Stoplight Knitting

I have a confession to make: I knit at stoplights.

When people hear this, I get one of three reactions. Least often, they look at me like I’m a genius. Here and there, I get amusement, because of course I am someone who would knit at stoplights. Finally, most often I get looks of sheer terror, which implies to me that these people believe I barrel down the highway at 80 miles an hour with my hands on a project instead of the wheel.

My car is at a complete stop, like it should be at stoplights. I also work on very specific projects, either straight stockinette or basic ribbing in the round. Why is that? ‘Cause I can do that without looking at the project, and I can keep my eyes on the light. When the light changes, I drop the project in my lap, and my hands are back on at 8 and 4, ready to go.

Why bother, I hear some ask. How long are you really at stoplights? Not long, usually, I’ll admit. Would I get the project done sooner if I just sat at home and knit away while looking at my project? Absolutely.

But between my full-time job, my part-time jobs, getting my master’s, and that pesky desire to eat and sleep, my knitting-at-home time is super limited lately. So why not utilize the time that is otherwise wasted spacing off in the car (or worse, looking at your phone)?

I think it’s also calmed my road rage a little. It’s going to take me three cycles to get through this light? Great! I’ll get so much done.

What do you think? Is this genius or crazy? Let me know in the comments, and in the mean time, I’m going to look up the latest on self-driving cars in the hopes that one day I will be able to safely barrel down the highway while working on a project.