Is it rude to crochet or knit when you have guests over?

Of course, this question doesn’t apply to invited guests or parties! But if, for example, I’m sitting in my backyard crocheting and my neighbor comes over, is it rude to keep going? Have you ever been in a similar situation?


I’d really love to hear your thoughts on this!

Dear Nadeleule, I used to ask myself that question all the time, too.
These days, I just pick up my crochet things and keep chatting. Of course, that wouldn’t even occur to me at parties.
But in the afternoon, when a friend stops by for coffee, I definitely do it. And so far, no one has given me a dirty look or stopped coming over because of it.
Quite the opposite. My best friend even started crocheting again after more than 10 years because of this. I have plenty of yarn and hooks, so she just helped herself. Now she’s so good that she makes her own bags and vests.
And the same thing has now happened with two other acquaintances of mine.

My favorite aunt, who visits me often, now brings her own projects with her. She makes beaded necklaces and beaded animals, and we sit together—each of us working on our own pieces—and inspire each other.

At parties, it actually wouldn’t even occur to me to crochet, but if my neighbor stops by for a chat, I only put my craft supplies away if the conversation gets really important or just needs my full attention.
We have friends who live a bit farther away, so when we visit each other, it always turns into a day trip. I always have my supplies with me then, too.
Like Pe-Ka, I’d really love it if someone would join in and start some kind of craft project. But unfortunately, I don’t have anyone to do that with except my mom, and I only see her every three months—but when I do, we craft together.

At formal gatherings, I put my crochet or knitting projects away, but when I have “regular” visitors, I knit and crochet. By now, everyone’s gotten used to the fact that I’m never seen without at least one needle in my hand. ;-)
I only get positive reactions to it, too.

My neighbor seemed pretty put out. I chatted with her normally and, as usual, offered her a drink, etc., but it did seem to bother her somehow. Unfortunately, I also don’t have anyone to talk to about it, so in my circle of acquaintances my “creations” tend to be laughed at. However, these are often the same people who sit in social settings (including at parties) and stare at their cell phones. Somehow, though, that habit doesn’t seem to bother anyone....

Back in the day, it used to be common practice to do needlework while chatting. And I think it’s actually much easier to have a conversation when your hands are busy...

Well, I think it’s totally fine to crochet when you have visitors. For example, I was still crocheting the big fluffy project at Christmas even though we had guests at home, but it was just my grandma and my step-grandma anyway, and they’re used to it. When my other grandma had her birthday, I even crocheted in her garden. She was busy inside with the older folks, and the younger generation, along with my aunts and uncles, were sitting outside and busy with their cell phones, so I don’t see anything wrong with it. After all, we’re all capable of multitasking: We can do crafts and listen or respond at the same time ;) And as long as we let the person we’re talking to know that we’re still paying attention, I think it’s perfectly fine.

Hi, it depends on who's visiting.

People who do crafts themselves are understanding, and in that case I crochet too, but not with other kinds of guests.

I also find it annoying when someone stares at their phone every 30 seconds. If my guest does that (without being a crocheter herself), then I'll get out my crochet things too...

otherwise, I devote 100% of my attention to my guest.

It might also depend on how complicated the project is. If you’re constantly distracted by the crocheting—because you have to count, for example—I do find it annoying. But you can usually tell if it’s bothering someone, and if in doubt, you can always just ask.

Yeah, that’s how I see it too, Ruth… I’ve noticed that with most people who are constantly busy with their smartphones, it’s sometimes really hard to have a conversation—then they read something there, type something here (Facebook, WhatsApp, eBay), and you can tell when you have to repeat something that was just said or you don’t get an answer to a question because the person wasn’t listening.

I also have an acquaintance we used to meet up with often, partly so the children could play together, but her phone would ring nonstop, and then she’d be on the phone for ages, so I spent most of the time playing with the kids, and when we left, she’d say, “Oh, now we didn’t have any time to chat” — we were often there for two to three hours.

I handle it like this: if someone calls, I say I’ll call back in the evening because I have company, or, which also happens from time to time, I tell my guests directly that I’m still expecting an important phone call and then won’t be available for a short time.

But when it comes to crocheting, it really depends on the guest. You know your guests — some have no problem with it, and you can still have a conversation. But others find it annoying, and then I don’t do it either.

I always have my knitting with me when I go out—not anything “big,” but maybe a scarf or some socks. I’ll even sit down in a café and knit. I stopped caring a long time ago whether people are watching or not...... Who does it bother? When you go to doctors’ offices in big cities, there’s always some knitting project lying around, with an invitation to knit a little bit.
For me, it’s worse when you’re in a social setting and cell phones or other devices make themselves “noticeable,” and people then start talking about or discussing the messages they’ve received. Sometimes these are trivial things that don’t interest anyone or are meant only for the recipient. Even the notification sounds alone can disrupt a gathering.
So as for me, I knit—not at parties, of course, but during a normal coffee get-together, absolutely.

Hi,
when I have visitors (whether invited or not doesn't matter), I put my needles away for a while. It's like with the TV - you turn that off too. After all, when I visit someone, I don't bring my needles with me either. I think that's totally rude. Or I ask first. Then I do that too. It also depends on how long the visitor plans to stay.
Bye, Romy

Hi everyone,

I almost always have my crochet supplies with me.
At the playground, in the waiting room, in the garden… definitely.
But also often when I visit my family or friends. They just know me that way and like me even with my yarn and hook “at the ready.”
However, I only bring projects that don’t require a lot of counting and, above all, can be done without notes for a pattern or without a pattern by someone else that I’d have to keep checking—because then a conversation would hardly be possible.
I don’t find this inappropriate or rude at all.
If anyone were bothered by it (and that’s certainly never happened to me), they could just tell me, and then I’d put my things aside.

Best regards—Nina

By the way... even when someone visits me, I certainly don’t put my crochet things away. Only if it would disrupt or get in the way of the conversation or the visit.

Best wishes

I always have something to crochet or knit in my bag, since it helps pass the time and keeps me from letting it slip away pointlessly. My neighbors and friends are used to this by now, and usually the finished project is meant for a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. Of course, I don’t do any crafting during big celebrations—I find that extremely rude. I’ve even imposed a strict cell phone ban at parties in my own home, since I find that very rude and annoying as well.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to win over a fellow enthusiast for my hobby either. My mom would surely knit and crochet with me until our fingers were red-hot, but unfortunately, she’s gone blind. I’m always trying to get my grandchildren excited about this hobby, but so far, it hasn’t worked out. Well, I’m not giving up hope and will keep trying.
It’s really fun in a cozy handicrafts group, too.
Best regards, Birgit die Schwarzbunte

Expected visitors, yes!!!!!!!!!

Well, I wouldn’t do that, because I find it rather rude to crochet during a conversation. Unfortunately, I don’t have that much time to devote to my hobby, and I’m not so “addicted” :) that I have to crochet all the time. And when someone visits me, I think that person deserves my full attention, since they’ve taken some of their valuable time to see me. Besides, I can’t focus on the person I’m talking to and crochet at the same time :) If a friend brings something along and shares the hobby, then it’s okay. Otherwise, I put my things aside until the visitor has left.

For example, I crochet on my way to visit someone and also on the way back. But I don’t do it while I’m there—mainly because very few people knit or crochet.

Hi, everyone...
Everyone I know is actually aware that I’m obsessed with crafts, and nobody really has a problem with it!!! Especially when someone comes over and immediately sees that I’m already sitting there in the middle of it ;-) ;-) And if they do, they should just say so, and then I’ll put it away :'( ;-) Have a nice evening!

As I can see, opinions really do vary widely...

At formal gatherings, I leave my knitting and crochet bag at home; otherwise, it goes with me almost everywhere. Exceptions are more serious or intimate conversations, for example with friends. In those situations, it’s important to me to show the other person that I’m fully focused on them.
I also always have several projects on the go and organize things so that when I have visitors or am visiting friends, I work on something simple. During times with lots of visits, it can happen that I have four or five pairs of socks on the go at the same time. I then use a quiet day to add the heels to all of them, for example. Just last year, I found that having one or two crochet hooks and some cotton yarn encouraged people to join in. On my last vacation, with lots of visiting friends, a friend and I made that part of the plan, and over the course of four days, a total of eight women crocheted a patchwork pillow together. No matter where we went, everyone wanted to crochet a square too (or, even better, several). It was a really wonderful experience.


 

When I have to wait—for example, in the doctor’s waiting room—I almost always crochet. Time flies by, and sometimes it leads to a conversation.

When I have guests over, I always put my crochet supplies away. I can’t (yet) concentrate on crocheting when something else is going on, like conversations, TV, etc.

I’d love to go to a craft meetup, but unfortunately, as far as I know, there isn’t anything like that in my city.

I like that! So far, I’ve always put my craft aside, even if someone showed up unexpectedly—but as described above, you can definitely keep chatting away—unless, of course, you’re working on a complicated pattern that requires concentration.

Best, Evy

By the way, I’ve noticed that when I crochet in public, people often strike up a conversation with me, and it usually leads to a friendly chat.

“Oh, how nice—so young people crochet and knit, too.”

“What are you making?”

“Oh, that’s such pretty yarn.”

And the question I hear most often: “Is that for me?”

I’m always crocheting or knitting—some people laugh, while others are thrilled!
Either way, the main thing is that it’s fun!

I don’t see the problem. If someone comes over and I happen to have my hook in my hand, they’ll just have to accept that I’m going to keep going. Besides, crocheting makes for great conversation. But if we’re going to discuss sensitive topics, I’ll put my hook down on my own so the other person doesn’t feel like I’m not giving them my full attention. I think crocheting in all kinds of doctors’ offices is great. It makes me feel like I’m not just sitting there doing nothing. I really like the comparison to cell phones. It’s really not very communicative to constantly stare at the screen during a conversation—and possibly even type out replies. I can chat and crochet at the same time and still stay right on topic. People with cell phones can’t do that.