knitting perception in our society

darine

darine

Cathlete
why do i get comments like I am getting old fast when i knit? People laugh when they see that I knit. I only started a month ago and I love it. I love fashion and love the idea of choosing my colors, material and style. I soon want to also start sewing.

I actually was about to start to make my own jewlery instead of knitting but the cost was so much higher so I went to knitting. But people react like "making jewlery is fun". But really knitting and making jewlery are in the same category.

If I was sitting down playing video games, then that's normal. But knitting, not so normal for a 30 years old. Why?

I think people forgot the simple pleasures of life. I work all the time and knitting is so simple and sweet. We are in a fast moving society and we miss out on life! isn't the goal to be happy? Relaxing is part of happiness. Do I have to be killing people on video games to be "Normal"? how is that relaxing anyways, it's stressful.

Any knitters experiecing the same? I am just wondering if it's my family and surrounding that are like that or the whole word. My mom, family in law and some friends knit too and are suportive. So not everyone around me is like that. But some are, so I am wondering.
 
My gosh, almost all the women I know knit! Even the little girls (and some boys) in my circle have taken it up. I think it's fun, though I'm a newbie and have spent all summer frowning over a dishcloth. I love to sit in a group chatting and knitting.

People are always going to have something to say when you choose to do your own thing. I have people comment on my workouts, the amount of time I spent choosing and preparing food, my obsession with clean living, keeping hens, sustainable living, blah blah blah. Don't let it get you down - I think most people comment because they are insecure about their own lives.

so what are you knitting? :D
 
I hear ya!!! I'm a cross stitcher and I get that look and those comments sometimes, too. I thought knitting had become cool again. Normally its just me and the older ladies in the cross stitch aisle. I buy most of my patterns on line, bc the store is full of old lady patterns, but I buy my other supplies at the store. I use it as time to chill out, relax, and keep my hands out of the munchies while I watch tv. I also play video game, though.

Nan
 
sparrow13 said:
People are always going to have something to say when you choose to do your own thing.

I think most people comment because they are insecure about their own lives.
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Ain't that the truth!

I quilt and crochet, and yeah, I've heard dopey comments from a couple of people. One of them has to be THE most insecure person I know, and she has a negative comment for just about everybody, so I pay no attention.

Most people dig it though. Our homeschool group meets up once a week at the park. The kids play, we spread out blankets under a tree, crochet and knit, and chat for a few hours. It's great! Some of the kids are learning too.

Okay, time to list projects! :eek:
  • I'm working on a blanket of Granny Squares for my younger daughter.
  • When I get tired of the big project, I'll make a few, quick baby hats or a headband for my older daughter.
  • I'm thinking about making another scarf. I either keep them or donate them.
  • I have an unpieced quilt top patiently waiting for me in my bedroom closet.
Let's hear what everyone else is doing!
 
LaughingWater your homeschool group sounds a lot like mine. We do the same thing. :D Someday I'd like to take classes and learn more intricate patterns, but for now I'm sticking with the basics. My current project is a small afghan to use at my boys baseball games with their clubs initials on it. Putting it together is going to be rather time consuming (143 small squares), but I have all winter to get it done. :D
 
I think most people don't know what you can do with knitting and crocheting, and they associate them with afghans (throws that 'grandma' makes) or doilies (like the silly, frilly ones on the arms of gradma's sofa).

Once they start seeing the cool stuff you're making, maybe they'll change their tune?
 
kathryn said:
I think most people don't know what you can do with knitting and crocheting, and they associate them with afghans (throws that 'grandma' makes) or doilies (like the silly, frilly ones on the arms of gradma's sofa).

Once they start seeing the cool stuff you're making, maybe they'll change their tune?
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Thread hijack alert!!!! You said "doily" Great goolie mooglies I hate that word, I don't know why. Makes my skin crawl. That and "moist" SHUDDER!

Back to your regularly scheduled thread,
Nan
 
Actually, I recall an article in our local alternative weekly City Pages here in the Twin Cities, said alternative weekly directed toward the younger urban hipsters, that knitting is now so hot it's totally cool. Knitters are getting very interested in knitting their own original wardrobe items and so on. So, Darine - you're cutting-edge! Or knitting-edge! Take your pick!

A-Jock
 
This is so funny. I think it's great that knitting and crocheting is cool for the younger crowd. Honestly though, the only people I ever knew who did either were my grandmothers. They made beautiful afghans that I cherish today and little slippers and rugs to go in front of the sinks in the bathrooms. They made stuff for everyone and I just love it. They tried to teach me the art of knitting/crocheting and I just couldn't get it as a child.

Nan, I too cringe at the moist word. Not sure why. You're post made me lol. Funny!
 
LOTs of young women AND men knit and crochet! In fact, SO MANY leaped on me when I was in christmas stocking making obsession (note, never make a stocking when you're having a nervous break down-gives Santa balloon hips but I digress)...
I was power walking in Colonial Williamsburg,near my house last winter, and saw a William and Mary student powerwalking, listening to her ipod, and knitting rapidly! I was mesmerized and really feel she should rule the world....AND she was pretty too, wearing hip brooks sneakers and a pea coat I envied...

So knit away!!!!!

Have you tried the Ann Norling Christmas stockings?
 
i think it is wonderful!! i use to crochet, i'm not talented enough to knit,:) just don't have time anymore. my sister knit's , crochet's, sews. she is very talented, artistically. i ride horses. :) that is about all i am good at.
you just keep on knittin' away!! i LOVE handmade things. it is a lost art and it is nice to know that people are taking it up again.
 
My grandmother (from Austria) lived with us when I was a child. In the afternoons, my mom would take a quick nap before she would go to work so my grandmother would teach my sister and I to knit, crochet, embroider and sew.

I ended up as a designer/patternmaker in the apparel industry. My eye hand coordination is outstanding, my sister ended up as a nurse, her eyehand coordinator is even better. Her hands never shake and she is the best at IV's.

I had an emergency appendectomy about 5 years ago. The young nurses hands shook so much, I ended up taking the tools to take out the drains and things. My sister and I owe our steady hands to my "Nana."

I still sew every week, my sister still does all types of needle work, especially knitting and cross stitch.

I don't get any weird comments, I get a lot of envious comments from people especially those who were never taught!!!
 
I just love to knit scarves. For some reason it really helped me reduce stress! I use all kinds of different yarns and colors and have a great time making then. Knit away!!!!
Ellen
 
Please don't think I'm weird for bringing this up (well . . . okay, go ahead and think I'm weird all you want! I certainly do . . .), but there are prisons out there for male inmates that have utilized knitting, crocheting and sewing as activities and work projects for its inmates as a means to make / keep them productive AND as a way to rehab their behavior, with no small amount of success. The inmates are able to develop their concentration, hand-eye coordination, potentially marketable skills that they can utilize upon release, and they are able to create positive things of which they can be proud!

That's gotta count for something!

A-Jock
 
I think you are maybe hanging out with the wrong people. There are kniiters and crafters of all ages. Nuts. While it is true that my grandmother, great grandmother and even my mother (although she is more into crochet and doesn't anymore because of arhritis/vision problems) knit its not something for just the old and infirm. I am just about to start and I think its great. Ok, I'm 31 so maybe it is for old ladies? In the UK and Europe lots of people knit. Also, how handy is that? Do you have a crafters group or knitting group? There are meetups/clubs all over for that.

Its great for insomnia because its a repetitive activity and you don't have a computer or tv turned on. I had insomnia all last week (down to 1 hour of sleep a night sometimes) and I was using dumb video games but yesterday I decided that I should do something productive.
 
Give them the evil stink eye, . . . heck when was the last time they made anything with their hands that didn't involve a microwave? Of course I've always had a passion and love for historical costume design and construction, . . I mean you think we know how to knit you should see the stuff they did prior to the invention of the sewing machine. I always get excited when someone takes up a craft that involves creating something with your hands. I think that the appreciation for things made with love has been replaced by faster, modern, and now, . . we are an IKEA and Target nation. Enjoy your craft, . .be proud of what you've made, . . .seek approval from no one and happy knitting.
 
I don't knit, but my sister does and we go to many knit stores in Portland when we visit her! I think knitting is becoming very hip and the "thing to do" in our parts. Classes, groups and stores are popping up all over :) My girls are learning hand-stitching from their Grandma and many of the young girls we know (we also homeschool) can knit or cross-stitch!
 
Peaceful Rainbow said:
My current project is a small afghan to use at my boys baseball games with their clubs initials on it. Putting it together is going to be rather time consuming (143 small squares), but I have all winter to get it done. :D
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Wow! That is a lot of squares! :eek: I cheated and made my Granny Squares huge so I didn't have to sew so many together.

Another neat aspect of sewing, quilting, knitting, etc. is that you can not only make things for yourself and loved ones, but you can make lovely items for charity that are greatly appreciated. Long before I took up any of this, my daughter and I were on the receiving end of a Project Linus blanket, and that gesture meant so much to us.

Just a few places that would love your work:

Hats For Alex
Threads of Compassion
Head Huggers
Warm Up America
The Red Scarf Project

If you Google "crochet" or "knit charity," you'll get a few hits.
 
I found that a lot of people thought I was doing an "old" thing when I took up knitting, too, but as time went on, I found out that saying that I was doing an "old" hobby was just their way of saying that they are jealous of the fact that I can knit or crochet.

In fact, what I've found is that those kind of remarks generally come from people who do not have the discipline to learn how to knit or crochet. And, now that I think about this, I think that these kinds of remarks are very similar to the disparaging remarks one hears about exercise and working out - what it really amounts to is that they can't do it themselves, so must put you down for doing it. It makes them feel better about themselves to make you feel bad about your industry, discipline, and innovativeness.
 
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