See this little bitty bit of a cuff of a mitt? That and a 7-by-2-inch strip of Slade ribbing are the sum total of my knitting for the past two+ weeks. The cuff is me working out some thoughts about a pair of by-request fingerless gloves for my niece. (“Surprise me!” is, I find, a major stumper.) And granted, I have spent some amount of time doodling possible colorwork patterns for them (in my Knitters Graph Paper Journal — love that thing!) that could have gone to knitting. But my knitting time seems to be getting more and more scant, and it is Bumming. Me. Out.
I’m forever seeing full-time knit designers proclaiming that their new shawl or sweater “knits up in no time!” and — honestly? — it makes me want to throw something at them. Granted, there’s a lot more to the job than the knitting, but when someone knits for a living there’s no way around the skewed perspective. If, like me, you have thirty minutes one evening and an hour five days later, nothing knits up in no time. And it’s got me wondering what the typical experience is, to the extent that there is such a thing. So here’s my Q: How much time do you have for knitting? On average, rough guess. Do you knit every day/night? Longer chunks on weekends? Only when you travel? Or what.
And if you have any tips for maximizing the use of that time, or carving out more of it, I’m sure we’d all love to hear it!
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PREVIOUSLY in Q for You: Do you knit from patterns?
NEVER enough time for knitting. :( I’ve been trying to do quick projects to keep “in the game,” and that has felt better, but I need more.
I have virtually given up reading to knit more. I knit in early morning and at night. I have 4 or more projects going at once but always try to have something simple going that I can finish, because completion is the key (I have at least 5 incomplete sweaters going right now, that may never get done). Granted, I am semi-retired….I gave up knitting 25 years ago because I had no time, and am now back at it!
I really struggle with balancing the reading and the knitting – and I definitely read less since I learned to knit. I have heard of mythical beasts who can do both (reading on a kindle, for example, so they don’t have to hold the book) but I’m not that talented myself….
I was finding a time conflict between knitting and reading as well, but how about audio books? I’m listening to one right now and find it’s a great way to both “read” and knit at the same time.
This is where audiobooks come in … I read/listen AND knit….my favorite books are usually found on audio and I can do both…also garden , walk and mildless housework… but always knitting
I took up pottery, which requires a lot of practice time to refine your skills and I love it, but it has really dented my knitting time. Also, what really makes getting projects done “in no time” is when you have more than one project on needles. I wish I could go with less sleep. Think of all of those hours I could spend knitting up sweaters!
I knit daily and squeeze in time wherever I can. I rarely go out without a project in my bag. I knit a lot on public transport, which gives me around an hour each day. I also knit in the evenings while winding down in front of the TV.
I’d say, on average I carve out an hour every day – two teenage daughters can vary this equation. Between working, community involvement, exercise, getting outside, preparing meals and making a house a home, it can be challenging. I do find that, the family has sort of grown to embrace, and even look for me in my knitting chair, so that they can discuss, vent, plan etc. In my mind, I owe it to them (and me) to get into that room, that chair, at a certain time each evening. It helps me “not sweat the small stuff”. I swear, if I weren’t knitting… I’d be nagging…hovering (aka : helecoptor parenting) or cleaning too much…nobody wants that, right? so I make sure I have a nice array of knitting projects to choose from and I try not to get too compulsive about it.
Brilliant. This almost convinced me to take up knitting. It is like a friendly “The Doctor is In” sign!
Working full time makes knitting time challenging. I always bring a small project with me to work, just in case at lunch, I can knit a few stitches. Reading your blogs really have inspired me this past year. I knit my first sweater (after knitting only socks and small stuff) for 15 years! Thank you for that! I think you have to make time to do the stuff you love.
I ‘knit and coffee’ every morning for about 15 minutes. Then it’s catch as catch can. I usually have a variety of stuff going on, one intensive and a few mindless. That said, I do manage to knock off a fair amount of projects. It’s the process for me.
As I enter my 71st year, I have an abundance of time, a lot of it is spent here at my friendly lap top or my convienent i-pad. I would never call this “wasted” time, I learn something everyday, discover new knitting challenges and techniques. Stay abreast of all the gossip and world news. I relenquish the computer to my husband around lunch time. Knitting commences while I watch DVR’d shows and sometimes doze in the chair. Dinner, then an evening of either knitting or maybe some cross stitch. So do my days roll along, with occasional interruptions, shopping, knitting guild, cross stitch group, the dreaded Drs. appointments, where I also sneak in a little knitting, always have some project with me. I am lucky, my days are yarn filled.
I knit all the time, keeping different projects around depending on how much time I have. There is always a project in my bag to work on when I am out and about, and have to wait in line for a purchase or sit in a waiting room for an appointment.
There is a project right here by my computer so I can work a few stitches while browsing the net.
There is a basket by my rocking chair that contains my bigger project that I try and work on every night for a few hours after dinner.
I wish I could sit and knit all day, but I try to fit in as much as I can each day.
One of the great joys of knitting is that it’s the perfect multitasking activity, so while I never knit as much as I’d like (who does?), I’m almost always knitting while watching a TV show or movie, on my daily train commute, and talking with friends over lunch. My productivity waxes and wanes depending on what other interests or responsibilities call for my time, but I think balance is a good thing.
As every one passionate, It seems to me that I never have enough time to knit!(Last time I touched my needles was ten days ago or so). So, as I have a lot to do at work, I only have time during the evenings or weekends to knit (I stopped knitting on subway because too many people were asking me questions about knitting). But my chance is that I’m really fast knitter. I had made some shawls in one week by knitting only 3 evenings watching my favourite TV shows. that’s how I do. I can knit also during the week end, but usually I don’t really have the time for that, except if I spend my whole week end at home (which is very rare). But I totally understand your frustration!! Sometimes, when I looked at some blogs, I’m just like: No way, this woman do only knit and sew all day to be able to post a new thing every 2 or 3 days!!
Maybe try wearing headphones as you knit on the subway- people will understand that they can’t talk to you, so you can just knit.
I should try that one day! ;-)
This is an interesting question and I would love to read more about it.
Although I have a full time job, I try to knit at least an hour in the evening. I have no kids and easy-care husband, that helps :).
Additionally, I knit on my way to work (I am going by tram) and try to knit as much as possible on the weekends.
Still, I wish I had more time to knit and feel like I could get nothing finished.
I think when you commute via train it’s easier to get things done knit wise or reading even.
I have found that I have to make my knitting time mandatory, just like cooking, cleaning, and exercise is mandatory. To me, knitting preserves my sanity, so if I go a few days without it I’m horribly crabby and unproductive. Even if I knit just one row, it’s better than nothing! Last night after work I went to an exercise class. By the time I got home and showered, I was exhausted. I sat in bed, knit one row and then went to sleep.
I agree with this too. I try to schedule time but for me sometimes things happen and I can’t or I’m too tired and you KNOW what happens when you knit tired!lol
I completely share your frustration with people who say things “knit up in a flash”! I spent some frustrating hours over the past few months trying to learn various ways of knitting more quickly (continental, cottage style, etc.) because I felt like I was just a really slow knitter. I’ve gone back to knitting in a way that doesn’t make me throw it down in a rage (because that is definitely not why I knit!) and have just accepted that I make slow progress on projects because I don’t have an entire day to knit at a time.
In general, some days I don’t have time to knit at all, and those are sad days. I try to knit in the evenings and keep resolving to get up an hour early each weekday morning to either read or knit, but that’s spotty. I do work full-time, volunteer, sing in a choir, etc. but I don’t have kids.
Try Portuguese this is actually quicker IMO
It’s an ebb and flow, but I try to knit a little each day. We just moved, so the schedule is in upheaval; but I used to listen to half of an audio sermon while knitting = about 25 minutes of time in the morning. Then, I carry a project with me if husband is driving the car. I also like some knitting time in the evening, but sometimes my eyes just close :)
I work full time so I usually try to spend at least an hour each night knitting while my husband watches TV. Quality time together…… I consider myself a slow knitter so projects always take longer then they say but I try not to get frustrated and just focus on the end result. Blocking is the one thing that it takes me a long time to get around to. I have several items waiting and the funny thing is they are items I made for myself. What does that say??
I have the same issues as a lot of the commenters here- I knit when I can, and I take a sock with me wherever I go to fill in odd moments. the rhythm of knitting is soothing to my chaotic brain and it always makes waiting for anything a pleasure rather than a curse. People tell me “I’m not patient enough to knit” Ha! The only patience I possess is held by my yarn, released in the knitting.
My friends (non-knitters) are sometimes surprised that I’ll pull out my knitting in line at the market or the bank. All those quick moments add up to socks. Don’t be afraid to knit everywhere. I’d never finish socks if not for knitting everywhere I go.
The “knits up fast” description always bother me too. I knit an average of 30 stitches/minute, and that includes rearranging needles, pulling on yarn, etc. That’s not speedy but my understanding is that it’s average for non-production knitters. I have 20 mins/day to knit on weekdays, a couple hours on weekends. I can spend a couple months on a sweater at 6sts/inch.
I Love Knitting.
I say we stick to the plan of you knit sleeves, I knit the body. We might be able to get a sweater done by the end of the year.
But in all seriousness, I struggle with finding time to knit. I think what works best for me is to always have a very easy knit on the needles as well as a more complicated one. I pull out the easy knit when in the passenger seat of the car, at restaurants, waiting for kids orthodontist appointments etc. I save the more complicated projects for the 30 minutes I have on the couch with my husband in the evening before my body says time for bed.
I sneak in quite a bit of knitting time each week. First, I always have some knitting with me in my purse, and knit a few rows whenever I’m waiting for something — for a movie to start, for a prescription to be filled, at the doctor’s office, etc. It helps to have something pretty simple for this kind of knitting, so you can put it down at anytime without worrying about losing your place. I also make my significant other do most of the driving, and knit anytime we’re in the car. At home, I knit whenever we’re watching TV or a movie. We typically watch one episode of something on netflix per night, because it’s how my partner relaxes, so this gives me a good 30-45 minute chunk of knitting time daily. And I often knit while I’m reading, too. This works especially well with reading on a kindle or ipad, where I don’t have to worry about keeping the book from flipping closed. Oh, and I take knitting to friend’s houses, too. I wouldn’t take it to a party, but if we’re going to a close friend’s house for dinner, and I know we’ll spend a lot of time sitting around chatting, I totally bring my knitting. I just try to be sure to bring something that won’t be hurt by kid hands, because kids can’t resist talking to you about what you’re doing, petting the yarn, etc.
Dust less, knit more. I’ve found a 3 week coating of dust comes off in the same amount of time as does a week’s worth. I also listen to audio books on an MP3 player or my phone while knitting. I have my husband drive everywhere so I can knit in the car. I use my bluetooth when I call to make appointments, etc and knit while on hold. Same thing at the doctor and hairdresser. Luckily my husband is low maintenance and gets home late in the evening already fed, so I knit while waiting on him.
I knit in the car when the kids fall asleep and I’m waiting out the nap in the drive way. Or when I’m the passenger in a long car ride. I sit down to knit at home all the time, but with an 8 month old and a 3 year old I usually get about a half-row in before they need me again.
I go through phases. Sometimes I knit all weekend long. Sometimes an hour or two every evening of the week. Sometimes, nothing for 3 weeks. It depends on whether I’ve got a self-imposed deadline (or Xmas). I’d say, though, that I average an hour a day – if you even it all out. I should point out that sometimes things go really quickly (if I’m in the groove). Sometimes they drag, even if theoretically the project is easy. There’s no telling with knitting I find.
I’m a part-time designer with a full-time day job in another field. But I manage to fit in quite a lot of knitting by knitting in the early mornings before work; knitting on my lunch break; knitting in the evenings while reading an ebook or watching a movie; and knitting while working out on the treadmill and/or stationary bike. I can also walk and knit outdoors as long as it’s a small project knit in the round. Weekends are prime knitting time. My attitude is, I make time for what I love. I don’t love housecleaning, so the more I design and knit, the less tidy my home is. I just try to keep the mess out of my blog and Ravelry photos as much as possible. :-)
I believe I knit about 1½ hour every day. For me, it is an important activity and I try to find time to knit a bit every day. Mostly, I knit in the evenings, but if I could I would knit all day long. :-)
Never enough time to knit! I try to knit a bit every evening, after my full time outside the home job; some days I just can’t fit it in. I’m not a particularly fast knitter, so I work a lot of smaller projects to get in some kintting gratification. Now I’m trying to add more exercise time & keep to a diet, so that will likely cut into my knitting time too. I have two SAH roomies, both adults & able, but they never do any more housework than they find necessary, and their standards aren’t up to mine!
I’ve taken to knitting during my lunch hour a work to make sure I get enough knitting time in. I find that I’m exhausted after work most evenings, so if I don’t do it at lunch, I won’t get to do it at all. I spend most of at least one weekend day knitting, though, which is really nice. :)
How interesting! I always assumed everyone spent way more time knitting than me. But it looks like most of us are in the same situation. I am a very shy person but I always bring an easy knitting project with me everywhere I go. I find there are many times that I can get a row or two done while waiting for something. For me, this is how most projects progress, by a row here and there. I watch an hour of Netflix each evening and I use this as my main block of knitting time. Sometimes I feel like I progress very slowly, but when I look at my Ravelry project page I am rather amazed at how many things I have finished!
My knitting gets done at the end of the day when I’m too wiped out for anything else. I admit that it is done in part as a reward (for a day well spent in the studio), and in part to keep me from falling asleep at nine o’ clock — it keeps me upright for another couple of hours. I get done what I can get done. No pressure. For me knitting is pure pleasure that deserves no rules or rubricks. I can rip out as many times as I want, I can let it sit unfinished for as long as I want. If it doesn’t feel fun I question my colors or textures and switch it up without any hesitation. When I’m in between projects, I page through my Barbara Walker books and tag the things that might be fun to try, and of course, sketch in my Knitters Graph Paper Journal.
I admit sometimes I catch myself taking it too seriously too, or feeling pressure to produce, but I try to remind myself that it’s just a concoction of cognitive spirals that gets me in that state and to try and remember to keep it fun and playful!
As a home maker I tend to have a bit of “time” on my hands, but I often feel guilty for knitting during the day, unless it is when my son is asleep. So, I usually try to get some knitting done after dinner when my husband gets home and is watching his favorite shows or working on the computer. It’s been really good for us, as it allows up to be “alone together” and enjoy each others presence with out both focussing on the same things.
I knit at night, at least one hour, two if I can. More on the week-end obviously, depending on activities planned. I’m with you on the “knits in no time” thing, I keep falling in the same trap though thinking that knitting a sweater will take me less than a month or that I can go through a pair of socks in two weeks. Reality catches up with me more often than not. My way around this was to reduce the amount of parallel projects to a maximum of three, with different weights. Right now I’m working my way through a sweater, a pair of socks and an afghan.
By the way, I love your blog ;-)
I knit whenever I watch tv, which now that football season is over is not very often. I knit on car trips if hubby is with me (he drives), while waiting for appts. or whenever I need to calm down for a bit(he helps me de-stress). There is never enough time to knit or read either. I always carry a book and something to knit when I leave the house.
I’ve actually always wondered how you get much time to knit at all, what with the blogging and the blog surfing for new things and the shop (which must entail more surfing for product and marketing and purchasing and inventory and shipping) and I assume you do all of your own photography and…
Well. You get the picture. I absolutely love your blog but maybe you could get some help with all that other stuff?
I agree with everyone’s comments about feeling your frustration, I find that when I work on new designs, the ratio of time to knitting is so skewed that I end up a little frustrated, because who wouldn’t rather be vegged out somewhere with their knitting? I think the trick to keeping that balance is to have some quick and easy projects on the go as well, something that you can keep in oyur purse and just knit away on during any surprise downtime,. those knits seem to turn into FOs in no time.
My knitting bag is ALWAYS with me – while I wait for my kid’s during their activities, road trips and at work before anyone gets in the office (I’m usually the first person in). With taking care of a household, 3 kids, working full time, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to dedicate time to knit. Knitting is what keeps me sane from the everyday stresses of life, but when I get in a couple of rows , just even 1 row, I”m human again ;)
When the yarn bug snagged me, the first books I read were the Yarn Harlot books. The tips for sneaking in knitting time were excellent. So I always carry a small bag of something – a hat usually, or socks. I knit on the ferry (short ride) or while waiting for the ferry, waiting for my husband to run in a store, during movie time at home, at the gallery (the biggest chunk of time.) Where I have difficulty time is knitting from complex patterns. I have to be able to focus. That type of time is hard to come by. By the end of one busy day at the gallery, I found I had to rip back the whole day’s worth of knitting on a special hat for my daughter’n’law. The distraction of talking with people, then trying to pick up the pattern – went completely awry! Can’t wait to read other’s posts.
I work full-time and have small children so there is never enough time to knit even during my lunch break at work. But, I read about how important lunch breaks are to eat, socialize and relax. So I talked some co-workers into learning to knit and once a week we have knitting club over lunch. That forces us to stop eating at our desks and to actually knit and talk and eat like a normal human. Knitting makes us human.
Love this post! I read all these comments and think: wow, these are my people!
There is never enough time for knitting. I work three days a week, so very little knitting (maybe 1/2 hour) is done on those days. I always carry a project with me in my work bag, hoping for a mindless conference call, but it never happens. On my days off, I have great intentions to spend a solid block of time knitting, but all those other tasks creep in on me and it usually ends up being 1-2 hours. I haven’t figured out how to knit and read yet, but that would do wonders for my productivity. I’m a very fidgety person, and when I transitioned to a standing desk for my office job last year I also started standing while knitting, which has been fabulous. My most indulgent knitting time is spent standing in front of my computer watching Netflix shows.
Agreed.
Thank you for writing this post! I am a slow knitter, and on top of that attempting to not get behind all my school work but whenever I see people posting finished socks or shawls or even sweaters on ravelry, twitter, and instagram I feel like I have let myself down. Some days I can get over 5 hours of knitting, and then I won’t have time to fit knitting for more than 15 minutes for the next two weeks. So whenever I make something, it is made slow :P.
You are absolutely right about the limited amount of time for knitting and it gets frustrating at times. And even when you CAN make time, you can’t bc you still have to maintain order in your home and also rsst. This slow knitting process prolongs working on the saaaaammme project, we get bored and start another…. Smh
My knitting is always packed to go. Sitting in the car..I knit. Coffee shop, I knit. It’s close at hand when the tv set is on and I’m forced to watch with my hubby…
take it to the dr. office, dentist office, library, parking lot…I knit everywhere without guilt.
c
I have to schedule times to knit into my day. If I don’t, it won’t ever happen. How sad is that….scheduling knitting!
Knit every night watching TV. Cannot tell you how many pairs of socks I’ve knitted while waiting in doctor’s offices. Knitted through an entire day long meeting the other day. Always have a bag ready to go whenever I leave the house.
Thank you. Every time I see the “knits up in no time” I get a little discouraged when it doesn’t. And it’s nice to see that I’m not the only one. I’m still fairly new to knitting but I feel I’ve at least got a rhythm down. I’m definitely knitting faster but I don’t think I’ve created anything in “no time”. If I can get a half hour in a day I feel great but with a busy work schedule that’s not always possible. I think I will take the advice of others’ comments and start taking my knitting out with me!
I have a 35-minute train ride to and from work each day, so by the time I get settled that’s about five hours a week that I am just sitting — and so I typically knit (sometimes I read). I also sneak in a half hour to an hour of knitting a few nights a week while I watch something on Netflix. Whenever I leave the house I take a small project with me (usually socks) and get a row in here and there – at the doctor’s office, at a restaurant, even in a movie theater. I bring knitting with me to visit friends and family, something easy to do so I can carry on conversations at the same time.
A few months ago my husband suggested setting the alarm clock for six instead of seven. It has been heaven. I get up, make tea, and come back to bed with my knitting. We drink our tea and talk and I knit, and get in a solid 45 minutes before I have to start my day. He loves watching films, so I always knit while we watch stuff. (There are times when I’m working on something complex and request no subtitles.) I also try to knit for at least half an hour before bed, to unwind.
Seems like every creative struggles with finding the time to practice his or her craft. When I started blogging about knitting, I found the time I actually spent knitting went way down—I’m still trying to figure out how to balance the scales. The best and most prolific makers and artists I know wake up early to get a few hours of work in before life intervenes. So hard to deny that snooze button in the moment, though!
I knit every day, from morning to night. Truly:) When I have to do something else (like translations) I usually start knitting (or crocheting) after dinner. And then go on. I do that for job and it’s for me one of the biggest pleasure of my day:) We live in Italy where it is not so easy to find a job lately. So you have to create a job and that’s why I’ve opened my Etsy shop. In a way I’ve taken my part-time hobby and turn it into a full time job.
I gave up housework for knitting…an easy choice for sure. Which is of course a bit of an exageration, but not much. Also find myself chuckling when I realize I have spent a lot of time on the computer reading about knitting, give myself a nudge and click off and pick up my needles. Loved reading all the comments, got great advice and insight into the hearts of fellow knitters.
I knit as I can, when I can, but a full time job and two teenage sons does not help. I knit on my lunch hour when I am not in meetings or having a business lunch. I knit in Dr’s offices etc… But I have to agree with a previous comment – I have given up reading to knit, and I do miss a good book too! Weekends I usually spend several hours knitting and feeling guilty all the while about all the housework that isn’t getting done or all the other stuff I should be doing…
:) a LOT.
I’m an insatiable knitter with never enough knitting time. I create little crocheted amigurumi friends that I post in my Etsy shop occasionally. I knit or crochet whenever I have a chance to sit still – watching a movie with my kids or waiting for them to brush their teeth before bedtime.
I do a lot of my best knitting after they go to sleep. I have to be careful, though, or I can end up knitting all night. I’m not a very effective mom when I don’t sleep, so I try to keep it reasonable. The last few weeks before Christmas are another story, though. I’m hoping to get more of my holiday knitting done earlier, this year.
Love reading people’s responses to this question! It seems like even if we don’t *have* time to knit, we *make* time :) I knit almost everyday, maybe 30 – 60 min over the course of being awake. I definitely knit longer chunks on weekends, especially when we watch a movie or I’m a passenger on a long car ride.
Knitting time aside, I’m a pretty slow knitter, so I often disregard the “knits up in no time” sales pitch as well. I’m OK with handmade projects taking a long time to make. I don’t knit something because I’m in a hurry to have/wear it. I am very focused on the process and savor every stitch!
Karen,
Your post resonates with my knitting time. I work nights, as a intensive care nurse. On a daily basis, my goal is 3 to 5 rows. Knitting is so relaxing and I am soooo tired that I quickly fall asleep when I try to knit more than a few rows after work. At best, I have a block of 1 to 2 hours on a night off. And I like to enjoy my knitting, taking my time so I am slow…….but that’s okay. If I know I have a baby sweater to knit, or other knitted present, I must start months in advance. I don’t pick patterns based on simplicity or if it is a quick knit. I have to LOVE the pattern.
And my other knitting activities, such a reading great blogs like yours, are a daily activity – no matter how tired I am….great inspiration.
I have to repeat the response from MJK — there’s never enough time! Having said that, I take the train to work, so I knit on my commutes. It adds up to about 2 hours a day. If I reach a point in my project that needs a little extra attention, then I knit a bit more in the evening at home.
I am like semi-retired Bonnie Pierce. I do not have a full-time job, but I still “virtually gave up reading” in order to have more time for knitting. My love for books has endured, but I do not read as widely any more. Now I’m much more likely to be found browsing my way through knitting books rather than gulping down novels! I took up knitting in mid-life, and never thought I’d be a “knitter” rather than a “reader.”
I knit maybe 5 minutes on average a day, though sometimes I go months or even years without knitting at all. My time is just that tight.
For awhile I had a retail job where I was allowed to knit at work. That was a serious perk! I knit probably 4 or so hours a day between work and home.
I made most of my best friends at a knitting group at my LYS and I think that encouraged and motivated me, too. I often wanted to finish something in time for my yarn friends to see it, and having a set time every week to knit means that I don’t go over a week without knitting, ever. I carry my knitting with me and knit on transit, in cafes, at the bar, waiting for appointments, etc.
Now, if I have a weeknight free I often knit while I watch tv for a few hours – I can’t knit at work but I still probably do at least 10h a week. I don’t have kids, though.
I try to knit every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes. I keep an easy project in the car at all times, for unexpected waits, and an easy one at home for watching TV. Complicated projects are relegated to weekends or Wednesday (off work on Wednesdays) when I can focus. And in the summer, I spend more time in my pottery studio than I do knitting–playing with wool in Houston just doesn’t make sense (kind of like throwing pots in an unheated garage studio doesn’t make sense in winter!)
Time for knitting (or sewing) is very fluid for me. At the moment I’m knitting quite a bit of the day because a) I’m feeling under the weather so sitting and knitting and drinking tea is the best thing to do and b) I’m trying to speed knit a very simple sweater for my husband and I want it done. Now! But next week…who knows?
I dedicate my lunch hour at work to knitting, I’m usually only able to work a few rows, but it satisfies my itch to knit during the day. I also have a free hour between work and grad school, so if all my work is caught up, I knit then too. When I’m lucky and able to watch tv in the evenings, you can bet I’m knitting then. I also love road trips! I get so much done!
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THANK YOU for asking this question. I struggle with this too – and frequently conclude that I am just a slow knitter….but it is definitely true that I will end up going a week or more without knitting, depending on what is going on with work and family.
Times when I knit:
While attending children’s practice activities (dance, gymnastics, baseball)
While watching TV (Downton Abbey is EVEN BETTER with a cup of tea and some knitting in your lap)
While waiting at restaurants (I can still chat with the family, unlike if I am on my phone or other mobile device – and it keeps me from eating chips at Mexican restaurants!)
While attending continuing education seminars (if I feel I can be discrete and not distract the presenters – even though if they knew how fidgety I am, and how much better I attend when my hands have something to do, they would surely want me to knit!)
On my lunch break if I don’t have work I need to get done or meetings at the same time.
I’ve probably missed some – but there it is.
As noted above – knitting really cuts into my reading – and I also find it conflicting with exercise – because “my time” each day is so limited. Sometimes (many times?) I find I’d rather sit down and knit than get my butt out the door to go work out.
I knit every single day…or better night, but because I have so many projects started it can take me months not weeks to finish something. I knit every time I can pause somewhere for example when I wait at the dentist, doctor or what else, when I sit on the car and off course I’m not driving, on the train, bus and so on I always carry with me some knitting or crochet. But that is the knitting I do for myself or for my family. When I knit or crochet for work then I knit from 9 to 5.
I do several hours a day, but two things are key – a partner who shares equally, and not caring too much about the housework :-) We all have tea as a family (which my husband cooks), my son’s in bed by eight, and then I get 2-3 hours to knit in front of the TV.
I also do lots on buses and in lunch hours, while my son’s running round the park, etc.
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Reading everyone’s comments is great! Ideal day: early morning, knit. Commute on mass transit, knit. Lax job with long lunch break, knit, knit. Commute home, knit. After dinner and before bed, knit, knit.
My life is the exact opposit of this. I’m lucky if I can finish a hat before winter is over!
No worries though, I love every minute (that I get)
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