stick to one's knitting

Alternative forms

 * , ’tend to one’s knitting, ,

Verb

 * 1)  To concentrate on one's own tasks, affairs, area of expertise, etc., especially in order to avoid distraction, embarrassment, or other needless problems.
 * 2) * 1975 Nov. 21, "Puritans Denied Drumstick" (editorial), Spokane Daily Chronicle, p. 4 (retrieved 1 Oct 2013) :
 * Researchers should stick to their knitting, finding cancer cures and discovering new shades of lipstick, and refrain from debunking history.
 * Researchers should stick to their knitting, finding cancer cures and discovering new shades of lipstick, and refrain from debunking history.

Usage notes

 * The alternative forms ', ', and  are still used, but appear to have been more common in earlier usage, as in:


 * "No, you'd better mind your own business, girl. Forget your foolishness and ‛tend to your knitting."
 * "You attend to your knitting and let theirs alone."
 * "Tend to your knitting," she warned him. "Didn't you see that we almost ran over that dog?"
 * "You attend to your knitting and let theirs alone."
 * "Tend to your knitting," she warned him. "Didn't you see that we almost ran over that dog?"
 * "Tend to your knitting," she warned him. "Didn't you see that we almost ran over that dog?"


 * This expression may be received as sexist, especially if directed to a woman and if the pursuit she is apparently being admonished to leave alone is one traditionally reserved to men.

Translations

 * Finnish: pysyä lestissään
 * Polish: nie wsadzać nos w nie swoje sprawy
 * Spanish: no meterse en camisa de once varas