You hear it all the time as you knit: "Oh, you knit! I just don't have the time to do that." It's not that you somehow have more time than this person to just waste away; you just find ways to spend your time more efficiently.
Bringing your knitting with you just about anywhere is possible. Here are ten places you can squeeze knitting into your busy life:
Grocery shopping: Picking up your needles rather than skimming the magazine rack is a handy way to knit a few rows or rounds. Have a long repeat that needs to be finished before you put the project away? No problem; choose the longest line at the check-out to guarantee that you'll finish!
Commute: Using public transportation makes knitting time a breeze; because somebody else does all the driving, you just have to sit and knit. Be sure to bring something that isn't too complicated. More often than not, a fellow commuter will want to chat your ear off about what you're knitting. You don't want to get distracted.
Flying: An air-pressurized capsule thousands of feet in the air is a great place to knit! As of this writing, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) doesn't prohibit you from taking knitting needles on airplanes. (Check the TSA's website on prohibited items before your trip for current guidelines.)
Use circular needles so you don't risk dropping one and losing it several rows back.
Play-dates: Gather up the kids and go to a restaurant that has a play area. Feed the kids lunch, get free drink refills, use public restrooms, and best of all, let somebody else clean it up. As the kids use up energy playing on the jungle gym, you get to sit and knit. It's a win-win.
Ball games: Soccer, baseball, or football — no matter what the sport, you always get a time out or a break in the action. These are the perfect moments to knit a few.
Movies: Have you been to the movies lately? Theaters show so many previews and commercials that you have at least 30 minutes of knitting time before the movie actually starts. If you bring something with garter stitch so you don't have to look at it for a pattern, you may be able to knit during the movie, too.
Game night: Depending on the number of people playing a game, you may encounter a significant lull between turns. The game table is the perfect place for you to pick up your needles and knit. Amaze your friends by starting a small project with big needles and big yarn at the beginning of the game and finishing it by the end.
Gym: Some people may not be able to walk and chew gum, but others actually can walk and knit. If you're planning on just walking on the treadmill or around the track, bring your knitting. Sure, some gym rats will snicker and laugh, but hey, you're multi-tasking!
Business meetings: Sounds crazy, but knitting can help you stay focused during meetings. Sit in the back of the room and knit quietly as you listen to the message. You won't hear the sneezing, shuffling of papers, squeaking of chairs, or whispering chatter around you because your knitting will help you focus on the real reason you're there.
Camping: After a long day of hiking or swimming, all you want to do is sit around the fire. Take your knitting along to work on as you chat with the other campers. Your yarn will smell like campfire smoke, but a good cleaning with fiber wash will take care of that.
If you're using acrylic yarn, stay far from the fire, or your yarn will melt.