stick to your knitting

stick to (one's) knitting

1. To mind one's own business. Oh, stick to your knitting—I don't need to hear your opinion of every little thing I do.
2. To do only what one knows or is familiar with. You can't just stick to your knitting—you have to try new things too.
See also: knitting, stick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

stick to your knitting

If someone, especially a company or organization, sticks to their knitting, they continue to do something that they are experienced at and do not try to do something different about which they know very little. It failed because we did not understand the plumbing business, and it taught us a lesson about sticking to our knitting! Northern Rock is sticking to its knitting — mortgages and savings.
See also: knitting, stick
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • stick to (one's) knitting
  • stick to knitting
  • stick to the knitting
  • at will
  • about (one's) business
  • about business
  • (from) top to toe
  • be hoist by (one's) own petard
  • be hoist with one's own petard
  • be hoist/hoisted by/with your own petard
References in periodicals archive
"They want you to stick to your knitting. They want you to stick to the stuff that other people write for you."
Trump Calls This Year's Emmy Ratings 'The Worst Ever'
The term "stick to your knitting" is a double-edged sword for CBS, reflecting the network's enviable stability, but also evoking the large granny constituency that watches "Blue Bloods," which is an image the network would very much like to shed among youth-obsessed media buyers.
Networks build on the familiar: risk-aversion bloomed at upfronts; some fared better than others
You've got to stick to your knitting and really pound the pavement," he said.
Savanna tenants get a bathroom break
Glen, the old saying "stick to your knitting" applies pretty consistently in the insurance business.
Access general agency coming on strong for brokers
You have to have a sustainable business, to stick to your knitting and do what you do best in situations like that," he added.
Holiday operator looks to double its business
Equally, if you stick to your knitting and be proactive curious, creatively developing new ideas and making the effort to take full advantage of that curiosity and thought, life can be good.
'Basics still govern'; time and technology passes, but the three drivers of change remain static
So, the first way to improve productivity is to stick to your knitting and grow your business in your core competency.
Raise productivity, not prices: Part 2--practical solutions: additional ways to improve your bottom line without raising prices and alienating customers
"Stick to your knitting" - continued development ranks highest in focus for our business.
Q&A
* Know your core capabilities -- and "stick to your knitting;"
Private companies: in pursuit of sustainable growth
stick to your knitting we cry, especially if you want some large international group to come and give you a big fat check.
Getting Ready for a Sale?
Stick to your knitting. It's great to say you are going to do all of these things, but you'll have to follow through.
Seven habits of a healthy industry: if we institute these practices, we can turn this industry around. But we'll have to cooperate
In my humble opinion, perhaps you should stick to your knitting.
MUDDLING THE REALITY
He comes out with homely phrases like: "I think it's wise to stick to your knitting" by which he means he intends to stay in the business that he knows best.
Open all hours; From market stall to super-shopkeeper - now Kevin Threlfall is king of the convenience store..
Here are 10 no-nonsense recommendations: * Stick to your knitting. Stay focused and try not to go beyond your basic businesses.
Tip sheet for Eastern Europe