Knitting at the movie theater

I would get stabby sitting by someone clicking needles next to me or even just the repetitive movements would be highly distracting. We don’t go to movies all that often because it’s expensive (the last time we went, it set us back by over $80!!!), so when we do I expect the other patrons to not do things that are going to distract from that big theater experience. Kicking my chair? Stabby. Make loud crinkling, eating noises? Stabby. Turning on your phone repeatedly? Stabby. Talking or making other noises? Stabby. So knitting would probably fall into that category. I guess the question people should ask themselves is, would this be distracting if I did it at a play or classical music concert? If so, just don’t.

I wouldn’t have the same expectations on a flight even though the space would be tighter. When you’re on a plane, the expectation is to have several consecutive hours of excessively boring downtime. As long as you’re not getting into my seat space, things like that wouldn’t bother me at all.

I always have needles with me and there have only been two times it was an issue. Once was at the American History museum in DC in I think 2003 or so — the guard made me take my work off of the needles and leave the needles outside. I went to other Smithsonian museums while I was there that year and security didn’t care about the needles, and I have been to that museum before and since with needles. Weirdly, the only other time I had an issue was a few months ago at a local performance venue. I have literally had season tickets there for years and this one security guard seized my small bamboo circular needles. It was really odd.

I admit that I am easily bothered by movements like chewing, wiggling a foot, etc, so take my response with that in mind. But it would drive me nuts if someone was knitting or crocheting at a movie if I could see their movements. I have been in work meetings/trainings where people were using any number of "fidgets" like knitting, crocheting, moving their arms in circles around the inside of a scarf, etc and it made me BONKERS! I am also a fidgeter to a degree, but I use small movements like wiggling my toes so that nobody can see it. Most of the things others suggest to "keep them on task" would be a huge issue for me in a classroom or elsewhere, so I don't usually suggest them to others. I doubt I am alone.

I would hate it so much. Like, silently seethe the whole movie. Maybe not even silently.

My ADHD cannot take anything like that. I go to the movies to watch the movie and have the whole immersive experience. Someone knitting would definitely take me out of the experience. It is rude.

It would drive me nuts to be by someone who was knitting in a theater. If I could see it out of my peripheral vision, it would totally distract me from the movie. On a plane, go for it!

Too funny. That was my first thought as well. I wouldn’t care if they were knitting, but if the needles are clicking with each stitch I would get annoyed. The noise (if it happened)would bother me more than the motion of her arms and hands!

I would wonder why someone is knitting at a very pricey movie? I go to the movies to have that fun, movie experience. Knitting does require some attention. If it wasn't making noise and if it wasn't in my personal space I guess it would be OK.

I'm easily distracted and would not appreciate hands and elbows flailing everywhere.

I've never taken needlework of any kind to a movie before, but I can speculate that (a) they're attending with someone else, possibly a child, and aren't that interested in the movie, or (b) they actually can focus better on the screen if they have something to do with their hands. I fall into the latter category - I always have a crochet project I'm working on while watching TV. It's very uncomfortable for me to just sit and watch. It's gotten worse as I've gotten older, to the point where I actually don't go to the movies or even attend the theater very often any more.

If someone wants to knit at the movie theater, it seems to me the best solution is either to sit between two other members of your own party, or else sit at the end of the aisle with the person you're attending with in the next seat. And to avoid needles that click. So far I've only tried bamboo needles for knitting and there's no clicking that I'm aware of.

It would drive my DH nuts. He is ADHD enough he would become hyper focused on the activity and then his annoyance at the distraction. 
And then he'd annoy me by commenting.
(Not saying you would be, or are, annoying )

Great response, thank you! Humans are weird, brains more so.
   Emoji in honor of movie theatres!

This is me as well.  I have a hard time not focusing on it and getting very irritated with the noise or movement, as well as thoughts about how entitled they think they are to be so distracting to others.  

This!  It would send my OCD over the top and I would only be able to watch what they are doing.  If you want to knit while watching a movie, watch the movie at home.

While I said "hell no" to this,  I understand why someone would do it.  If I am not working on a project while watching a movie, I fall asleep so I am going to assume that the woman would have done the same thing.

Years ago at my son's music recital, there was a woman speed knitting a few rows in front of me. She would knit about 10 and then find an issue and then rip out 3 or 4 stitches and then would start again. While I didn't say or do anything, it was very annoying because I could see her arms moving really fast. It really was disruptive to anyone sitting near or behind her.