Stick To Your Knitting Idiom
What does the phrase stick to your knitting mean? When someone says ‘stick to your knitting‘, how should it be understood? The idiom ‘stick to your knitting’ has several shades of meaning; both positive and negative.
Stated Positively:
A person should find the vocation they are good at, and stay focused on it. A business should focus on continuous improvement of their core products and services.
In contemporary usage, this idiom serves as a reminder that expertise and specialization often lead to better outcomes than straying into unknown territories.
The economist, Gary North (1942-2022) frequently used this idiom in his writing. “When you pursue something systematically and relentlessly, you build up a body of experience that gives you an advantage over competitors. You can work faster and more accurately. You know what to do and what not to do.”
Roy Bradley sums it up in this essay: Get To Work. “A person must know his life’s calling: the most important thing he can do… Stick to your knitting. Do not get sidetracked. Press on.”
Walter Isaacson, in his biography of Steve Jobs, said that “sticking to one’s knitting” was advice Jobs often gave when asked how to succeed in business.
Another positively nuanced connotation of the phrase is related to frugality and time management. I have happy memories of my grandmother, whose hands were never idle. Even while watching TV, she was always knitting, crocheting, mending clothes, and even ‘darning socks’ (a lost art).
“A business should do what it is good at and not become distracted by diversifying into totally different activities or enterprises“. ~ Oxford Reference
Negative Nuance
A negatively nuanced connotation of this idiom is advice to “stay in your lane”. Or “stay out of my business”.
Rachel Maddow quotes a famous headline in her book against fascism, North Carolina’s Robert Rice Reynolds, who had just that week granted an interview to Hitler’s mouthpiece newspaper, Völkischer Beobachter, headlined “Advice to Roosevelt: Stick to Your Knitting“.
However, ‘mind your own business’ (a similar idiom) might be good advice for someone who is easily distracted (like me).
Stick To Your Knitting Origin
Contrary to what the Oxford Reference said, Tom Peters did not coin the phrase. But, perhaps he made it popular again in the 1980s. Tom Peters and Robert Waterman apparently used the phrase in their book, In Search of Excellence.
Historical Origin of the Phrase
The historical origin of ‘stick to your knitting’ dates back to the 1820’s in American literature. It’s etymology can be traced in various publications, especially in the late 1800’s.
Originally, it literally meant stick to your knitting.
Mind your own knitting is defined as Mind your own business in an 1828 English/Welsh dictionary.
How to Master Daily Productivity and Stick To Your Knitting
The infographic below, by Alan (AJ) Silber provides 10 helpful methods to stay focused and productive.
Staying Focused and Balanced – A Christian Perspective
Sungyak John Kim made this helpful Venn diagram, and explained how to stay focused and balanced in your vocation. “We tend to approach work (and life) with a singular, mono-perspective, which often creates an imbalance in our thoughts and behaviors. This graphic could be a helpful tool to discern which perspectives are less intuitive for you and require more intentional engagement.”
Sources, Resources, and Related Links:
- The idiom ‘stick to your knitting’ explained ~ via Perplexity.ai ~ reviewed on 7-Oct-2024
- A Treatise of the Vocations or Callings of Men – by William Perkins (1605)
- Every Good Endeavor – by Tim Keller (2012)
Excellent material! Thank you!