I spend a lot of time on Ravelry, and a theme I’ve noticed coming up again and again is whether or not your family is supportive of your knitting.
This, quite frankly, boggles my mind.
What boggles my mind even more is the fact that there are apparently many knitters out there whose significant others mock, belittle, or complain about it!
Now, I’m single, granted, but I can’t believe you’d stay with someone like that!
Before you say I’m overreacting–it isn’t just about knitting. Sub in painting or pottery or horseback writing or standing on your head reciting Shakespearean monologues backwards in Swedish for knitting and my point still stands. It’s about respecting the person you’re with. We all have interests and hobbies, and of course knitting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
My family for example-I’m the only knitter. My Mom used to cross stitch, and she reads. My Dad has an aquarium and does sudoku. They both do crosswords. Different hobbies, and while we tease sometimes, as families do, there’s never any judgment about the perceived value of someone else’s hobby.
Yet somehow, people seem to feel there is free reign to attack and belittle knitters. We’re grandmotherly or wasting our time. And for someone reason–people TAKE THIS! They talk about spouses “allowing” them to knit or “not allowing” them to knit in certain situations, or getting permission to spend money.
Here’s the thing–this isn’t about knitting. You’re a person, with a hobby and the people around you should respect that. Someone who gives you permission to do things isn’t respecting you, they’re controlling you.
Then again, maybe I’m just coming at this from a different perspective. Like I said, I am single. Knitting is a hobby and passion of mine, and that’s pretty clear when you’ve met me. Guys I know have ranged from finding it slightly strange, not unlike the rest of me, to being fascinated and impressed even if they don’t openly admit to it.
Bottom line? If I’m going to date someone, then they need to respect me and the things I do, even if they don’t enjoy or understand them. I don’t care if it’s knitting or the internet or watching endless hours of Battlestar Galactica. And if they don’t? Well, they’re not going to be around long.
What do you think? What would you do if your SO or potential SO belittled your hobbies?
