Knitting in Public

A Word about Beauty

I’ve recently finished Esther Rutter’s book This Golden Fleece, in which she writes frequently about knitting during her travels. It always seems to draw people in. This is something we’ve probably all experienced! I know I have!

Doctor’s office waiting rooms in particular are wonderful places to knit. They are also places where people tend to be a little reserved – unsure of what will happen in their appointment, concerned about a test result, waiting for a loved one to return and share the doctor’s prognosis.

People generally don’t see a doctor if they’re well. Usually there’s a concern, and these concerns range from mild to grave – but nonetheless, they are concerns. And for someone whose concerns are mild, and they are unaccustomed to the testing and routines of a doctors office, these mild concerns can be difficult to deal with. 

So I imagine that watching someone knit, or striking up a conversation with someone knitting, can bring a bit of calm, a bit of comfort to the situation – no matter how mild or grave it may be. People regularly ask me about my knitting in these places. They often share their own experiences – their sister crochets, their grandmother used to knit, they learned as a child.

Some will ask if what you’re crocheting – and that’s just fine! They’ve taken the initiative to engage with your work, and that really says something in this modern era of smart phones and inward focus. Some people will share that they’ve always wanted to try knitting, but are afraid of giving it a go. This is my personal favorite – an opening to encourage them! To take things one stitch at a time, similar to what they’re going to need to do, regardless of the outcome of their doctor’s appointment. 

Waiting rooms can be hard places to be, for a few reasons. One is the primary reason you find yourself in one – a medical concern for you or a loved one. Another reason is that you’re usually not the only one sitting in any given waiting room. There are other patients, others in need, and others who may be alone, unsure of what lies ahead of them. They may be scared, nervous, or full of dread. 

But the wonderful thing here, is that even if they were well, they need more beauty in their lives. We all do! Regardless of physical or mental state, we all need more beauty. And we need it more and more. 

The world – it’s ugly. It’s hard. It’s challenging. And it may be my perspective, but it seems to be getting uglier, harder, and more challenging all the time! Beauty is so important. It’s the antidote to ugliness. The antidote to pain, grief, disappointment. Beauty, and its companions: love and grace. 

Maybe you knit on the bus. Maybe you knit during meetings. Maybe you simply knit at home, in the privacy of your own living room, and that’s perfectly fine! You can appreciate beauty, too! 

Some of us knit for ourselves. Some of us are purely gift knitters. And some of us, like myself, do a bit of both. We’re all different, and we all knit for different reasons. For some of us it’s the process, the rhythm of knitting and the feeling of wool and needles in our hands that brings us joy. For others of us, it’s the draw of a new finished project that keeps us going. And again, it could be a mixture of these things for you. 

So if you’re an avid public knitter, keep it up! If you’re not, consider if knitting in public would be something you’d be comfortable doing. It may draw someone’s attention, but there’s a good chance it will be a positive experience – for both of you. The world desperately needs more beauty, and if you’re in a place to share it, it may impact someone in ways you never could have imagined. 

All photos © Jen Anderson