come out sounding that way!