Guide to Multitasking While Knitting

Unlike many other crafts that required our dedicated attention, knitting is the multitasker's dream. Do you want to get caught up on your Netflix show or knit? You don't have to choose. You can do both. Brilliant! 

Two Types of Multitasking

If you are a beginner knitter, you may doubt that you are able to knit and do something else at the same time. You may not be able to knit while riding a bicycle, but there are two distinct types of multitasking.

Passive Multitasking

If you are a beginner, this is the multitasking for you. Passive multitasking is the act of sitting or standing while you are knitting. Some examples are:

• Flying on a plane
• Sitting on the beach
• Commuting on public transit
• Waiting in your child's school car line

With passive multitasking, you can focus on your stitching because you don't have to focus on anything else.

Active Multitasking

Intermediate and advanced knitters are able to actively multitask. This type of multitasking involves concentrating on your knitting and something else at the same time. 

• Watching a movie.
• Reading a book.
• Listening to a podcast.
• Having a conversation with a friend.

Active multitasking may be simple for seasoned knitters, but if you are a beginner and want to learn how to improve your multitasking, we have a few suggestions.

Start Slowly

If you feel that you need to focus on each stitch so that you don't mess up, start the process of multitasking slowly. Begin by watching TV programs that don't require too much focus, like a game show or music videos. Knit a few stitches and then glance up at the television. Practice doing this a few times. Then, the next time you glance up, knit the next stitch without looking. Keep doing this until you can knit a perfect stitch each time you glance up.

Make It a Game

Once you can knit one stitch without looking, challenge yourself to see how long you can look away while knitting perfect stitches. Start with three stitches and then four and five and so on. If you mess up a stitch, don't fret. Start over at one and work your way up in stitches again.

Establish a Threshold

Before you get too comfortable watching an action packed movie, learn your perfect stitch threshold. How many stitches can you successfully knit while looking up at the TV or reading a book? Be mindful of this so that you don't look down too late and see a nest of yarn and dropped stitches that need to be undone. 

Don't Freak Out

Most knitters love to knit because it is relaxing and soothing to their soul. If multitasking begins to feel stressful and you no longer feel relaxed while knitting, take a step back and stop multitasking. It is entirely unnecessary to be productive while knitting. If you enjoy multitasking while knitting, that's great! But if you prefer to focus on the stitches alone, kudos to you! 

Practice Makes Perfect

Learning to knit while diverting your attention to other activities takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and don't be too discouraged if you drop a few stitches along the way while learning. With a bit of practice, you will soon be cooking dinner, changing diapers and knitting all while watching your favorite show. OK, maybe not, but you get the point.

Remember that it is perfectly fine to chill and do nothing at all. Multitasking or not, the most important thing is to grow your love of knitting.