Knitting during class: ok or not?

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Hi folks,

so I'm an auditory/kinesthetic learner, and I recently decided to start bringing my knitting to class, to see if it kept me more engaged in the lecture and off my electronics. It's pretty much a silent hobby, so I was surprised when a friend/classmate mentioned that she felt it was distracting and rude to the professor and other students. This is a class with many people on their laptops/tablets for lecture. Anyway, I grew up with a knitting mama who had hers everywhere, so I've never really seen it as inappropriate. Just curious what you all think? Would it bother you? More or less than people using electronics or eating in class?

Thanks for for the thoughts :)

I had a classmate who would knit in class too. It was interesting watching her because I did not know how to knit.

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Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics.

My policy is generally to ask myself the question, "Is this person's behaviour affecting my ability to hear what the prof is saying in a significant way?" If the answer is no, then it's none of my business. They paid to be here just like me and how they choose to spend their class time is not my concern. Things aren't always what they seem anyways... Students who take notes all class might end up learning nothing, while students who seem lazy because they aren't might pass the course easily. I have seen this happen more than once. Having said that, I might be biased as I'm not at all a note taker, I don't find I need to as I absorb new information really easily without taking notes, but I am quite a doodler sometimes....

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
I sat next to a girl once who did nothing but doodle during lectures. It drove me nuts. So I said something to the instructor about it and she said, "maybe she has ADHD and it helps her to concentrate by keeping her hands busy."

I say, as long as you sit in the back and get all the notes you need, if it's quiet and helps you, then go for it. I have also sat next to a girl who sewed bows for her kids and it didn't bother me and lo and behold on the next exam she rocked it, because keeping her hands busy actually helped her to concentrate more.

really? You ratted a doodler out to your instructor? This affected you how? If I was your instructor I'd have told you to keep your eyes on your own work and mind your own business! Do your eyes wander during exams too?

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My pathophysiology teacher is an MD, who got her degree in Germany. She told us many stories of going to school in germany, one of the funniest ones is that on the 1st day of class she was the only one who brought in a laptop to lecture everyone else was knitting. They told her that us Americans are weird. lol

Now THIS is an interesting take on it!

And yes....we Americans ARE weird, in more ways than one, LOL.... ;)

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
It bothered me because she was very elaborate with her movements, and reaching in and out of her bag multiple times to grab different colored pens and for some odd reason her pens were really scratchy. It was distracting because although doodling should be quiet, she wasn't! The sewing didn't bother me because that person didn't make any noise.

And for those who wonder how I would handle a busy nurses station or floor, I handle my MICU position quite well. Because all the beeps and noises I hear are relevant to my job.

so would you have complained if her pens made noises as she was taking notes? Or just because she was doing something you disapproved of?

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I wouldn't have a problem with it. With all the people whispering, rattling snacks, phones going off, and other noise, I think knitting is perfectly acceptable. I think a lot of people are trying to find something to be outraged about, as happens often on this forum. Knitting is nothing to be outraged about. If anything, mild irritation would be an appropriate reaction. The only thing that makes me upset enough to say something during class is people talking, and in that case I would say, "excuse me, it's bothering me" instead of giving someone a self-righteous lecture about how it's disrespectful and morally incorrect. Some people like to get on their high horses about every tiny thing.

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The downfall of our profession is the tolerance of you self righteous, self important, snarky ladys with a chip on your shoulders. Either offer support and help for those trying to learn or shove it and stay OFF the student page. Get a hobby or something instead of needlessly beating up on the greenies. Maybe YOU ALL SHOULD START KNITTING.

Hahahaha! THIS. Member since '11, every time I post on here, I get at least a few people having emotional meltdowns/temper tantrums/manufactured outrage hissy fits over whatever it is. Not to mention the omnipresent personal attacks. Nothing says immaturity like someone who's been in the profession for 20 years replying "I HATE YOU AND HOPE YOU DON'T MAKE IT!!!" because they disagree with you.

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*sigh* I just can't imagine pre-med students or interns having this conversation.

premed or intern? what happened to med student. now med student and intern not even on the same level, premed would be....and it would be interesting to see what a student would do there, with this concentration issue.

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This discussion has been entertaining to follow.

In pathophysiology, I used to sit next to this girl who could not stop moving or fidgeting in her chair. She always wore this metallic puffy jacket that made a lot of noise as she moved. She would take it off, put it back on, twist and turn in her chair, and whisper to me when she wanted me to repeat something she missed. She also had a small box with highlighters and colored pens that she was constantly getting into, snapping the lid of the box open and closed each time. Now, as I'm reading this thread and looking back, oh how I wish she was knitting instead! Maybe instead of her noisy metallic puffy jacket, she could have worn a nice, soft, quiet hand-knitted shawl.

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This discussion has been entertaining to follow.

In pathophysiology, I used to sit next to this girl who could not stop moving or fidgeting in her chair. She always wore this metallic puffy jacket that made a lot of noise as she moved. She would take it off, put it back on, twist and turn in her chair, and whisper to me when she wanted me to repeat something she missed. She also had a small box with highlighters and colored pens that she was constantly getting into, snapping the lid of the box open and closed each time. Now, as I'm reading this thread and looking back, oh how I wish she was knitting instead! Maybe instead of her noisy metallic puffy jacket, she could have worn a nice, soft, quiet hand-knitted shawl.

LOL! It's funny how things can make us crazy.....when others have no problem with it. I'll bet the OP had no CLUE how divisive this topic was going to be!

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You know who I am....your knitting is fine. It's not obvious, and if it helps you, other students opinions should not matter. If it's not bothering Ms. ADHD, then it's not bothering anyone.

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I also knit in class, and it has never been an issue. The first step is to ask the professors permission. If they have an issue with it then don’t do it. If you are taking hand notes I also would not advise this. However, in most of my classes, we are given the lectures online, and can take additional notes on our laptops. Therefore, I am able to drop my knitting at a moments notice, take notes, and resume knitting afterward. It honestly does not affect my fellow classmates. Usually if they aren't paying attention, it is because they’re texting or online shopping. And for those criticizing this person, the reason why this person is still paying attention is because the brains capacity to take in new information is much higher than the rate that the professor is taking. Therefore, after a few minutes of this input not being met, the brain starts to wander, in order to reach this input goal. Knitting meets this goal, because it allows for the hands to be kept busy, while a person actively listens. This is the same for doodling, as the hands are being kept busy, while the mind stays actively engaged. They are implementing this theory in elementary schools all across the country, as they see a decrease in behavioral issues, and an increase in performance while knitting or crocheting in class. All of my professors, and my classmates have been very supportive of my knitting especially since many of our classes are 2-4 hours long. I have gone through classes where I don’t knit for the first part of the semester, and my grades reflect this. At this point I don’t have to even look at my knitting, and have increased my performance in all of my classes. I’m sorry if this would distract you as a student, but when I sit at the back of the class, and quietly knit it shouldn’t distract you.

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