You might not think there's a need for knitting etiquette, but any time people come together -- in real life or even virtually -- there are some rules of the road that need to be followed. Here's some basic knitting etiquette to get you through encounters with other knitters peacefully.
Knitting in Public
If you see knitters in public and want to join, walk up and ask. Be friendly and odds are they'll let you join in.
Don't ever interrupt a knitter while she or he is counting. You'll be able to tell because they'll have stopped talking and may even be counting out loud.
Always ask permission before knitting in a meeting or in a classroom. You might also want to leave your needles home when you're going to church, a public performance or speech, or even to a movie. This is somewhat controversial, but knitting can be a distraction to other people or give speakers the impression you're not paying attention. In a small venue where people are performing, they'll be able to see you and it could be a distraction to them as well.
Your Knitting Shop
It's a great idea to support you local knitting shops, if they exist, and to make friends with the owners and workers there. They might keep an eye out for yarns you like or be able to recommend projects to you that you'll enjoy.
Don't, however, go to a shop looking for help with a project if you don't regularly shop there and didn't buy the yarn or pattern there. And don't expect a huge amount of help for free. Be respectful of the shop owner's time and pay for a class if you need a lot of help.
The World of Patterns
If you buy a pattern book, you can make a photocopy of the pattern for yourself so you don't have to tote the book in your knitting bag or to make following a chart easier. But don't make patterns for all your friends. Respect the fact that books are a way of making a living for designers, and if you share patterns around, the designer isn't getting paid.
Likewise with patterns online, don't post them to your own website or blog without permission. The best thing to do if you want to share a free pattern is to provide a link to the website that originally published it. Again, this shows respect to the designer. And if you're posting a link to a pattern, drop the designer an e-mail and let him or her know.
A Knitting Party
Hosting a gathering for knitters? Plan ahead by providing clear drinks and foods that aren't too greasy or gloppy (you don't want anything that can easily spill or stain knitting projects).
Go for snacks on sticks or toothpicks when possible, and remember to have lots of napkins handy for wiping down between snacks. You might want to also have knitting kits including scissors, yarn needles, stitch markers and other knitting necessities at the ready for guests who might have forgotten something essential.
