Knitting in public has often been an open invite for people to talk to me, so if you don’t want to interact with others it’s probably best to leave your project at home!
I’ve heard all of the following (mostly on airplanes and public transportation):
“How nice of you to make me a ____________ {hat, scarf, sock…}” followed by a shared grin and chuckle.
“Is that knitting or crochet?”
“Is knitting hard?”
“I could never do that!”
“Oh, my grandma used to knit!”
Maybe it is something about engaging in “grandma hobbies” that makes people feel comfortable talking to you.
Maybe it is that knitting helps us relax and reduce anxiety, making us feel safe for people to approach.
Maybe it is a connection with, or a reminder of, someone they love who also knits.
No matter what it is, it is fun to have a hobby that is portable, and makes others feel comfortable connecting with you!
Having a small project that can tuck into my purse or backpack is something I strive to always have. And you can think outside the box here a little bit.
Easy option: Washcloths.
I have a monthly washcloth series, while designing them I always had a little swatch or the full thing handy to knit. And whether it is one of those fun themed ones or a simple seed stitch washcloth, this is a favorite portable project of mine in part because they are so useful and giftable!
Longer Term Option: Scarves
One of my students has been knitting scarves on her commute to work. While scarves get long, they are generally not very wide, so as long as you have a big enough bag, they stay pretty convenient for public knitting.
This was also my first bus knitting project – but that is a story for another day!
More Complex (but small) – Socks!
Socks are a great portable project, and I find this to be true even if I am knitting two at a time.
Sometimes I feel “safer” when knitting on circulars, but I also regularly employ my trick of wrapping DPNs with the yarn I am knitting with to keep all my stitches safely on the needles while I transport them.
But regardless of what needles I am using, the compact nature of socks makes them easy to pull out and work on while on the go.
And depending on the pattern, they also often make good social knitting options – just beware when you get to transition points like heels, you may need a little more attention here.
Outside the Box: Beginning = Portable
My outside the box tip I have is a reminder that most any project is portable when you are just starting it.
Of course the gauge swatch part is always portable.
But so is the beginning of even large projects like sweaters – that beginning ribbing is an easy to remember repeat and the first few inches fold up into a small bag or section of your purse quite nicely!
Heading to a Polo match in Newport, Rhode Island I combined two of these ideas – I did some swatching to decide what needle size to use for a new shawl on our drive there.
Enlisting the opinions of my friends in the car with me, I determined the needle size to get the drape I wanted and cast on my three stitches to start a new triangle shawl. Throughout the drive and while waiting for the match to start, that tiny beginning grew and we all decided we made the right needle choice.
Whether you are looking for a way to pass the time waiting for an appointment, to make your public transit commute feel productive, want more opportunities to engage with those around you or have a long flight coming up – there are plenty of great public knitting projects to choose from.
Stay tuned for more tips and tricks for knitting more often, more efficiently, more joyfully!
