Handcrafting on the Train

Hello dear ones,

what the dog is outside when you’re out for a walk is knitting on the train. Namely, a way to start a conversation. Outside people talk about their dogs, and on the train they talk about the handcraft.

For many years I took public transportation to work (including 30 minutes each way on a regional train). The same route every day, mostly the same fellow passengers. To make use of the time, I always had a handcraft project in my bag. I could keep knitting my loop scarf or crochet something small. I got on at the final stop. By the very next station, female travelers in particular would join me in my four-seat group.

And very often the knitting or crochet project was a way to start a conversation. People ask, “What is it going to be?” or “I used to knit too.” or “What kind of pattern is that?” In any case, that happened to me very often. Handcrafts got people talking; we talked about yarn and projects, what we ourselves used to knit or crochet.

One lady then bought “my” yarn and knitted the same project (Featherlight loop scarf made from cashmere yarn) on the train. Another lady knitted my wrist warmers for her granddaughters. I had shown her the pattern on CP and immediately recommended the right yarn for it. And then I always got to admire the progress and the finished items.

Even on the Berlin subway, which I also had to take, I always saw many passengers working on handcraft projects. Young women on their way to university were knitting hats and scarves too. And when you look up from your handcraft, you always see people watching you with interest and looking at your fingers. They usually have a smile on their face—from admiration, from curiosity, from interest. Sometimes very elderly ladies would talk to me and tell me all the things they used to knit for their families. I always found that very touching.

Children, too, sometimes watch in fascination at what you’re doing with the strand of yarn. Then they ask their mothers. And Mom explains that it’s called knitting or crocheting and that she or Grandma can do it too.

My dears, have you experienced this too? Or do you not dare to knit or crochet on public transportation? What experiences have you had? I’d be happy if you told us a little about them.

Best wishes, Ina

Public transportation isn’t worth it for me, since I can get into town by bus in 5–7 minutes. I usually knit in my doctor’s waiting room, but people look at me like I’m an alien—it’s very rare for anyone to strike up a conversation about it.

I always have a craft project with me on train rides, even when we’re out hiking.
That’s how countless gifts have come to be: crocheted shopping bags, knitted and crocheted dishcloths, double-faced knitted pot holders, socks, crocheted ice crystals… Every now and then, people strike up a conversation with me, and years ago, a woman who knits house socks sent me her pattern. Not too long ago, I even saw a younger man intently working with a set of double-pointed needles! Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, trips to visit my grandchildren in Zurich are currently on hold, and the seminars at the Lucerne Adult Education Center won’t resume until October, so for the time being I rarely get a chance to do needlework on the train. The crocheted shawls and amigurumi cuddle blankets wouldn’t be ideal projects for traveling either: too big on the one hand, too complicated on the other!

I ended up giving a knitting lesson right there on my last train ride. XD
There were two ladies struggling with a “pattern,” and I watched them for quite a while.
Eventually, I couldn’t stand watching them anymore and stepped in.
I don’t remember exactly what they were trying to knit, but the “pattern” was so poorly scribbled on a tiny piece of paper that even I had trouble figuring it out.
I started by explaining to them what they needed to do and, of course, mentioned that they could get amazing patterns from me. :-D
That was a really nice experience. I think we entertained the whole train car with our impromptu knitting class. 

:-) Oh, Ina, that’s so nice—you made such a difference and had fun doing it.
Here in Norway, it’s a little different. I usually take the train for about 20 minutes to get to work. Every now and then I see a few people doing needlework. I’ll glance over to see what pattern they’re crocheting, take note of it, and then try to crochet it myself at home.
Here in Norway, people tend to knit a lot.
But you don’t really strike up much of a conversation. Everyone’s just staring at their phones—you’re barely even noticed. I usually bring my crossword puzzle book with me instead of my crochet supplies. Very, very rarely have I ever finished crocheting granny squares on the train, or a triangular shawl. Most of the time, the trains are so crowded that there’s only standing room, and I can’t do any handwork then. Other people crochet while standing, but that just doesn’t work for me. I always need a place to set my work down.
Right now the trains aren’t that crowded, but by the time I’ve crocheted a few rows, I have to get off again.
I did strike up a conversation with a female guest at the hotel about crocheting—though we didn’t have much time, it was nice (in Norwegian, mind you).

Oh yes, doing needlework on the way to work… I do that, too, and I even take the slow streetcar to work instead of the subway so I’ll have some time to knit in the morning on my way there. Most people here are looking at their cell phones, but some glances do wander over to my work with interest.
But actually, around here, everyone is mostly preoccupied with themselves, and everyone is rushing through life so much that no one really notices anyone else, so I rarely get asked about my knitting. Only a few older ladies, with whom I sometimes strike up a conversation, ask what pattern I’m working on or share their own experiences. But most people are just annoyed—because public transportation isn’t running, because it’s cold, because it’s hot, because children are crying, and so on.
I find it rather sad that the world has become this way here in Vienna, so I devote myself all the more to my knitting or crocheting.

Thank you so much for your responses and insights. This shows me that there are significant regional differences. In general, cell phones have taken over as the main pastime on the train. But in my area, there are still some people who prefer to pass the time with crafts. Hardly anyone reads a real newspaper anymore. That’s just how things change. Anyway—we’ll just keep knitting and crocheting!

I wish all readers a lovely, relaxing weekend—perhaps with a little crafting?

Warm regards—Ina