I was intrigued by Kristina Brousalias’s admission in the Whip Up blog that, until recently, she could not imagine knitting in public. I’ve seen several other posts around the internet about this subject lately, too, so I guess I’ll hop on the train (so to speak) myself.

Personally, since I learned to knit, there’s not been a time that I did not knit in public. Just as when I’m not knitting, I always have a book or a notepad with me to provide a “downtime” activity, when I am knitting, I usually have my knitting with me. On Black Friday, for example, I packed my current project up and took it with me to JoAnn Fabrics, planning to knit while waiting in the cutting line. (As it turns out, I had near perfect timing and didn’t have a wait at all, and was actually a little disappointed to miss an opportunity to knit for a while. Last year, I had about an hour in line, and spent that time pretty much finishing up the book I’d brought.) All was not for naught, though, as I was able to complete about 8 rounds on the bag I was working on while I waited to take my mom home from her doctor’s appointment. And then another 10 or so rounds while waiting for my husband at the store.

I completed about 30 rows of a pair of knitted baby pants during the Iowa Caucus (perched on the teacher’s desk at the front of the room, no less). One wool bowl and one water bottle holder during my mom’s surgery in December, and half the knitted baby pants while sitting with her in ICU. I’ve knitted at the park, in the mall, at an indoor playground, in the car, at doctor’s appointments, at a craft show, during downtime at a baby fair, and while waiting in all sorts of lines.

My slightly OCD tendencies really grate on the husband, actually. I seem unable to leave the house without a project or my organizer or at the very least some reading material. But I hate to be forced into a situation where I’m stuck just doing…nothing. And, really, the knitting tote is so small. Just a ball of yarn, some notes about the pattern, and the needles. Quite portable, perfect for those little moments when there’s nothing else to be doing!