Ethical Thought

(Reproduction not actually a pic taken on the train – I am not that crazy -grins- )

I have been knitting in public for a few weeks now. Particularly on the Orange Line in Boston. I have KIP elsewhere too, at camp I knit and a few people stopped by to chat and ask about what I was making. I had a wonderful talk with a real knitter in the camp store. I have knit at church, in airports and elsewhere and many people seem to smile and some stop to say something. I am posting because I continue to be amazed that no one has said anything to me on the train. In fact, people seem to actively avoid looking at me! I seem to have turned into the crazy person that people shy away from on public transportation. I keep my elbows tucked in and my needles safely in my lap but pehaps people just do not want to get poked! I keep my yarn safely tucked into my briefcase so I occupy less space than someone reading the paper.
As an aside have you ever tried to knit with your elbows tucked in over your stomach and you knitting extended out above your knees? The contortions we do to be considerate of others on public transport. ( Yes I know there are those who activly take up 3 seats to create a no-go zone around them but I try not to be like that.) Guido over in It’s a purl man once talked about knitting on the bus while standing up. ( I loved hearing about it.  It something to do with positioning yourself near a pole and arranging your stuff in a bag just so – his tale of it made my day as I stood being jostled on a very crowded train. Yes I listen to podcasts on my commute.) It is not a skill that I have gained. In part I have enough trouble staying on my feet and avoiding the people around me.