World Wide “Knit in Public Day”

KNITTING CORNER

(Photo – World Wide Knit in Public Day).

This year marks the eleventh anniversary of Knit In Public Day, also known as “KiP”. It is the largest knitter-run event in the world.

By Robin Southworth

Each local event is put together by a volunteer or a group of volunteers. It is happening Saturday, June 18, 2016. Where? Everywhere! There are KIPs in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, Ocean Pacific, and the Arctic Circle.

What is KiP Day?

World Wide Knitting in Public Day, Amsterdam, 2014 (Photo – deestraperlo.blogspot.com).

It was started back in 2005 by Danielle Landes as a way for knitter to get out into the world, come together as knitters, and enjoy each other’s company. Today, it is about getting knitting out of the house and into the world. Some events are just about knitters coming together, drinking coffee, and enjoying knitting together. Other events are taking on more noble causes. A KiP event in Cleveland is knitting scarves. “Scarf It Up For Those in Need will organize volunteers to participate in an effort to generate the much needed handmade scarves for the poor and needy in Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.” Other groups are knitting tiny warm caps for neo-natal hospital units.

I knit everywhere

Knitting at the library (Photo – Robin Southworth).

I knit in public EVERYWHERE. On the bus. Waiting for the bus. Waiting for appointments. Watching television. Watching my dog romp at the local dog park. In the passenger seat of the car (while someone else drives). Having coffee with friends. Backstage, waiting for my entrance.

Better living through stitching together

While their official website is titled World Wide Knit in Public Day, their subtitle is Better living through stitching together. My knitting friends and I have thought that world peace might be achieved if all the world’s leaders learned to knit and, instead of negotiating at world summits, hung out, drinking a hot (or alcoholic) beverage, and knitting something.

Where do you knit in public?

Find a local event and go knit. If there’s no event where you live, CREATE ONE! Go. Knit in public. As I do with my weekly knitting group (see photo above) – James, Michie, Kurtis, Cyndy, Elizabeth, David, and Michael. You guys make knitting in public an absolute joy!

Learn more about World Wide Knit in Public Day by checking their official website., and their Facebook page.