Thanks to all for your answers and Mirjams extraordinary story.
It's a pity that it isn't common any more to do some craft while being on the way to your job, friends, or just walking. All these looks you get when you get your needles ready to do some more rows. The funniest situation I had, was on the overnight-ferry from Ijmuiden (Netherlands) to Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) in 2005. It was past 10pm and I had a lovely seat at a panoramic windscreen on the shops-and-bars-deck. About this time you come across oilfields in the North Sea and it's like being in a city: lights all over the sea. I was knitting socks while enjoying this view, when two men behind me saw me knitting and discussed loud about that. One had the opinion that it's really oldfashioned to knit socks, he would never ever wear them and he loved the socks he bought. The other one had some experiences with knitted socks, how warm they are, all possibilities of patterning, he loves wearing them. I was about to break into their conversation when the first man said: "I wouldn't wear them, even if my feet are cold as ice" and the second one answered: "You will never know about how wonderful selfknitted socks are." I could do nothing but grinning and knitting.
I think the best way "promoting" knitting is knitting in public: in the bus or train, on a bench in the park, while walking. Don't be afraid of being watched: at least you *can* knit and produce something warm, unique, extraordinary, etc. that the other ones had to buy.
@Holly: yes, I'm knitting continental style. I'd try to do the English style, after I'd seen someone knitting this way at a fair in Edinburg, but changed back to continental very quick, because it took far more time forcing my hands to do some awkward movements. Like being a beginner. But I will try again.
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