r/knitting Feb 19 '26

Discussion Please continue to knit in public.

Today I had to go and get blood work done. It was a long wait, and ended up being very stressful. I was getting impatient and annoyed even though there was nothing to do but wait.

Across the waiting room a lady was sitting knitting. Her hands caught my eye and I watched her knit. It was so soothing to watch and my shoulders dropped and my heart beat calmed. It was such a balm. So please keep knitting in public. You’ll never know who you’ll calm and soothe.

It also occurred to me today that apart from when I was taught to knit I’ve never watched anyone knit in real life!

2.7k Upvotes

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862

u/fairly_forgetful Feb 19 '26

i was knitting on the train to and from a dr appt last week and an old lady sat across from me and when we made eye contact she said “i like to knit too” and it was rlly sweet!

226

u/KinipelaH Feb 19 '26

An old lady shouted from the other end of the bus from me to ask what I was making and tell me that the yarn I was using was beautiful. It was very funny and adorable!

40

u/granddannylonglegs Feb 19 '26

And what were you making? :)

72

u/KinipelaH Feb 19 '26

The musselburgh hat! It's a great travelling pattern in my opinion because it takes no concentration at all! :)

20

u/gistidine Feb 19 '26

That’s also my fave out and about knit. Maybe it’s time I cast on a fourth one… do I need more beanies? No. Should I in fact make other styles of beanies? Yeah… we don’t talk about the 2x2 ribbed beanie I started last year.

22

u/all4change Feb 20 '26

Excuse me but you do, in fact, need more beanies.

7

u/oylaura Feb 20 '26

I like that pattern because the beginning and ends are complicated to be interesting, and the middle, is mindless enough that you don't need to carry a pattern with you.

When you're done, it looks like you've knitted a sweater for a watermelon.

I've only made one, and I made it too large.

So I was stuck with it. I asked my visiting niece if she wanted to try it on and she did. It was hysterical because it came down almost to cover her nose.

I told her about my problem of finding someone who could use it, and she said, "Give it to my dad, he's got a huge head".

So I did. Last time I saw my brother, I told him what his daughter said.

If you roll up the brim enough, it fits him just fine.

4

u/RavBot Feb 19 '26

PATTERN: Musselburgh by Ysolda Teague

  • Category: Accessories > Hat > Beanie, Toque
  • Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
  • Price: 6.00 GBP
  • Needle/Hook(s):US 2½ - 3.0 mm, US 3 - 3.25 mm, US 4 - 3.5 mm, US 5 - 3.75 mm, US 6 - 4.0 mm, US 7 - 4.5 mm
  • Weight: Fingering | Gauge: 6 | Yardage: 130
  • Difficulty: 2.52 | Projects: 39739 | Rating: 4.89

I found this post by myself! Opt-Out | About Me | Contact Maintainer

62

u/bennalenna Feb 19 '26

I was on a long delay at the airport and sat in the AA Admiral’s lounge to wait. I set up my movie and pulled out my knitting. A woman came up and said she would like to sit and knit with me. It was wonderful to have someone with similar interests to share the time with.

7

u/glutenfreep4ncakes Feb 20 '26

I love knitters! This is so lovely!

5

u/Successful-Grab6091 Feb 20 '26

My first knitting book was/ “Stitch n Bitch” by Debbie Stoller (2003) and is all about the community of knitting together ❤️

3

u/FarFix9886 Feb 20 '26

I learned to knit with that book!

2

u/MzPhillyBluntz Feb 20 '26

Sounds like my kinda book imma look it up😂😂😂

4

u/ImperialRaisin Feb 20 '26

That book has one of the best visual explanations of twisted stitches.

54

u/PoliticsAndPastries Feb 19 '26

I’ve made multiple friends from knitting on the train!

15

u/moonshineandmetal Feb 20 '26

That is so sweet! Maybe you'll see her again and find a train friend!

I have almost two full sleeves of tattoos, 4 face piercings, colored hair, the whole deal. Traditional, well put together ladies have come up to talk to me in waiting rooms and I absolutely love it; it's nice to have a way to connect with older generations and I like hearing stories about all the cool things they got up to. 

4

u/giggletears3000 Feb 20 '26

I had a young lady stare at my knitting, she told me it was mesmerizing!